Posted on July 28, 2024 by Modern Mom Tribe Staff

Finding the right multivitamin for your kids can feel like a never-ending chore. No parent wants to spend money on a 30-day bottle that your kid ultimately doesn’t like from day one.

So in my latest parenting rabbit hole, I tested out the internet’s three favorite brands—Smartypants, First Day, and Hiya. To my surprise, not all vitamins are created equal! Here’s how it went…

Riley’s a pretty picky eater, so he'll be on taste-test duty today.

All three brands boast kid-friendly flavors, so I put them to the ultimate test with my little ones, Riley and Cailin. And yes, I sampled some too… for science!

SmartyPants: These were well-received. My kids enjoyed the taste, though they mentioned a slightly more “vitamin-y” flavor. May not be a favorite for picky eaters.

Hiya: Definitely the “strongest” tasting of the three. Hiya uses monk fruit, a sugar alternative that is 100 times sweeter than sugar, which might explain why the taste comes off so strongly to me.

First Day: These were definitely a hit. First Day is the only brand here my kids would probably mistake for a fruit snack. And after trying them myself, I can’t blame them.

If you’re like me, you grew up with Flintstones Chewables – those chalky, old school tablets with an aftertaste that would simply not go away. Fortunately, my kids are lucky enough to live in an era where gummy vitamins exist.

SmartyPants: These gummies were well-received. No complaints from the kids, and they took them without a fuss.

Hiya: Unlike Smartypants and First Day, Hiya comes in a chewable tablet. And let me tell you… my kids absolutely despised them. Riley actually spit his out after chewing on it– I’m honestly not sure if you’re supposed to chew these or let them melt in your mouth.

First Day: Also well received, but these gummies were the only vitamins my kids asked for more of, which is saying something.

Not all vitamins are created equal. Let's see what each brand is offering in terms of ingredients.

SmartyPants: No fruit and veggie blend here (at least from what I can find online), which is a bit of a letdown considering the competition.

Hiya: Features a blend of 12 organic fruits and veggies, offering a wholesome option.

First Day: Also boasts a blend of 12 organic fruits and veggies. I don't know what magic they use to pack all that produce into two little gummies, but I need it for my cooking!

If you’re like me, you pay a lot of attention to what you bring into your home. So here are the iffy-er ingredients I could find in each option.

SmartyPants: While free of artificial sweeteners and synthetic colors, it does contain 5g of sugar per serving, which is on the higher side for vitamins.

Hiya: Zero sugar and no artificial sweeteners or colors. However, they do contain monk fruit – a sugar alternative that I personally avoid since its long-term effects haven’t been tested in humans.

First Day: Free of artificial sweeteners & flavors, synthetic colors, and high-fructose corn syrup. And with only 2g of organic cane sugar, I personally feel better giving these to my kids.

When it comes to vitamins, more isn’t always better. Our diets already include vitamins from food and fortified products that when combined with vitamins, can lead to oversupplementation. That's why I prefer supplements that complement your diet without overloading it.

SmartyPants: Some vitamin values at 100%, though most are fairly reasonable.

Hiya: Tends to oversupplement certain nutrients, with some vitamins exceeding 200% of the recommended daily intake. Definitely something I would avoid to prevent oversupplementation.

First Day: Seems to strike the right balance with daily values that complement dietary intake.

When it comes to convenience and flexibility, here’s how these brands stacked up for me.

SmartyPants: For online shoppers, available through retailers like Amazon, but you can't order directly from their site.

Hiya: Subscription-only with a tricky cancellation process. Once I subscribed, it was honestly a hassle to cancel.

First Day: Offers the most options—order directly from the brand or through Amazon, and choose between a subscription and a one-time purchase. I sub'd to get a discount, and editing the subscription and skipping were both really easy to do.

After my thorough comparison, it’s clear that First Day stands out as the overall winner. Not only did my kids love the taste, but the high-quality ingredients and balanced formulation make it my favorite.

TLDR?

First Day takes the cake for taste and quality—your kiddos will love 'em, and you'll love what's inside them.