Vitamins for my adhd child

[Gratitude2015]

Well.... my 6 year old was just diagnosed with adhd in January . Our next appt to start his medication won't be until March. Are there any vitamins he can try to help with focus at all? He is 6 years old.

[STEM_Dad]

Aside from just a children's multivitan supplement, several web articles recommend Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Iron, Zinc, and Magnesium. I know it's possible to take too much of certain vitamins and minerals, and I believe zinc is on that list, but I'm not certain. When I'm doubt, consult your doctor.

Other recommendations include Omega-3s, as well as herbal supplements like Ginkgo Biloba. I personally wouldn't expect most kids to tolerate an Omega-3 supplement, because they would probably be grossed out burping up the fish oil aftertaste. I would not recommend any herbal supplements for a child unless your doctor is okay with doing so.

additudemag.com/vitamins-mi...

I'm well past childhood, but I can tell you that prior to my ADHD diagnosis at 45, I did supplement with a multivitamin, extra vitamin D, Omega-3s, and ginkgo biloba. That combination did seem to help me improve in my attention noticeably, but not by much. (In my case, ADHD medication has definitely helped me more.)

Do you research. Ask you doctor about all your questions and concerns. Get the answers you need. You can help make a world of difference in your child's life with early and proper treatment. I learned a lot about ADHD from YouTube videos featuring Dr. Russell Barkley, Dr. Edward "Ned" Hallowell, or any videos on the HowToADHD YouTube channel. There are also many good articles at chadd.org and additudemag.com that can help you be well informed.

[Gratitude2015 in reply to STEM_Dad]

Thank you!! I appreciate it!

[Gettingittogether in reply to Gratitude2015]

The non-pharmaceutical ADHD interventions include exercising--aerobics and weights. .

Exercise definitely helps ADHD people focus later. One reason my ADHD was covered up when I was younger was that I was always intensely involved in sports that required serious exercise. Two hours of basketball a day in high school--that was fantastic for my brain (and mood) though I didn't know it at the time of course.

Good sleep ... which can be hard for people with ADHD ...

Routines ... rigid routines ironically ... and rigid routines can with luck lead to automatic habit. The more good stuff we get to automatic habit, the less our brains have to figure out.

With routines, the ADHD person doesn't have to think on their feet. I put my keys in the same place every time I come home. I have to be rigid, because I won't remember otherwise where I put it.

Probably your ADHD youngster needs multiple alarms to wake up or to complete a task ... Like set a reminder AHEAD of the main reminder ... you have to give the person extra time to shift focus or find focus. This ADHD adult uses multiple reminders for waking up. Maybe an Alexa or similar device in your kid's room can help. And have a list read off to him ... of reminders ... worth trial and error. Anytime I cook anything these days I set an Alexa timer ... to remind me. And it works!

Going into nature helps as well .... Something about being around trees and flowers and out away from cars and the like gives the ADHD brain a break ... like some good sleep.

Meditation or any kind of quiet time can help a lot, though I know this might be impossible to do with a young person.

And no, you cannot do any of this perfectly ... and your kid won't respond perfectly ... But these are some tips.

[STEM_Dad in reply to Gettingittogether]

Lots of great suggestions!

On exercise: While any kind of exercise will help, according to research from recent years, types of exercise which challenge balance and coordination are especially helpful. These include: yoga, martial arts, gymnastics, tumbling, and most kinds of sports.

On routines: Build up with lots and lots of patience, encouragement, & praise. One effective way to build a routine is by using "habit stacking". Start a new habit by using an existing one as a trigger.

(Note: ADHD Brains respond much better to praise and reward than they do to chastisement or punishment.)

[Gettingittogether in reply to STEM_Dad]

Wow, I did not know of this recent research on balance, coordination and the like. Thanks for sharing!

[Voidfish]

When I was diagnosed around the same age as your child my mother went the natural route. She consulted a reputable naturopath and worked with both her and my doctor to narrow down what would help me the best. I could list what they gave me, but it's been so long and research has developed so much that it's all probably different now lol. A commenter above suggested all the same things I would suggest, but I would like to add that you can get Omegas that aren't fishy.

Routines are excellent. Acknowledgement of a job well done will work wonders on their self esteem. Exercise or movement of any kind was probably the biggest thing that helped me. Whenever I would be in a hyperactive or fidgety mood my mom would make me run up and down the stairs a few times. I was happy to do it and it really helped me to refocus.

Sensory toys and activities are also really good to keep them occupied for a time in case you need to get something done for yourself. My favourite thing was a big tupperware bin full of multicoloured dry noodles and rice. My mom would put down a big blanket and just have to fold it and pour everything I spilled back in the bin. It works like an indoor sandbox but is much less messy and good for bad weather days. Another plus to this is it's movable in case you need to keep an eye on them while being somewhere else in the house.

I kind of went off on a tangent, so overall I think finding a reputable naturopath would be your best bet, they can steer you in the right direction.