Conversion pixel

When They Have a Good Amount of Omega-3, Kids Thrive!

Doctors currently recommend Omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy and nursing because these nutrients are so critical for fetal and infant brain and eye development.* So right at the start, giving your kids a good supply of Omega-3s, particularly DHA, is critical.

But it doesn’t stop after babyhood . . .

With a diet high in Omega-3, kids flourish. Research shows that after infancy, Omega-3s continue to be critical for healthy development and growth . . .*

Reports Oxford University researcher Paul Montgomery, Ph. D., “Levels of Omega-3 fatty acids in the blood significantly predicted a child’s behavior and ability to learn . . . Higher levels of Omega-3 in the blood, and DHA in particular, were associated with better reading and memory, as well as with fewer behavior problems as rated by parents and teachers.”1*

A total brain package for your child! And as if things couldn’t get any better, according to research, this behavioral support from Omega-3s may even help make bedtime easier!2*

Now isn’t that a parent’s dream?

Beyond children’s brains and behavioral health . . .

  • Omega-3s may help children keep their hearts healthy.3*
  • Another study tracked children for five years after they had Omega-3 supplements in infancy. The researchers found that at 5 years old, the children who had had extra Omega-3s had a healthier sensitivity to insulin and they were less likely to be overweight.4*

Clearly, when kids get enough Omega-3, kids thrive.

So now you may ask, how much Omega-3 does your child need? And how do I get it into them – especially if they’re finicky eaters!

  • Aim for 5 mg of DHA per pound of body weight for infants 6 to 24 months of age.*
  • Birth to 12 months: may take up to 500 mg per day of combined DHA and EPA.
  • Kids 1 to 3 may take up to 700 mg per day.
  • Kids 4 to 8 may take up to 900 mg per day.
  • Kids 9 to 13 may take up to 1200 mg per day.
  • Older teenagers may require as much as 1600 mg daily.

To get enough Omega-3s in your kiddos, the first thing we recommend is diet – grassfed meat and Omega-3 fortified milk; seafood especially sardines and wild-caught salmon; and pastured eggs. And cut down on Omega-6 foods like corn oil, soybean oil and foods with processed grains (flour) as much as possible.

To supplement, go for some of the kid-friendly flavored liquid Omega-3s or a chewable product. Be careful – both these products can go rancid easily thanks to the water content. But they are easier for many children to take. And use caution with gummies since many are basically glorified candy with lots of sugar and negligible amounts of Omega-3s.

Finally, if your children are older and comfortable swallowing pills, try our ultra-concentrated, highly purified Omega-3s.  Our DHA 600 provides kids with a complete dose of this critical brain-builder and our EPA 500 supports healthy inflammation and mood. Both come in smaller pill sizes that may be doable for older children.

Don’t try to cut these capsules open and add them to juice! They’ll make a mess. And the intense taste and odor of the concentrated fish oil – especially if it goes rancid after you open them and expose it to air – will make your child hate fish oil for life. Just go with a liquid or chewable version as recommended above.

“I was unfamiliar with your product but I was told by my doctor that I needed to give my daughter concentrated grade fish oil, so I tried your product after talking to you. I am happy to say that my daughter has not had any health issues since.”*

Christine Garcia Palmdale, California

Latest Articles about Kids

Kids

Ready for School: Preparing Your Child for Academic Success

Hi. I’m Doctor Jennie. Welcome to Kid’s Corner. Today, we’re gonna be talking about ‘school readiness’, which is important any time of the year, but especially at the start of a new school year. This can be a nerve-wracking time for both parents and children. The fear of the unknown can be scary for someRead More

Kids

Positive Parenting: Strategies for Raising Happy, Healthy Kids

Hi. I’m Doctor Jennie with Kid’s Corner. Today, I will be talking about something called ‘positive parenting’. If you’re watching this, you know that parenting can be challenging. Trying to figure out how to do it well is hard. But just by thinking about how to be a good parent, you’re already on the rightRead More

Kids

Calm in the Storm: Managing Your Child’s Tantrums Effectively

Hi. I’m Doctor Jennie, and welcome to another edition of Kid’s Corner. Today, we’re going to talk about a challenging topic that all parents face at one time or another: tantrums. Have you ever been that parent in the middle of a crowded grocery store and your child asked for candy? You say no, andRead More

Kids

From Battle to Bonding: Transforming Your Child’s Bedtime Routine

Welcome to another Kid’s Corner. I’m Doctor Jennie, and today I’m talking about bedtime battles. Do you dread your child’s bedtime? Does bedtime feel more like a battle than a bonding time? If so, you’re not alone. Bedtime struggles are incredibly common. These bedtime battles can be frustrating and upsetting for both you and yourRead More

Kids

Coughs and Colds 101: Keeping Your Child Healthy During Winter

Hi. I’m Doctor Jennie Gary. Welcome to another episode of Kid’s Corner. Today, we’re going to be talking about the dreaded cough and cold season. Have you ever felt like your child is constantly sick during the winter season, jumping from one cold to the next? Trust me, Aa a pediatrician and parent myself, youRead More

Kids

Beyond Distraction: Helping Your Child Overcome Attention Challenges

Welcome back to another Kid’s Corner. I’m Doctor Jennie, and today we’re going to be talking about a topic that’s becoming increasingly more common in children – poor attention and ADHD (or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). ADHD is a chronic disorder of the brain that makes it difficult to control impulses. If you have everRead More

Kids

Feeding the Fussy: Tips for Dealing with Picky Eaters

Oh, hi. I’m Doctor Jennie, and welcome to Kid’s Corner. Do you have a picky eater? At age two or three, children already start to like certain foods and dislike other foods. There may be a lot of variation in how hungry they are for different meals each day or even in the amount ofRead More

Kids

The Screen Time Dilemma: Impact and Management for Kids

I’m Doctor Jennie, and welcome to another edition of Kid’s Corner. There’s a mental health topic parents ask about today that wasn’t an issue ten years ago. Can you guess what it is? That’s right. It’s screen time. While technology has offered many advances, it has also created new challenges for parents and caregivers. ManyRead More

Kids

Navigating Mental Health in Children: Signs, Support, and Solutions

Hi. I’m Doctor Jennie. Welcome back to Kid’s Corner. Mental health is a topic that carries a lot of stigma and judgment for many people. But mental health issues are actually quite common in children. The good news is they are treatable. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health issues have skyrocketed for many children andRead More

Kids

Understanding and Resolving Challenging Child Behaviors

Hi. I’m Doctor Jennie Gary, and welcome to Kid’s Corner where I discuss the top childhood development issues facing parents. Today, I’ll be discussing a real challenge for many parents out there, and that’s overcoming difficult behavior in young children. Does your child act out? Have tantrums? Not listen? Don’t worry. This doesn’t mean you’reRead More

  1. Pederson, T. Omega-3 Strongly Linked To Behavior, Learning In Children. Psych Central Website. Viewed July 18, 2019 at https://psychcentral.com/news/2013/09/14/omega-3-strongly-linked-to-behavior-learning-in-children/59556.html
  2. Montgomery P et al. Fatty acids and sleep in UK children: subjective and pilot objective sleep results from the DOLAB study – a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Sleep Research. Mar 8, 2014. 23(4) 364-388.
  3. Baumann C, Rakowski U, Buchhorn R. Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation Improves Heart Rate Variability in Obese Children. Int J Pediatr. 2018;2018:8789604. Published 2018 Feb 26. doi:10.1155/2018/8789604
  4. See VHL et al. Cardiometabolic Risk Factors at 5 Years After Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation in Infancy. Pediatrics. 2018 Jul;142(1). pii: e20162623.