An honest mom’s review of these popular children's multivitamins.
This post is in partnership with Hiya. I only endorse products I believe in and would recommend myself.
As much as I hate to admit it, I was totally that mom who said her kids would eat whatever she fed them, no exceptions. And here I am… serving boxed mac & cheese, pesto pasta, personal pizzas and fish sticks on the regular. My life is busy enough, and truth is I just don't have the mental space or patience to deal with the tantrums that occur during dinnertime with my toddler.
That’s why incorporating a multivitamin became part of our daily routine. I wanted to ensure Caden was still getting the proper immune supporting nutrition, especially as cold and flu season are upon us. Of course, I did extensive research to know the supplements I chose passed my lengthy list of criteria. So I thought I'd share my findings with you today. Here's my evaluation of Hiya vs. SmartyPants vs. Olly.
The Safest Ingredients: Hiya
Hiya
Hiya is made with ZERO added sugar. The ingredients sourced are non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free and dairy free. Since these are not gummy vitamins, you won’t find any of the gummy junk in this list (gelatin, pectin). I love the transparency into the manufacturing process: Hiya is made in a highly compliant facility in the US and is 3rd party tested to ensure no trace amounts of heavy metals, allergens or pathogens are found in the vitamins. Score: 5/5
SmartyPants
SmartyPants first 2 ingredients are sugar and tapioca syrup, followed by gelatin and pectin. Total sugar amount is 5g per serving. Ingredients are non-GMO, free of milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, gluten and wheat. There are no synthetic colors, are third party tested and received a Purity Awarded by Clean Label Project. Score: 3/5
Olly
Olly vitamins' first 2 ingredients are sugar and glucose syrup, leading to a total sugar amount of 2g. They are gelatin based, and processed in a facility full of allergens (soy, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, milk, fish, shellfish, wheat and sesame). They are NSF certified meaning you should be able to trust what the label says. The ingredients list is exactly what you’d find on a pack of gummy bears. Score: 2/5
The Most Nutritious: Hiya
Hiya
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. It also includes Selenium, which is an essential mineral often left out of childrens’ multivitamins. Score: 5/5
SmartyPants
SmartyPants contains 15 nutrients plus fish oil to support immune health and provide antioxidants. Score: 4/5
Olly
Olly contains 12 vitamins and minerals. Olly also includes a *very* small dose of probiotics. The amount (500 million CFUs) is so small you should consider giving your child an actual probiotic to supplement this if you really want to support gut health and digestion. For reference, most probiotics measure CFUs in the billions. Score 3/5
The Tastiest: SmartyPants
To test this, I asked my 3 year old Caden his opinion, but I did also try these myself 😉
Hiya
Hiya vitamins taste like SweeTarts. Instead of added sugar, they use monk fruit to deliver a tasty chewable tablet kids love. Score: 4/5
SmartyPants
SmartyPants are gummy vitamins coated in sugar. A full dose of these tasty treats contains 5g of sugar! Yikes. No wonder these taste like candy. Score: 5/5
Olly
Olly vitamins taste like gummy candy. With 2g of added sugar per vitamin, there is no debate that children love eating these. Score: 4/5
The Most Budget-Friendly: Olly
Hiya
No matter if your child is age 2 or 8, the dosage of Hiya remains 1 tablet. Hiya supplies 30 days of vitamins at a time through a subscription service, with pricing decreasing per unit the more children you purchase for. If you are purchasing vitamins for 1 child, the cost is $1 per vitamin. If you are purchasing for 2 children, the cost is $0.93 per dosage.
SmartyPants
Your child needs to consume 4 of these!! At $0.20 per gummy vitamin, that's $0.80 per dosage.
Olly
If your child is between 2 and 4, the dosage of Olly is 1 gummy. If your child is over 4, the dosage of Olly is 2 gummies. For a younger child, the cost comes to $0.23 per gummy vitamin. For older children, the cost comes to $0.45 for 2 gummies.
The overall best kids multivitamin is Hiya
The cost is minimally higher, but with it you get MUCH better ingredients, nutrition- and peace of mind!
✅ Honest, clean ingredients
✅ No added sugar, but still tasty and kid-approved
✅ No gummy junk
✅ Subscription convenience (one more way to simplify your chaotic life)
✅ Eco-friendly, reusable packaging
Get 50% off your first purchase with code: NMM50
Disclaimer: I am not a pediatrician, certified nutrition specialist or dietician. All statements here are my own opinion and you should always consult a medical professional regarding your child’s health and wellness regimen.
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