Homemade Gummy Vitamins That Kids Love

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Wellness Mama » Blog » Natural Remedies » Homemade Gummy Vitamins That Kids Love

I get a lot of questions about how I get my kids to take vitamins. While mine will just take their fish oil, probiotics, and magnesium without a problem … it got me thinking.

I combined one of their favorite natural snacks (homemade gummy bears) with vitamins. The result are these healthy, gut-boosting, and kid-friendly multivitamin gummies.

Why We Need Vitamins

Decades ago we only had to eat a well-rounded diet low in processed foods and added sugar to get the nutrients we needed. Now, things are a little more complicated. Unless you’re growing everything you eat in really nutrient-dense soil (or buying from someone who does), food just doesn’t have the essential nutrients it used to.

In fact, fruits and veggies have less than 50% of the essential vitamins and minerals they used to. And even then there are certain nutrients no longer in the American food supply. We need these nutrients to help our immune system, to protect against heart disease, and for overall wellness.

As a mom, I’m more targeted in my approach to nutrition with my kids. We get vitamin D from the sun and vitamin A from fish oil. My kids also like taking healthy, non-GMO, and gluten-free vitamin supplements (without added sugar!) like this one. Adding an extra nutrient boost from homemade gummy vitamins is a fun way to pack more nutrition into their day!

Gut Soothing Gelatin

These rely on gelatin for their texture. Not only is it a good source of collagen, but it helps with healthier hair, skin, and nails. Gelatin is also a big plus when it comes to our gut health. As Hippocrates reportedly claimed many years ago “All disease begins in the gut.” Science is continuing to confirm how important our gut health is for overall health!

A healthy gut has health benefits that include immune support and better mental health.

One caution: If your kids aren’t regularly drinking bone broth (they should be!) then start slow and only give them a few of these at a time. Their guts may need time to adjust or they could have a little loose stool. Gelatin has a soothing effect on the digestive system.

Customize Your Gummy Vitamins

You can add different vitamins and nutrients here depending on your preference. Keep in mind that these won’t have a full spectrum of nutrients like premade dietary supplements or prenatal vitamins though. Certain oil-based vitamins, like vitamin E and fish oil also won’t mix in very well.

Making your own chewable vitamins means you can skip the sugar alcohols, additives, and corn syrup sweeteners found in many gummy supplements.

I can think of endless uses for these, but these are the ones I’ve tried so far. You can make different fruit flavors by changing out the juice.

  • Adding vitamin C Powder and using lemon juice to make sour vitamin C gummies for immune health.
  • Adding probiotics with a fresh juice base to make GAPS friendly gummy vitamins
  • Using homemade elderberry syrup as a base to make flu-busting chewable vitamins
  • Adding Natural Calm for chewable magnesium vitamins
  • Just making regular flavors and putting them in cute molds to make gummy snacks. They’re nut-free and sometimes approved for school activities.

You can also try adding some calcium powder (along with magnesium and vitamin D). A B complex vitamin with vitamin B6, vitamin B12, biotin, and folate (not folic acid), is also a good option.

I use probiotics from Just Thrive because they’re proven to make it to the gut (unlike many others). In general, if your probiotics need refrigerated and can’t stand any heat, they won’t make it past your stomach acid. They even have a kid’s probiotic gummy that my kids love!

Choosing Your Juice

Most store-bought juices have a shocking amount of added grams of sugar. They’re often flavored sugar water concoctions. Fresh pressed is the best option, but if you need a store-bought option look for something that’s just organic juice. No added sugars, flavors, or dyes.

Pineapple juice doesn’t work in these because it has bromelain, a digestive enzyme that breaks down protein. Great for digestion, but not so great when you’re trying to make gelatin gel. I’ve found it gives them a weird slimy texture and doesn’t work. Papaya has the same problem here.

Our favorite fresh juice combinations are mango/orange, lemon/lime (sour), or elderberry syrup as the base. They’re full of antioxidants and vitamin C, and taste delicious!

If you’re short on time or can’t make chewable vitamins, Hiya would be my next choice. They have clean ingredients and a wide variety of what kids need.

gummy vitamins

How to Make Gummy Vitamins

Homemade chewable gummy vitamins are a great way to give kids some extra protein and make their vitamins delicious and easy to take!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cooling Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Calories 19kcal
Author Katie Wells

Servings

16 servings

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 8 tsp gelatin
  • 1 cup juice
  • 2 TBSP  honey (optional)
  • 2 tsp vitamins of choice (vitamin C, probiotics, magnesium, etc.)

Instructions

  • Combine the juice, vitamins or probiotics, and honey in a small saucepan.
  • Sprinkle the gelatin over the top and allow it to bloom for about 1 minute.
  • Heat slightly over low heat until gelatin is completely dissolved, about 2 minutes. It will be thick and somewhat syrup-like.
  • Quickly pour the mixture into molds or a small glass dish lightly oiled with coconut oil.
  • Place the molds in the fridge for several hours or until firm. The exact time depends on the size of your molds.
  • Remove and pop out of molds. Cut into squares if needed.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
How to Make Gummy Vitamins
Amount Per Serving (1 gummy)
Calories 19
% Daily Value*
Fat 0.02g0%
Saturated Fat 0.004g0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.01g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.002g
Sodium 5mg0%
Potassium 17mg0%
Carbohydrates 3g1%
Fiber 0.04g0%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 0.2IU0%
Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
Calcium 2mg0%
Iron 0.05mg0%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notes

If your gummies aren’t coming out of the molds easily, pop them in the freezer for a few minutes first. Don’t leave them in for too long though or it will ruin the texture.
Nutrition data doesn’t include added supplements.

