GummyTalk Forum

Okay, so I need to vent a little and maybe get some advice. My 4-year-old daughter found my bottle of gummy vitamin D supplements yesterday and thought they were 'mommy's special candy.' She managed to open the child-proof cap (apparently not so child-proof for determined toddlers!) and ate THREE before I caught her. She was so proud of herself, saying 'I ate the rainbow bears!' I panicked and called poison control, but they said she'd be fine since it's just vitamins. Still, now she keeps asking for more 'rainbow bears' and I'm hiding all supplements in a locked cabinet. Anyone else have kids who mistake vitamins for treats?

Oh wow, that brings back memories! When my kids were little (they're teens now), we had the opposite problem - my son REFUSED to take any gummy vitamins because he said they were 'slimy' and 'too chewy.' He'd make the most dramatic faces and spit them out. We ended up switching to traditional pills he could swallow with juice, but I always felt bad he was missing out on the fun flavors. Back in my day, we just had those chalky Flintstones vitamins that tasted like sweetened chalk - kids today are so picky about texture! Maybe try explaining they're 'health candy'? Though that might backfire...

Haha, my husband does this! He's 42 but acts like a kid sometimes. I buy those melatonin gummies for sleep, and he keeps 'accidentally' eating them during the day because 'they taste like peach rings.' Last week he fell asleep on the couch at 3 PM after having two. I had to put a big label saying 'NIGHTTIME ONLY' on the bottle. At least your daughter has an excuse being 4 - my grown man should know better! Maybe try getting her some actual gummy candy that looks different? Or those vitamin patches I've seen advertised?

Thanks for sharing, both of you! @IvyIron756 - I remember those Flintstones vitamins too! My mom used to bribe me with actual candy to take them because I hated the texture. Maybe history is repeating itself. @SolarSam - OMG the melatonin story is hilarious (and concerning!). I might try the 'health candy' explanation, though you're right about it possibly backfiring. The vitamin patches are an interesting idea - have either of you tried them? Are they actually effective?

I haven't tried patches myself, but my sister swears by them for her kids who are super texture-sensitive. She says they're great for things like vitamin D, but for multivitamins she still uses gummies because they have more complete formulas. Another old-school trick: crush up regular vitamins and mix them into applesauce or yogurt. Not as fun, but effective! Just make sure the vitamins are safe to crush first. And definitely keep that locked cabinet - my nephew once ate a whole bottle of iron gummies and turned his poop green for days. Kids + vitamins = constant adventure!