Our family always tries to balance healthy eating with being realistic.
In other words, we’re one of those oatmeal and lentil soup families, yet we’re also into chicken nuggets. My two girls are 5 and 2, and since they don’t eat perfectly, I knew they could use the help of a high-quality multivitamin.
So I did what every mom does at midnight, and Googled “best kids vitamins.” Up came Hiya and SmartyPants. I employed a little late-night reasoning and ordered both.
Fast forward a few weeks to now–which multivitamin is filling in the cracks of my children’s nutrition? Find out:
The one WITHOUT sugar and all that gummy junk… Hiya
I found myself questioning everything when I saw that one of the first ingredients in SmartyPants’ gummies is sugar—5g of added sugar per serving size. That’s almost as much as an Oreo cookie.
To add insult to injury, SmartyPants’ gummies contain gelatin and pectin, too. And as our dentist confirmed, sugary gummies can get stuck in tiny teeth, potentially contributing to cavities.
Hiya Kids Daily Multivitamin won me over with its sugar-free, chewables (which are dentist-recommended). Hiya still tastes sweet, thanks to a mix of monk fruit extract (from a tropical melon) and mannitol (also found in strawberries and pumpkins).
Hiya isn’t coated in actual sugar like some other kids vitamins, so you’re not giving your kids candy with breakfast.
The one that is the best value for your money… Hiya
For one kid, Hiya costs $30 for a 30-day supply (and you get 50% off your first order + free shipping). Hiya may be more expensive, but that’s because they include high-quality ingredients. You get what you pay for, and $1/day is a worthwhile investment to support your kids’ nutrition.
My first Hiya purchase also came with a refillable glass bottle, plus sticker sheets for personalization. One of my kids has kept her bottle plain and tidy, and I respect her restraint. The other has redecorated her bottle almost daily. I love that this gives my kids a sense of ownership.
SmartyPants costs $14-$18 for a 30-day supply. They may be cheaper, but you may end up spending what you’ve saved at the pediatric dentist instead! I’ll take quality over price any day for my kids.
The one that has multivitamins for babies up to 50+… SmartyPants
SmartyPants has a multivitamin for the whole family, from toddlers and babies all the way up to adulthood. I initially jumped at the chance to buy all of our vitamins from the same place, until I read that even the adult formula included 8g of added sugars per serving. If I wouldn’t take it myself, I wouldn’t feel comfortable giving it to my baby or even my mom.
Turning my attention to Hiya’s expert-endorsed, kids-only multivitamin has made all the difference. Hiya carefully vetted their multivitamin to benefit kids’ growth and development: it’s made with honest ingredients, it’s allergen-friendly, and it can be given to children as young as 2 years old. Hiya is the only multivitamin where I feel I’m not cutting any corners when it comes to my kids’ well-being.
The 1-and-done multivitamin… Hiya
I’ve been hard on SmartyPants for being sugary and gummy. A redeeming quality is that they do contain 15 nutrients that kids need to develop and grow. However, kids have to consume 4 per day to get those nutrients.
Hiya vitamins are once-a-day. They’re packed with 15+ vitamins and minerals including Vitamins A, C, D, and E, Bs 1, 9, 12, 5, and 7, plus Riboflavin, Calcium, Iodine, Zinc, Selenium, Manganese, and Vitamin K.
We’re here for Hiya (and Hiya is here for us)
I tell my kids it’s okay to have preferences, and their choice is Hiya for their vitamins. I affirm this choice—they’re sugar-free, cost-effective for families, and pediatrician-backed.
