We all want our kids to be as healthy as they can be. With all the sometimes conflicting research on medicine and nutrition it can be easy to get overwhelmed -- who is right, who is wrong and who is just trying to sell a product?  

Although the medical field has made incredible progress, there is still much that we don’t know about the human body.

As of right now, the American Academy of Pediatrics says that a multivitamin is unnecessary for otherwise healthy children who eat a balanced diet -- abundant fresh fruits and green vegetables interspersed with moderate amounts of protein, whole grains, milk and dairy products.

In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics specifically recommends against megadoses (large amounts of single vitamins) because the dosage is more likely to be toxic than to be healthy.

According to WebMD, the top six vitamins and minerals for growing children are Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, calcium and iron.

The body needs these vitamins in only tiny amounts and in a balanced diet they are usually present in sufficient quantities.

There are limited exceptions. For example, if your child is a vegetarian and does not eat dairy or drink milk, a multivitamin may be recommended.

A dairy-free vegetarian may benefit from an iron and calcium supplement.

The same is true for a very picky eater who is consistently missing a key food category in their diet.

Always remember, though, that a multivitamin is intended as a dietary supplement and is in no way a replacement for a healthy diet.

Consider your child’s regular diet. Are any of these vitamins completely missing from your child’s diet? If yes, a multivitamin may be in order. If no, a multivitamin is an unnecessary waste.