Best Organic Kids' Vitamins (Without the Weird Stuff)

Am I showing my age if I tell you I lived on Flinstones vitamins as a kid? I can still taste them—a mix of weird artificial fruit flavor mixed with chalkboard chalk! 😆

I recently looked at the ingredients in the traditional Flinstones chewables and it’s not very pretty: multiple artificial colors & flavors, hydrogenated vegetable oil, retinyl acetate, and various sugars (along with common allergens like wheat and soy).

I’ve been asked a lot about which kids’ vitamins are better. So in this guide, I’m going to cover:

key ingredients to look for
what to avoid
my top picks for cleaner multivitamin brands
and more.

But before we get going, let’s get clear on something very important: I am not a doctor and this information should not be taken as medical advice. My focus here is on finding safer ingredients and minimizing toxic contamination, not on customizing supplementation protocols. Every child is different and may have different specific needs. I highly recommend talking to your doctor about what kind of longterm supplementation might be best for your child(ren).

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Do kids really need to take vitamins?

Maybe, maybe not.

You may have heard people say things like “taking vitamins is basically like making very expensive pee.” They’re essentially arguing that consuming extra vitamins in gummy, pill, or powder form is useless and you just pee it all out.

But it’s not that simple.

A lot of people are vitamin deficient. According to some data, 50% of kids ages 1 to 5 and 70% of children ages 6 to 11 have a vitamin D deficiency.

High numbers of kids are also deficient in things like iron, calcium, vitamin A, and more.

We won’t dive into all of the potential downstream effects of vitamin deficiency, since there are a lot of them (especially for kids since they are still developing!), but there are plenty.

The reasons for vitamin deficiency vary as well:

Our diets, in general, are more processed and less nutrient dense.

Many kids are picky eaters (for a variety of reasons) and therefore may have a hard time getting a diverse enough diet that provides all of their vitamin and nutrient needs.

Kids may not get adequate sun exposure (leading to vitamin D deficiency).

Children may have poor absorption due to all kinds of potential factors: trauma, infection, genetics, disorders, and more. (For example, the MTHFR gene mutation is very common and effects how you process folate, which is a B vitamin.)

The constant bombardment of environmental toxicants (endocrine-disruptors, heavy metals, pesticides, etc.) can also affect the ways in which our bodies absorb and process vitamins & minerals.

So, the short answer is: yes, a lot of people have trouble getting all of their necessary vitamins, and extra supplementation can be helpful.

However! All of that said, I do recommend doing your best to try and get as many vitamins and nutrients from whole foods as you possibly can.

If you and your kids CAN manage to get adequate amounts of vitamins from food, water, and sunshine, that is ideal.

Our bodies can usually absorb nutrients more effectively from these sources. They also generally contain a wider range of nutrients that work in a positively synergistic way that supplements can’t.

I just think it can be easier said than done to get ALL your vitamins & nutrients from food in today’s world. Personally, I believe supplements should fill gaps, not replace a healthy diet and lifestyle.

What to look for in a high-quality children’s vitamin

Whole-food sources: Ideally, the vitamins will be derived from whole foods (like real fruits & vegetables).

Bioavailability: Some forms of vitamins and nutrients are better absorbed by the body and have fewer side effects.
- For example, methylated folate (like 5-MTHF) is better than folic acid. Similarly, magnesium glycinate is better absorbed and gentler on the stomach compared to magnesium oxide. Natural Vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol) is better utilized than synthetic forms (dl-alpha-tocopherol).

Do you want/need specific nutrients? You’ll probably want to look for a variety of key nutrients, including vitamin D, vitamin C, and zinc. But then if your child has been tested and found to be deficient in something specific, you’ll obviously want to prioritize that, too.
- For example, some kids should take iron and others should not. Too much iron can be toxic, but many kids are deficient (especially if they don’t eat enough iron-rich foods like meat, beans, or dark leafy greens). Talk to your doctor about this one.

Third-party testing: There is minimal regulation on supplements, so it’s basically up to the companies to self-regulate. That’s why ideally, you’ll want to look for brands that do third-party testing to make sure their products:
- a) actually contain what they say they do (for proper dosing)
- b) are not overly contaminated with things like heavy metals, mycotoxins (from mold), pesticides, etc.

