A Mom’s Honest Review of Hiya Vitamins

I try my best to serve healthy, nutritious meals to my children, but let's be real—it's a challenge. To be honest, it's tough. As a full-time working mom, I can't always juggle everything (even though doing weekly meal prep does make a difference). There are days when the convenience of macaroni and cheese, fish sticks, chicken nuggets, and pizza outweighs the desire for a gourmet, healthy meal. As a mom of two young kiddos, there are moments when I simply need a mental break and turning to convenient foods is the reality. Some days, I just don't have the energy to engage in a battle with my toddler, and the idea of preparing a wholesome meal feels like a distant dream.

So, when Caden turned two, and the picky-eating really kicked-in, we decided to throw a multivitamin into our daily mix. Being true to my Type A personality, I did a fair share of research to ensure the ingredients I was giving him were high quality. That's when I discovered Hiya Kids Multivitamins. Here's my honest review and how they've been working for us.

Do kids need multivitamins?

Simply put, no. Ideally, kids would receive all the essential nutrients their bodies need from a well-rounded diet encompassing all food groups. But let's face it – that's not always the case. Whether it's picky eating, a strong dislike for certain food groups, dealing with food allergies, or facing dietary restrictions (hello veggies!), children's vitamins can step in to bridge the nutritional gap. They make sure that children still get the vital vitamins and minerals essential for their proper growth and development. If your kiddo is happily munching on a well-balanced diet, you can probably skip the multivitamin and, hey, feel free to share your secrets with the rest of us!

About Hiya Vitamins

The backstory

When the founders of Hiya delved into the world of children’s nutrition, they encountered an unsettling truth—many children's vitamins on the market were made with sugar, artificial ingredients, and gummy additives, in many ways resembling candy as much as a health supplement. This revelation was surprising, as it uncovered the stark contrast between the vitamins' intended purpose of health and well-being and their actual sugary composition. Determined to change the narrative, Hiya was created with a mission to formulate a multivitamin that prioritized children's health without the unnecessary sugar content.

What makes Hiya different?

Hiya takes a different approach by skipping the usual added sugars for taste. They opt for a natural sweetener—including monk fruit extract, so kids get that sweet taste without added sugar. Plus this is a chewable vitamin, not gummy vitamin. Which honestly isn’t revolutionary (remember those Flintstones chewable vitamins our parents gave us?), but it certainly is not the norm you find at the store these days.

What's inside Hiya vitamins?

Fruits and veggies

Hiya contains 15 vitamins and minerals and a blend of 12 fruits and veggies to fill some of the most common nutritional gaps in kids’ diets. Plus, it also includes Selenium, which is an essential mineral often left out of kids multivitamins. 

Clean ingredients

Hiya Vitamins are formulated by a team of pediatricians and nutritionists and made without the extras – no added sugar, artificial preservatives, or gummy additives! It’s also gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, and nut-free, which is great for kids with food allergies.

What's missing?

Although Hiya vitamins offer a well-rounded nutritional profile, it's important to highlight the absence of iron, a nutrient essential for the development of children. Iron plays a vital role in supporting growth, cognitive development, and the formation of healthy red blood cells. Consider incorporating iron-rich foods like chicken, meat, beans and lentils, and iron-fortified grains to ensure adequate intake. That said, Hiya does offer a separate iron supplement that I love!

Why I chose Hiya for my kids

Parent perspective

Not only do these taste amazing (like Sweetarts!), but the nutrition is on point. Hiya wins with its honest, and zero added sugar formulation. I am a huge fan of the subscription model, which is just another convenient way to simplify life as a parent. I also appreciate the refillable packaging which is designed in a reusable glass, child-resistant bottle.

Kid perspective

Caden loves Hiya vitamins because they are sweet and colorful. His favorite routine involves licking his vitamin like a lollipop before happily chewing it. And no joke, he asks for it every night as part of his bedtime routine (and since there is no sugar I happily oblige). He also does his “happy dance” when he sees the colorful yellow box arrive in the mail “yay, my vitamins are here!” Don’t believe me? See his reaction when he finds his Hiya vitamins bottle empty…

Hiya subscription model explained

Speaking of arriving in the mail, I'm a big fan of subscriptions because I don't have to stress about reordering or forgetting. This hassle-free monthly subscription sends a refillable bottle, complete with personalized stickers in your first offer. Then, every month, you get a refill pouch to refill your bottle with a fresh supply of vitamins.

The customer service is seriously incredible. If your child is on the younger side and you’re having difficulty with a chewable tablet, they will send it to you in powder form to mix in with applesauce, yogurt or milk. Or if your child is picky about colors, you can ask customer service to customize future orders to only contain that color. Talk about helping a mom out!

How do Hiya vitamins compare to other brands?

Not only is it sugar-free, but when you compare it to other brands, you only need to take one chewable to get a complete dose, which is easier for kid compliance. Also, Hiya is made in a state-of-the-art US facility and undergoes third party testing to ensure no unhealthy trace amounts of heavy metals, allergens, or pathogens are found in the vitamins.

Is Hiya the Right Choice for Your Child?

When selecting a multivitamin for your child, consider the following factors to ensure you're making the best choice for their health and well-being:

1. Nutritional Content: Look for a multivitamin that provides a broad range of essential vitamins and minerals tailored to your child's growth needs.
2. Ingredient Quality: Choose a brand that sources high-quality ingredients and avoids synthetic additives and artificial colorings.
3. Dosage: Consider the recommended dosage and ensure it is age-appropriate for your child.
4. Taste: Make sure the multivitamin is palatable to your child, as this will encourage regular consumption.

Hiya's additional vitamin offerings

To cater to diverse health needs, Hiya has recently introduced a few new products to its lineup. Hiya's Kids Daily Probiotic is crafted to support childhood immunity, gut health, and enhance nutrient absorption. The Kids Bedtime Essentials aims to promote restful sleep by supporting relaxation before bedtime using magnesium instead of melatonin. And the newest addition is Hiya's Daily Iron+, which is an ideal standalone iron supplment.

I personally introduced Hiya's probiotic with Caden after we battled weeks of constipation and its now part of our daily routine.

My final thoughts on Hiya

I definitely recommend Hiya vitamins to my friends, especially when I see a bottle of sugary gummy vitamins laying around their house, because I had no idea there was a great alternative until I discovered Hiya. I’m even starting Willow on them this month – I asked the team to provide hers in powder form since she’s still on the younger side for chewables.

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