Zinc for Kids

Ah, zinc. It’s often an overlooked mineral when it comes to kids’ health. Yet, this powerful workhorse of the mineral world can do a lot of good for growing bodies, from supporting their growth to their overall well-being.

Zinc is an essential mineral – “essential” meaning it’s important to make sure your kids are getting enough of it! From supporting immune system health to playing a vital role in growth and development, zinc may be alphabetically last among the minerals, but it’s definitely an A-list supplement.

Learn more about zinc for kids below and get the scoop on which SmartyPants childrens’ vitamins contain it.

What is Zinc?

First off, zinc is classified as a trace mineral, which means it doesn’t take much to be effective, yet it’s a vital component to living a healthy life - for both adults and children. As a naturally occurring element, zinc is found in meats, legumes, whole grains and more. Still, it’s easy to miss out on getting enough zinc into your diet, especially when it comes to picky eaters!

The long and short of it is that zinc is important in proper growth and development while acting as a bolster to the immune system. * Zinc also supports healthy bones, critical in growing children. If that’s not enough, it also helps to maintain healthy hair, skin, and nails. Can kids take zinc? You bet they can. 

What Foods Have Zinc?

Zinc may be tucked away in the fourth row of the periodic table of elements, but it’s readily found in quite a few foods. But don’t let that deceive you! Include reference to USDA Food Central Database or the disclaimer "Based on USDA Food Data Central." Or, you could just pop a couple of gummies. Flexible on the exact wording for this statement but the key is that our Kids gummies alone don't provide 100% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) amount referenced here. They provide 1.6mg zinc per serving. Stating "or you could just pop a couple gummies" implies that this is the case so we need to clarify that you still need to have foods with zinc. – your call.  

Among the most zinc-rich foods are: 

• Oysters
• Beef
• Crab
• Lobster
• Pumpkin seeds

Foods that are good sources of zinc are:

• Lentils
• Black Beans
• Pork
• Cashews

Benefits of Children’s Zinc

As mentioned above, zinc is a versatile mineral that supports your kids in several ways, from helping with their immune response to supporting their bones* 

Immune System Support 

The body’s immune system is its first line of defense. By helping with the function of immune cells, zinc supports the body’s front lines. The addition of zinc into your child’s diet will deliver critical immune support. Learn more about vitamins for kids’ immune systems. Heal wounds is a drug claim - dietary supplements are expressly prohibited from making these types of claims.

Hair, Skin, and Nails 

Zinc plays a crucial role in skin, nails, and hair health. Zinc is one of the principle minerals of the nail plate and the skin is the third-most zinc-abundant tissue in the body. So if you want to help maintain your child’s healthy hair, skin, and nails, making sure they’re consuming enough zinc is critical. 

How Much Zinc Should a Child Take Daily?

Below are the general guidelines outlined by the National Academy of Medicine for how much zinc is recommended, broken down by age and sex. Please note that males typically require larger doses because they have larger body masses, but everyone is different. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about your supplements. 

• 0 to 6 months: 2 mg of zinc daily
• 7 months to 3 years: 3 mg daily
• 4 years to 8 years: 5 mg daily
• 9 years to 13 years: 8 mg daily
• 14 years and up male: 11 mg daily
• 14 years and up females: 9 mg daily

Should I give my Children Zinc?

It’s important to recognize that everyone’s needs are different, and that one toddler may have different nutritional needs than another of the same age. Same goes for prepubescent children and teenagers. When deciding on whether to give your child zinc supplements such as zinc gummies, it’s important to speak with your pediatrician to know whether your child would benefit. 

Zinc Deficiency Symptoms 

Granted, zinc deficiency is not as common in the developed world, but a lack of zinc can lead to the following issues : 

• Lack of alertness and focus
• Depressed immune function
• Stunted physical growth
• Diarrhea
• Respiratory infections

Please reach out to a medical professional if you or your child is exhibiting any of the above symptoms.

Zinc Supplements for Kids

If you’re thinking about supplementing with zinc, we suggest looking for the premium form, zinc citrate, as this is the form your body can better absorb compared to zinc oxide. It's also what you'll find in the following SmartyPants supplements for kids:

• Organics Toddler Formula
• Organics Kids Formula
• Daily Family Immunity
• Teen Girl Formula
• Teen Guy Formula

Choose these vitamin supplements with confidence to help support daily family immunity in your household. These kids gummies are a great tasting solution to get the nutrients growing bodies need 

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.