Clean Label Project Certification: Speaking of third-party testing, the Clean Label Project is a great resource when it comes to supplements because it fills in an essential gap in regulation and testing. Clean Label Project verifies that a product has been tested for contaminants like heavy metals, BPA/BPS, pesticides, and more.
- It is a little confusing because Clean Label Project has several different certifications under its umbrella:
  - The main one is the regular Clean Label Project Certified. This basically means that a product has passed basic testing standards.
  - Then they have their Purity Award, which means that the product or brand is not only Clean Label Project Certified, but it also ranked among the top performers in its category.
  - They also have their Pesticide Free Certification, which, as the name indicates, is focused only on pesticide contamination.
  - And they have a few other certifications focused on other specific things, too!
- In general, I do recommend looking for vitamins and supplements that are Clean Label Project Certified when you can. It provides a level of outside accountability when it comes to those contaminants that are often present in food/supplements, but would not be present on ingredient labels.

What to avoid in kids’ multivitamins

Added sugars: A lot of kids’ vitamins include unnecessary sugar. Low- or no-sugar options are better.

Artificial additives: Try to steer clear of synthetic dyes and artificial flavors when possible. (These ingredients aren’t even essential.)

Other fillers & synthetic ingredients: Ingredients like magnesium stearate or hydrogenated oils offer no health benefits and can be avoided.

These ingredients aren’t going to make or break your kids’ health, especially considering the fact that they’re consuming them in such small doses in a vitamin. So don’t stress if your child has been eating them up until now…

But they’re also just unnecessary. If you can get a product that avoids these ingredients (especially since they are consuming it every day, for a long period of time), then why not? All the little things can add up to make a big difference over the long run!

A note on heavy metals in healthy foods (& supplements)

It’s very common for healthy foods to contain heavy metals. Things like lead and cadmium are present in our soils and waterways, so crops draw those metals up as they grow. This is how heavy metals get into everything from sweet potatoes to chocolate to cassava.

Although we know heavy metal exposure is not good for us or our children, we cannot avoid it 100%. Again, even healthy foods commonly contain at least small amounts.

What I recommend is to try shopping from brands that prioritize:

minimizing heavy metals as much as possible (keeping them below California’s Prop 65 limit is generally a good benchmark)
testing their products regularly to ensure those limits stay as low as possible

I want to shop from brands that are doing everything in their power to ensure heavy metal exposure is kept to an absolute minimum, even if they cannot get rid of it 100%.

And a note about “Natural Flavors”

I’ve found that a lot of kids’ vitamins (even the best brands) use “Natural Flavors” in their formulations.

This is not ideal since it’s an unspecific ingredient that can potentially include residual solvents, undisclosed allergens, or other random contaminants.

However, I personally am not super concerned about this because:

The Clean Label Certification gives me a level of reassurance that potential contamination is kept to a minimum.
The amount of “Natural Flavors” your child may be getting from vitamins is very small. (They’re likely getting more from other sources throughout the day.)
The vitamins need to taste good if your kid is actually going to eat them.
The benefits probably outweigh the risks.

My picks for the best kids’ vitamins (cleanest ingredients & organic options)

EllaOla

If you want a non-chewable option, you might want to check out EllaOla.

It’s a powder, so you can sneak it into foods! This is probably one of the best options for even the most picky eaters!

At the time of this writing, they have 4 different options:

Toddlers – Unflavored
Toddlers – Berry
Kids – Unflavored
Kids – Berry

I recommend their Unflavored options the most because:
a) they have received the Purity Award from the Clean Label Project.
b) the Berry options contain “Natural Flavors”. (These ones are also not certified by the Clean Label Project at this time).

It has zero sugar (they use monk fruit for taste), and no artificial sweeteners, dyes, or additives. Their vitamins come from real (mostly organic) fruits and vegetables. It’s also vegan, gluten-free, and free from the “Top 9” allergens.

Shop EllaOla

Mary Ruth’s

Mary Ruth’s has a lot of options to choose from. You can shop according to:

life stage (babies, toddlers, kids, or teens)
specific need (immunity, bone health, etc.)
liquid or gummies

A lot of their products are Clean Label Project Certified, which means they are third-party tested to be free from a long list of common toxicants and contaminants, including heavy metals, residual solvents from manufacturing, mycotoxins from mold, glyphosate, and more.

Many of them come with the USDA Organic certification as well.

They’re also free from a lot of common allergens, like gluten, dairy, and nuts.

You can either grab their standard multivitamin gummy, or you can get more strategic depending on specific needs. For example, you can grab a probiotic-infused gummy, you could buy a liposomal version for better absorption, or you could get just a vitamin C or just a vitamin D.

