Children's DHA™ Gummies 600 mg by Nordic Naturals

These gummy chews are for children aged 3 and up, the age on the front of the box, who eat little or no oily fish and will not take a liquid or swallow a softgel. Fish such as salmon and sardines are the main food source of the omega-3s DHA and EPA, and many children eat very little of them. If your child already eats fish regularly, a supplement adds less. Check with your child's pediatrician before starting.

Each chew holds purified fish oil from anchovies and sardines set in a gelatin gummy. DHA is a structural fat in the brain and the retina, and EPA is its partner omega-3; together they support normal brain development and take part in normal immune function. The chew is sweetened with xylitol, sorbitol and stevia extract instead of sugar, flavored tropical punch with natural flavors, and colored with paprika extract.

One gummy chew provides 600 mg of total omega-3s, including 355 mg DHA and 145 mg EPA. The box's suggested use is one gummy daily for ages 3+ years, or as directed by your health care professional, and the box holds 30 chews. Giving it with a meal can reduce any aftertaste, and make sure your child chews it fully before swallowing. Store it in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and out of reach: the chews taste like candy, and a child should not help themselves to more.

Do not give it to children under 3, and do not give more than one gummy a day without the pediatrician's advice. It is made from fish, so it is not suitable for a child with a fish allergy, and the gelatin makes it unsuitable for vegetarians. Sugar alcohols such as xylitol and sorbitol can cause gas or loose stools in some children. The box says to consult your physician first if your child has a known medical condition, takes medications (including blood thinners) or is allergic to iodine; ask before planned surgery too. The box is marked not for pets: xylitol is toxic to dogs.

Do not expect a quick or visible change. Omega-3s build up in the body's tissues over weeks to months of regular intake, and studies of fish oil for attention, behavior or learning in children show mixed results, so think of it as covering a dietary gap. Compared with liquids and softgels, a chew is easier to give, at the cost of sweeteners and gelatin. Regular meals of low-mercury oily fish remain the food-first alternative.