The Fast Facts
- Hiya offers kids supplements formulated with whole food–based ingredients and zero added sugar.
- The brand is best-known for its multivitamin, but also offers a probiotic, bedtime supplement, iron supplement, and greens powder.
- For this Hiya Vitamins review, registered dietitian and mom Kelli McGrane tested several products with her toddler — with mixed results.
Despite your best efforts, getting your toddler to eat a well-balanced diet isn’t always possible. Whether you have a picky eater or a wiggle worm who doesn’t stay at the table for more than one or two bites, a multivitamin can be helpful for making sure your child gets their nutrients. However, they shouldn’t be used as a replacment for a balanced diet.
As a dietitian with a 3-year-old, Kelli McGrane was instantly drawn to Hiya as a healthier alternative to the gummy vitamins her toddler was regularly taking. Hiya was founded by a dad who wanted to create kids’ vitamins that don’t contain added sugar or artificial additives.
So, are they worth it? Keep reading for Kelli’s perspective as a dietitian and to find out whether her toddler actually liked the products he tried.
- The Daily Multivitamin was a great solution for us, and my toddler took it for a year without complaint. He started to get bored after that, but I’d consider resubscribing in the future.
- The Bedtime Essentials supplement ultimately wasn’t helpful for us, but it could be for other kids, and the ingredients seem to be of good quality.
- The Greens+Superfoods Powder was a great addition to dessert smoothies, and my toddler was a fan.
Pros
- free of added sugar, gluten, dairy, and artificial additives and dyes
- third-party tested for heavy metals, allergens, and pathogens
- sweetened with monk fruit extract
- initial shipment arrives in a refillable glass jar, plus stickers for decorating
- subsequent months shipped in no-plastic refill pouches
- subscription options for households with one to five kids
Cons
- relatively expensive
- not suitable for kids under 2 years old
- requires a subscription
- no omega-3 supplement available
- some kids may have difficulty transitioning away from gummy vitamins
Hiya supplements are formulated with whole food-based ingredients. They’re naturally sweetened with a blend of monk fruit extract and mannitol, a sugar alcohol that provides sweetness but doesn’t get broken down by oral bacteria to form cavities.
In addition to being free of added sugars, Hiya’s products are made without artificial dyes, additives, and preservatives. They’re also free of major allergens and produced in a peanut-free facility.
Hiya’s facilities are
“I’m Kelli McGrane, a registered dietitian and cookbook author. I evaluated the ingredients in Hiya’s kid-friendly supplements and tried several of them with my own toddler.
I obtained my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nutritional Science from Boston University.
I have worked as a nutrition editor, clinical dietitian at two Boston hospitals, and a nutrition researcher for the University of Colorado and Children’s Hospital.
I have also worked as a freelance writer and editor for several online publications.”
The biggest downside of Hiya vitamins is the price, with most supplements costing $1 or more per serving. Plus, unlike many other brands, you can only get Hiya vitamins by subscribing through the company’s website.
Hiya products are formulated for kids ages 2 years and up. However, because
Finally, it’s worth noting that not every kid needs a multivitamin or other dietary supplement. If you’re unsure of whether your child is meeting their nutrient needs, it’s best to talk with a registered dietitian, pediatrician, or other healthcare professional first.
Important safety concerns
When shopping for kids’ supplements, it’s important to keep in mind that kids metabolize nutrients differently than adults and are more susceptible to nutrient overdoses.
Here are some tips to reduce the risk of vitamin toxicity:
- Purchase supplements that are specifically formulated for your child’s age.
- If they’re taking multiple supplements, make sure to check for any nutrient overlaps.
- Always tightly seal supplement bottles and store them out of reach.
- Follow label instructions for dosing, unless recommended otherwise by a pediatrician.
- If your child is currently taking medications, check with your pediatrician about any potential drug interactions.
While Hiya states that each of its products is designed with limited nutrient overlap, it’s still best to double-check with your pediatrician.
