For many adults, multivitamins are an insurance plan, filling nutritional gaps that even a healthy diet might miss. But when it comes to our kids, it’s important to consider overall diet, medical conditions, and nutrient deficiencies. And finding an option that kids will happily take, doesn't compromise on key nutrients, and isn’t secretly loading them up with sugar, is harder than it should be. 

That’s why we enlisted the help of pediatric dietitian Jordan Thaler, RD, to help us understand when children should take multivitamins and the factors that actually matter when choosing one - especially important when 90% of children don’t get the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables.¹

Combining Thaler's expertise with hands-on testing by TCJ parents, we evaluated three popular brands: Hiya Kids Daily Multivitamin, Grüns Kids, and L’il Critters Gummy Vites.

One clear winner stood out in terms of nutrient balance, quality, and safety. Read on to find out our pick.

When to Consider a Kids’ Multivitamin

We asked Thaler if parents should supplement their kid’s diet with a multivitamin. In short: probably.

"Many children do not consistently meet the recommended daily servings of fruits, vegetables, dairy, and whole grains," Thaler explains. "A well-formulated multivitamin can help bridge common nutrient gaps and support overall development. It acts as a 'safety net' for virtually all growing children - not just picky eaters."

She generally recommends that kids start a multivitamin as early as age 2 - so it is critical to consider brands that are safe for toddlers. Out of the brands in our review, we found that only Hiya is specifically formulated and recommended for that age group.

What to Look For in a Kids’ Vitamin

What should you look for when choosing a multivitamin for your kids? According to Thaler, consider these three factors:

• Key Nutrients: The formula should include Vitamin D (for bone health), Calcium (critical for growth), and Vitamin A (for immune and eye support). Unfortunately, calcium is often omitted from gummy vitamins because it is difficult to stabilize in that form.²
• Sugar Content: High levels of added sugar can lead to cavities and unhealthy dietary habits.³ Some multivitamins contain over 25% of kids’ recommended daily sugar intake.⁴
• Form Factor: Because they look and taste like candy, gummies pose a high risk for overconsumption (potential overdose) and can pose a choking hazard for kids under 4.⁵ Look for safer chewable tablets instead. 

How do Hiya, Grüns, and L'il Critters compare? Let’s find out.

Kids Multivitamins Compared

Nutrition & Ingredients: Hiya Wins With All Essential Nutrients and Zero Sugar

When it comes to kids' multivitamin ingredients, there’s one we always recommend avoiding: sugar. In fact, according to pediatric dentists, added sugars in gummies can contribute to cavities and can encourage unhealthy sweet preferences at an early age.² 

Hiya is the only multivitamin with zero grams of sugar in its single daily chewable tablet. “Hiya is great because it has nutrients that many other vitamins are missing such as vitamin A, vitamin D, calcium, zinc, selenium, and iodine," says Thaler.

Unlike many gummy vitamins - that contain several grams of sugar (Grüns) or glucose syrup (Li’l Critters) - Hiya has zero sugar, using natural monk fruit extract to sweeten their vitamins.

Grüns is a gummy with the highest sugar content of the three, at 7 grams per serving (for context, 25 grams is the recommended total daily sugar intake for kids).⁴ While it contains iron, it is missing the essential nutrient calcium.

Finally, L’il Critters gummy vitamins only have 11 essential vitamins and minerals (compared to Hiya’s 15+). It contains 3g of sugar, glucose syrup, and gelatin - and is missing calcium.

Hiya also packs its benefits into a single daily chewable tablet. L’il Critters’ serving size is two gummies per day, and Grüns is a whopping six gummies per day.

Form Factor: Hiya Wins As The Only Chewable Tablet

Hiya is the clear winner in form factor as the only chewable tablet option and the only option is safe for children ages 2 and up.

Form factor is a critical safety and health consideration. As Jordan Thaler, RD noted earlier, she strongly advises against gummies.

"I much prefer chewable tablets like Hiya to gummies. I don't love that gummies can get stuck in children's teeth and can lead to increased cavities when not brushed right away. Moreover, gummies can be considered a choking hazard in children under the age of 4."

Moreover, lab testing has shown that gummies can have far above the listed amounts of various nutrients.⁴ Children can be especially sensitive to these variances.⁵

Both Grüns and L’il Critters are gummy vitamins which actually closely resemble candy gummy bears.

Taste: L’il Critters Wins With Candy-Like Gummies

L’il Critters ranks first in the taste category, thanks to its candy-like gummy texture and sweet flavor that most kids enjoy (but parents may not feel so great about). Of course, that all comes at the expense of a sugar high (3g of sugar per serving).

Hiya comes in second. It’s intentionally less sweet than traditional gummies, and most kids adjusted quickly to the mild, fruit-forward chewable. We prefer a multi that doesn’t load up on sugar like L’il Critter and Grüns Kids.

Grüns ranks last for taste. The strong, sweet veggie flavor and green color made it the least appealing option for kids.

Fun Factor: Hiya Wins With Personalized, Reusable Packaging

While nutrition and safety are paramount, the "fun factor" helps kids actually stick to a daily routine.

Hiya wins with fun, themed stickers and games - including collabs like Barbie and Hot Wheels. When your child personalizes their bottle, that can help them form a healthy multivitamin habit.

Although the packaging is standard, L'il Critters has Paw Patrol and Frozen shaped gummies, adding a bit of fun to kids’ routines. They also scored well in the taste ranking (1st place).

Grüns is last. Although the daily packs are convenient, as mentioned, the green color made these vitamins the least appealing to kids. 

Cost: L’il Critters Wins as the Cheapest Option

When considering the cost, it’s important to look beyond the sticker price and focus on the overall value and nutritional quality you are getting for your money.

L’il Critters are by far the cheapest option at just $10/bottle ($0.10 per serving) on Amazon, but this comes with lower quality vitamins, including missing essential nutrients like calcium.

Hiya offers the best overall value. With a first order discount of 50% off, Hiya starts at just $15 per bottle ($0.50 per serving). You receive over 15+ essential vitamins and minerals, zero sugar, and a superior chewable tablet form.

Grüns costs $66.99 for just 28 servings ($2.39 per serving), making it the most expensive option. Given its high sugar content and missing calcium, it is simply not worth the price.

The Winner: Hiya Kids Daily Multivitamin

After reviewing each brand against the highest standards of pediatric nutrition, Hiya is our clear winner.

It’s the only multivitamin that provides 15+ essential vitamins and minerals, including critical nutrients like Calcium, Zinc, and Vitamin D, with no sugar. Furthermore, its chewable tablet form avoids the dental and safety risks associated with sticky, candy-like gummies, and is safe for kids 2+.

Our dietitian, Thaler, agrees: “Hiya gives you 15+ essential nutrients without the sugar, and because it's a chewable, it avoids the dental issues and 'candy vitamin' problem that comes with so many other brands. Overall, it's a balanced option to fill common nutrient gaps and support healthy growth.” 

Ready to try Hiya? With TCJ, get 50% off your first order. Plus, receive discounts if you have multiple kids.

1. Penn State: 90% of Kids Don’t Get Enough Fruits and Veggies
2. Time: Calcium Often Omitted From Gummies
3. Southmoor Pediatric Dentistry: Gummies Can Cause Cavities
4. NHS: Recommended Daily Sugar Intake‍
5. CDC: Gummies as a Choking Hazard For Kids