How To Get Picky Kids To Take Supplements

Here are some of my favorite tips to help make supplement time with kids easy and enjoyable.

Some children may be willing to take supplements directly from the dropper, especially if the taste is mild or they’ve become familiar with the routine. This method is great! It is quick and easy, plus offers reliable dosing... but not all kids enjoy taking their supplements straight. If you use this method, please ensure the dropper never touches your child’s mouth, as this can contaminate the bottle.

One of the most successful strategies is to mix supplements into your child’s favorite beverage. Herbal glycerites, powdered supplements, and liquid vitamins tend to work well when added to juice, smoothies, or even breast milk or formula. For this to work well, the drink should be palatable enough to mask any bitter or earthy taste.

If a precise dosage is important, it’s essential that your child finishes the entire drink. This is especially important to be aware of if you are mixing medication into a drink. In these cases, it’s best to add the dose to just a small portion of their beverage—just enough to hold the dose—so you can ensure it’s consumed in full.

Thicker foods like applesauce, yogurt, and pureed baby foods, are excellent vehicles for liquid and powdered supplements, especially those with a strong taste.

One trick for kids that are extra picky is to dispense the liquid supplement into a fruity flavored pouch. Your child won’t see the supplement, and they’ll slurp it up without too much of the supplement touching their tongue. Again, if exact dosage is important, you’ll need to ensure your child finishes the pouch.

When it comes to beef liver supplements, these can be opened and added directly to savory recipes! These articles share some of my favorite recipes that hide the taste of beef liver: Beef Liver Capsules Are A Great First Food For Babies and The Benefits of Beef Liver Capsules for Kids + Three Family Friendly Recipes!

I’ve been known to add herbal supplements to a bowl of soup to add nutrients, and I even have a favorite recipe where I add PooMotion to energy balls. When adding supplements to foods, just be sure to add heat-sensitive supplements (like probiotics) after cooking or to no-bake recipes, as high temperatures can degrade their potency.

Homemade gummies can turn a challenging supplement into a fun “treat.” You can easily make your own gummies using quality gelatin, fruit juice, and your favorite herbal supplement. Silicone molds can help you make fun shapes, or you can simply use a baking tray and cut the finished gummies into cubes.

To get my recipe for elderberry gummies, read this article: How To Make Elderberry Gummies

For older kids who can swallow pills but need to take supplements only available in liquid form, filling gelatin capsules can be a real game-changer. These empty capsules can be filled at home and swallowed like any other pill. This method allows for precise dosing without the taste or texture issues some kids may experience with liquids.

Many of my most loved herbal formulas are available in liquid phytocaps, which are already encapsulated for convenience. Choosing a supplement delivery method doesn’t need to be complicated. 

To learn more, read this article: Choosing A Supplement Delivery Method For Your Family

Learning to swallow pills is a developmental skill that many children can begin practicing around ages five to seven. For kids who are open to trying, starting with mini-sized candies (like sprinkles, mini-M&Ms, or small boba pearls) and working up to larger sizes can help build confidence.

Have your child place the “practice pill” on the middle of the tongue and use a straw to drink water. The suction from the straw encourages a strong swallow and can help the pill go down more smoothly. Always practice with your child seated and supervised. With consistency and encouragement, most children can learn this skill quickly.

At the end of the day, the most effective supplement routine is the one you can stick with. Supplements should feel like a normal part of your child’s day, not a punishment or point of tension. When possible, offer simple choices to empower them in the process: Would you like this in juice or applesauce? Do you want to take it before or after breakfast?

Making supplement time feel predictable and positive helps reduce resistance over time. Some families find success using rituals that build association and routine.

If getting your child to take supplements feels like a daily battle, you’re not alone… But it doesn’t need to be this way! From mixing supplements into smoothies, to hiding liquid supplements in pouches or energy balls, there are plenty of clever ways to sneak in nutrients. 

For older kids, practice pill-swallowing early, and if they end up preferring capsules but you have a liquid formulation you prefer, simply pour the liquid into gelatin capsules and have the child swallow them immediately. Making homemade gummies is another fun trick! Most importantly, keep it low stress, stay consistent, and let your child feel part of the routine with simple choices and positive rituals.