Hiya vitamins are manufactured in a peanut-free facility and are free of major allergens. However, because there’s still a risk for cross-contamination for allergies other than peanuts, the brand might not be the best fit for kids with severe food allergies.
If Hiya feels too expensive or doesn’t quite meet your child’s needs, there are several other kids’ vitamin companies to consider. Below is a quick look at some of the more popular alternatives to Hiya.
Note that serving sizes or the recommended number of servings per day may vary depending on your child’s age, which may affect the monthly cost of a product.
Pricing guide:
- $ = under $0.30 per serving
- $$ = $0.30 to $1.00 per serving
- $$$ = over $1.00 per serving
• probiotic
• bedtime vitamins
• immunity vitamin
• greens powder
• hydration powder
• iron
• fiber + veggies
• multivitamin + fiber
• triple action immunity
• multivitamin + immunity
• iron
• calcium
• single-letter vitamins
• probiotics
• immunity gummies
• pre- and probiotics
• immunity gummies
• bedtime gummies
• specialty formulas
Hiya is a subscription-based service that delivers vitamins directly to your door. You can customize your order based on the number of kids in your household, and the service ships monthly.
Hiya isn’t sold in stores, so the brand’s website is currently the only place to buy it.
To get started, you’ll select which products you want to add to your subscription and whether you’re purchasing for one or multiple kids in your household.
The first shipment includes a 30-day supply, a reusable glass bottle, and stickers for your kids to decorate their containers with. Each month thereafter, you’ll receive refills in recyclable pouches.
You can adjust your account online or by emailing the company’s support team. Kelli had to make adjustments to her subscription, and each time she needed help, the company’s support team was quick to respond and make the requested changes.
Hiya and Olly are both reputable kids’ vitamin brands. However, they differ in the types of ingredients and amount of sugar present in their products.
Hiya vitamins come in chewable tablets rather than gummies and are free from added sugar. They also contain fewer added ingredients and are suitable for kids with peanut allergies.
However, Olly kids’ vitamins are generally less expensive and easier to find online and in stores. They’re also NSF certified to ensure both purity and potency, while Hiya vitamins are only third-party tested for potency.
While there are regulations around dietary supplements, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t approve any supplement brands or individual products.
To ensure quality and purity, Hiya vitamins are manufactured in CGMP compliant facilities, and products are tested by independent labs for heavy metals, allergens, and pathogens.
Hiya vitamins are formulated with high quality, mostly whole foods ingredients and don’t contain any artificial additives, such as dyes, flavors, sweeteners, fillers, or preservatives.
The majority of Hiya’s nutrients are sourced from whole foods and aren’t synthetic. However, some nutrients, like calcium, don’t have food sources listed and could be synthetic.
The brand confirmed the greens powder does not have any synthetic ingredients and said that Hiya tablets consist of whole food ingredients where a natural source exists.
Hiya vitamins may be a good option for some families, but whether they’re “good” depends on your child’s needs and preferences.
Our tester said the multivitamin was “a great solution for us,” and their toddler took it for a year without complaint before losing interest. They also found the greens powder “a great addition to dessert smoothies,” with their toddler enjoying the taste.
However, they’re not a one-size-fits-all solution. As with any supplement, it’s best to review the ingredients and talk to a pediatrician to make sure it fits your child’s nutritional needs.
Hiya states that its pediatricians studied diets and genetics to include all the necessary vitamins and minerals kids need.
However, it is always a good idea to check with your doctor before starting any new supplements.
Overall, Hiya offers high quality supplements that are free of added sugar and artificial additives, which are commonly found in other kids’ vitamin brands.
The supplements come in refillable glass bottles, and each month’s supply is automatically renewed and shipped to your door. Several of the products even passed the toddler taste test.
Still, Hiya might not be right for everyone. The supplements aren’t cheap, and they’re only available through the company’s website. Hiya also has fewer supplement options compared with several other brands, though Hiya’s product offerings may expand over time.
Whether you decide to try Hiya or opt for a different brand, make sure to talk with a pediatrician before starting your child on any new supplements.