Some of their options do contain “natural flavors” which is not ideal, but again, that’s not so much of a concern for me personally because of the Clean Label Project certification.

Shop Mary Ruth’s | Buy on Amazon | Get it at Thrive Market | Buy from Target | Find it at Walmart

Llama Naturals

Llama Naturals is USDA certified organic. Pretty much all of their ingredients are just organic fruits and vegetables.

Not only are they free from synthetic ingredients, but they’re also free from all the common allergens, too (nuts, eggs, soy, dairy, shellfish, and wheat).

Llama Naturals says they use 3rd party testing to check vitamin levels, heavy metal content, yeast & mold, and microbials. I reached out to ask for more info and they sent me copies of the third-party tests showing all of the contaminants tested below the reporting limit. They also informed be that they use Eurofins as their lab, which is apparently one of the most trustworthy ones in the industry.

They carry multivitamins along with Elderberry Immunity gummies, pre- & probiotics, vitamin D, and adult vitamins.

You can use the code THEFILTERY20 for 20% off your order.

Shop Llama Naturals | Find them on Amazon | Order from Thrive Market

SmartyPants

Here is another brand that is Clean Label Project Certified. It has their Pesticide-Free Certification and has also garnered their Purity Award (which means it’s ranked among the top performers in its category.)

SmartyPants says they conduct various third-party testing throughout many stages of the production process, and that they make sure to stay Prop 65 compliant.

Although they don’t publish any test results on their website, you can reach out to them with the lot number from your specific bottle and ask them for compliance certificates. (I did email them and ask for the results of a recent test, but they just told me to send them the specific product, lot number, and expiration date.)

When it comes to ingredients, they’re pretty good. They do use some artificial sweeteners such as monk fruit and allulose in some of their products. They also use “Natural Flavors” for some of their products. (But again, I’m not super worried about that because they have the Clean Label Project Purity Award.)

They do not use any synthetic colors, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, or preservatives. Some of their products are certified USDA Organic as well.

They carry vitamins for pretty much every age group—from babies & kids, to teens, to adults. Some of their formulations differ, so if you’re wondering about a particular ingredients, you’ll have to check the details on the specific product you’re looking to buy. (For example, some products contain “Natural Flavors” and some do not. Some are certified organic and some are not.)

Note that Smarty Pants is owned by Unilever.

Also, they do use gelatin, so most of their vitamins are not vegan.

Shop SmartyPants | Get it on Amazon | Buy it from Thrive Market | Find it at Target | Shop at Walmart

First Day

This is another good option because it’s Clean Label Project Certified too.

They do source from organic fruits & vegetables for the most part. (The vitamins themselves are not certified organic though.) However, they do contain “Natural Flavors”.

Although they do third-party testing for contaminants, they unfortunately do not publish their test results. When I reached out to them to ask to see some recent testing, they said: “We’re currently under NDA with our manufacturers, which covers what they consider to be proprietary information, and we’re working on getting their permission to share them. We will make sure to upload them to our website as soon as we have an update.”

They have a lot of different options for kids, teens, and adults. In addition to standard vitamins, they also have extras like probiotics and magnesium supplements.

Shop First Day | Find it on Amazon

Grüns

Grüns are kind of like Athletic Greens in gummy form.

(Note that 1 serving is 8 gummies though, so your kid has to really like them if they’re going to actually eat them.)

They have an adult version and a kid version. It’s a multi-vitamin but it also includes extras like adaptogenic mushrooms and prebiotics. Grüns contains the highest number of vitamins & minerals of all the brands on this list (21).

They contain a lot of organic fruits & vegetables, with no synthetic ingredients.

Like most of the other options, they do contain “Natural Flavors.” The low-sugar version also contains cane sugar. (They also have a sugar-free version that uses allulose and OnoSweet).

Grüns does third-party test every batch for contaminants. They say they use a lab called Eurofins and they test for:

70 different pesticides
4 types of heavy metals
16 different contaminants
9 microbial contaminants

I reached out to them to ask for a COA, and they sent it right to me. (You can see it here.)

They’re also vegan and free from dairy, gluten, and nuts.

Shop Gruns | Order from Amazon

Ritual (for teens)

a bottle of Ritual Essential for Teens with 60 vegan capsules inside

Ritual is also Clean Label Project Certified and has earned the Purity Award.