Like this recipe? Check out my new cookbook, or get all my recipes (over 500!) in a personalized weekly meal planner here!

Figuring Out Dose

Since these are more like food, I’m not too concerned with the exact dosage. If you want to know how much your kids are getting, here’s an easy way to figure it out. Take the mg or mcg of the vitamin you used and divide by the number of servings.

For example, say you added 400% DV vitamin C. If you used fun gummy molds and ended up with 20 vitamin gummies, divide 400 by 20. This ends up being 20% DV vitamin C per gummy. An even easier way is to make these in a square glass dish and cut the gummies into squares. You can do this calculation for each vitamin added.

Ever made your own vitamins or supplements? What combinations would you add? Let me know below!

DIY chewable vitamins are a wonderful natural alternative to store bough versions. Easy to make and you can customize to your child's needs.
Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

296 responses to “Homemade Gummy Vitamins That Kids Love”

  1. Nancy Avatar

    Great recipe…I got it to work the first time! I acrually used homemade dandelion flower tea as the “juice” and had to add a lot more honey. I scooped the syrup into a measuring beaker a fee scoops at a time, and experimented adding different vitamins to each ‘3 scoop mini batch’ (one scoop fills up one individual mold, so I know exactly how much vitamin each gel candy has!

    My daughter is on an herbal protocol for babesia and can’t swallow pills, she has a hard time choking them down, so I hope this will help!

  2. Quennie Rose Nacua Avatar
    Quennie Rose Nacua

    Hi I am new to this. Trying to give this to my 3 yo who really likes gummies. Might as well do this one with his vitamins. For the juice, can I use store bought juice in a box or is it better for a freshly squeezed juice?

  3. Stephanie Avatar
    Stephanie

    I forgot something in my recipe and my bears have set. Can I melt them back down, add my other vitamin, and then re mold?

  4. sam Avatar

    Can i use water instead of juice and xylitol instead of honey?

  5. Leah Avatar

    Hello! Is there any issue with adding probiotic and vitamins to warm liquid? I heard that it can affect their efficacy. But maybe it’s fine with this method, since the mixture is only warmed at low heat? I heard that’s not the case with minerals (like zinc, calcium), which are fine to add to a heated liquid. I appreciate your thoughts – I’m having a hard time getting my little ones to take things like cod liver oil and their probiotics!

    1. Katie Wells Avatar

      The Just Thrive probiotic is heat stable and fine to add to these. In general, if a probiotic can’t handle warm liquids, it won’t survive your stomach…

  6. Stephanie Avatar
    Stephanie

    Have you tried making vitamin B gummies? I was thinking of emptying my vitamin b capsules and making vitamin b complex gummies. Would that taste horrible? I have never tried my b complex out of its capsule.

  7. Mo Avatar

    1 star
    These do not make gummies, they make jello. I don’t know what the secret ingredient is to make a gummy texture but these definitely don’t have it.

  8. Julie Avatar

    Hi Kate. Thank you so much for the tart cherry sleep gummies recipe! I am really enjoying going thru all your posts (and learning a lot). Is there a particular vitamin d you would recommend to add to these vitamin gummies? They are for a 3yo and 1yo. Thanks again!

  9. jay courtney Avatar
    jay courtney

    how much vit C should you add or magnesium? not sure how to tell how much child is getting

    1. Rena Avatar

      yes, i did not see measurements for how much vitamin to add either. (also would like to know how much to add for adult use). also need estimate of how many gummies would be a daily dose.

  10. Ingrid Avatar

    Yes but are these shelf/room temperature stable like the ones at the store? Or do you have to refrigerate these?

    1. Rena Avatar

      This is what i wanted to know. I was hoping to dust them with corn starch or sugar (like how my store bought ones come) and keep in a jar in the medicine cabinet.

  11. Judith Moyers Avatar
    Judith Moyers

    How much chicken broth should our children be drinking a day? As well as adults?

    How muvh probiotic also do you recommend children and adults taking too..

    To start off.. then regular..

    1. Crystal Avatar
      Crystal

      Hi, i made these lastnight and they are amazing. I made grape flavored vitamins, using organic, unsweetened grape juice and grape flavored toddler liquid probiotics. Can you tell me if 1+1/2 teaspoons vitamin C powder to this recipe is a safe dose. I have used the same vitamin C for awhile now that is linked to this recipe. I made them for my nephew who is turning 2 next month. And how long would these last at room temp? And fridge? Thank you

  12. Molly Avatar

    5 stars
    Why not pineapple juice? I was thinking of making gummies with pineapple juice and raw honey to help my little ones with coughs…..

  13. Josie Avatar

    Can I make a full multi vitamin by using the elderberry as a base and adding both vitamin c and magnesium to it? And vitamin D? Trying to consolidate the amount of things I’m giving my kids to take, thank you!

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