Although Ritual is mostly made for adults, they do have two options for teens: one for the girls and one for the guys.

I generally like the way Ritual is doing things. Their Made Traceable® initiative is trying to bring more transparency and traceability into the supplement industry, which I appreciate. On their website, you can look up each ingredient to find out where they got it and what its sourced from (ie: whether it’s a real food source or synthetic).

On each page, you can also find links to research on the benefits of that particular ingredient.

All of their products are vegan, non-GMO, and free from artificial colorants. They do use synthetic versions for some of their vitamins.

Shop Ritual for Teens | Get it on Amazon (girl version) | Amazon (boy version)

Thorne (for teens)

a picture of Thorne dietary supplements (Catalyte, FloraSport 20B, Basic Nutrients, Super EPA)

I generally trust Thorne for various supplements. I’ve bought various products from them over the years and have been happy with them.

Their big thing is that a lot of their products are NSF Certified for Sport, which means they’re not going to have any weird ingredients in them. (They are trusted by professional athletes and organizations.)

They have a Youth Bundle, which is recommended for teenagers 14 and up.

The Basic Nutrients 2/Day is the multi-vitamin (in pill form), so you could just get that by itself if you wanted to. The whole bundle includes a probiotic, electrolytes, and fish oil.

Their ingredients are not all natural/organic, but they are made without any weird fillers, sugars, or things like that. They are relatively transparent about their ingredients—you can find out more about all of them here.

Thorne says they go through 4 rounds of testing: first they test the raw materials, then they do in-process tests, then the finished product, then they test for stability afterward.

They have a “No List”, which includes everything from allergens (eggs, gluten, nut-derived ingredients), to chemicals we talk about a lot here at The Filtery like BPA, PEGs, BHT, and more.

Some of Thorne’s products do contain a Prop 65 label. (In the Youth Bundle, the Catalyte electrolytes is the only product with this warning label.)

Shop Thorne’s Youth Bundle | Buy from Amazon | Get it at Walmart | Order from Thrive Market

What about Hiya?

You likely know about Hiya—it’s probably the most popular brand among parents (and kids and doctors, too). I know multiple families who swear by them.

Unfortunately, Hiya has recently faced some controversy after Tamara from Lead Safe Mama tested some Hiya vitamins through SimpleLab and found them to be high in lead, cadmium, and arsenic.

This was very surprising to a lot of people, considering that Hiya does third-party test their vitamins and seems to be very thorough and transparent compared to most other brands on the market. They say they test every single batch, they tell you the specific labs that do the testing, they make sure they are Prop 65 compliant, they provide an example of a real test report (something most brands do not do), and they even say they test their bottles.

(It doesn’t seem like Hiya handled the situation very well from a customer service standpoint, either. I’ve seen screenshots of messages where they don’t seem to be taking their customers’ valid concerns seriously, which is unforunate.)

To be honest, I can’t decide what to make of this debacle as of right now. This type of consumer testing that Lead Safe Mama (and others) do has pros and cons. I don’t usually take these types of results as gospel, but at the same time, the levels indicated were very high and I don’t know if it’s worth the risk.

Ultimately, I want more information.

When these types of test results come out, I tend to take a “let’s wait and see” approach. Usually, things eventually shake out somehow and we get a fuller picture of what’s going on. (Are these labs using different types of tests? Will Hiya get a third-party certification to validate their claims? Will a potential lawsuit provide some more clarity on the situation?)

So, I may end up recommending Hiya in the future, or I may not!

As I mentioned at the beginning, keep in mind that while heavy metal exposure can be scary and we should absolutely take it seriously, we cannot avoid heavy metals entirely. Heavy metals are common in even healthy foods, as crops draw them up out of the soil. So, if our vitamins are being sourced from real food, it’s likely that they will at least contain small amounts of metals.

This is a rabbit hole we can go down another time, but I just wanted to give you a quick reminder that we cannot avoid heavy metals 100% and we should not stress ourselves out by trying to do so.

If you’ve been using Hiya up until now, try not to stress out about it. Switch brands if you want to, but don’t worry too much!

(Last note on this: you may also be interested in knowing that Tamara also tested some Mary Ruth’s vitamins and did not detect any lead, cadmium arsenic, or mercury. I have not seen any consumer testing of the other brands mentioned.)

I hope you found this helpful in your vitamin-shopping quest! If you have any favorite kids’ vitamin brands that weren’t included here, let me know in the comments below.

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