PediaSure for Kids: When to Consider Nutritional Supplements for Your Child

Making sure your child is getting everything they need from their diet can feel like a full-time job. You know how important it is for kids to get enough fruits and vegetables. And you know that good nutrition is important not just for growth but also for development, learning, and brain growth.

But what should you do if you have a picky eater? Or, if your child’s underweight? Nutritional supplements, like PediaSure, can help some kids get the nutrients they need. Here’s everything you need to know to decide if PediaSure is right for your child.

What is PediaSure?

PediaSure is a brand of liquid-based nutritional supplements. There are several on the market for infants, toddlers, and kids. 

Liquid nutritional supplements can be made from:

• Cow’s milk

• Sheep’s milk

• Goat’s milk

• Plant-based milk

They contain protein, fat, and carbohydrate to meet dietary needs. They also have different amounts of essential vitamins and minerals.

Because they are made in a lab, they include added ingredients. Some of the calories come from carbohydrates, like corn syrups and added sugars.

While PediaSure is one of the best known nutritional supplements, it isn’t the only one on the market. Other brands include:

• Bright Beginnings

• Boost and Boost Breeze

• Ensure

Read more like this

Explore these related articles, suggested for readers like you.

The 16 Vitamins and Minerals You Need as an Older Adult — and How to Get Them

Tingling in Your Hands and Feet? A Vitamin Deficiency Might Be the Problem

12 of the Healthiest Vegetables According to Research

Is Lemon Water Good for You? A Dietitian Separates Fact From Fiction

View more

Each of these brands has different flavors and product lines. The FDA regulates these products as a food, not a medication. That means supplements need to be made and processed according to safety standards. They also must contain the ingredients that are labeled on the package. But companies don’t have to offer any proof that the products promote healthy growth. 

When does a child need PediaSure?

Nutritional supplements used to be available by prescription only. But now they’re available over the counter at pharmacies and grocery stores nationwide. 

They’re often placed right next to infant formulas and marketed as “next step” options that support healthy growth. These products do help children gain weight. But this messaging makes it challenging to decide if your child really needs nutritional supplements. 

Most children don’t need PediaSure or other nutritional supplements, including vitamins. That’s because children will get all the nutrition they need from a varied diet including the basic food groups, like grains, vegetables, fruit, proteins, and calcium sources. 

If your child is a picky eater, they may not need supplements either. As long as your child is following their growth curve, they’re getting enough nutrition to gain weight and grow well.

But some kids need nutritional supplements like PediaSure. Kids who need therapeutic nutrition include those who:

• Can’t eat whole foods: If your child can’t eat food (either temporarily or all the time), nutritional supplements will give them all the nutrition they need to grow. Many children can use the same brand of supplements throughout their entire lives. Though, the amount they need will change over time. Nutritional supplements can be given via nasogastric, gastrostomy, and jejunostomy tubes.

• Need extra calories: Children with certain medical conditions have higher nutritional needs. If your child has a condition like congenital heart disease and cystic fibrosis, they will need more calories each day for healthy growth. Small children can’t physically eat enough to meet these energy demands. And older children might have a hard time keeping up, too. That’s why nutritional supplements are helpful. They pack a lot of calories into a small volume of liquid, making it much easier for kids to hit their calorie goals.

• Are at risk for malnutrition: If your child has restrictive eating patterns, they may benefit from nutritional supplements. Children with eating conditions like ARFID and eating disorders may need nutritional supplements to catch up on nutrition needs. Kids who have restrictive diets due for sensory reasons may also benefit from supplements.

If you’re not sure if your child needs a nutritional supplement, talk to your child’s healthcare provider. They can help review your child’s growth records. They can also connect you with a nutritionist who specializes in children’s growth and nutrition. A nutritionist can help you optimize your child’s diet. 

What benefits does PediaSure offer children?

For kids who need therapeutic nutrition, PediaSure and other nutritional supplements allow kids to:

• Gain weight

• Grow in height

• Build muscle

• Improve bone density

• Develop healthy teeth

• Boost their immune system

But, how much PediaSure your child needs depends on their age and calorie needs. It’s best to work with a healthcare provider or nutritionist to figure out how much your child should take per day. They can also follow your child’s growth, so you know when it’s time to stop giving your child PediaSure. 

What’s the best way to get my child to drink PediaSure?

If your child will be taking PediaSure by mouth, rest assured that most children don’t mind the taste of PediaSure and other nutritional supplements. Many of the calories in these supplements come from simple carbohydrates so they taste very sweet. 

But some kids need time to get used to this taste, especially if they don’t like sweet tastes. And if your child has sensory sensitivities or is on the autism spectrum, it can be hard to get them to accept new things. Some things you can try to help your child include:

• Change the temperature. Your child might like their supplement better if it’s warm or cold. Try refrigerating it or warming it up instead of offering it room temperature. If you want to be really creative, you can try freezing it and offering it as a popsicle or slushie.

• Try different cups. Try a cup with a lid — some children may prefer not to see what they’re drinking. This can take away the extra visual stimulation of accepting an unwanted item. Some children also do better with straws or sippy cups because it gives them more control over how fast they’re drinking.

• Switch flavors. Most nutritional supplements come in a variety of flavors. Your child may like one flavor more than another. If your child needs to take these supplements by mouth for a long period of time, switching flavors helps fight off flavor fatigue.

• Switch brands. Nutritional supplements are alike but not the same. They all have slightly different flavors and textures. Your child may prefer one brand over the other. But make sure to check with your child’s healthcare provider or nutritionist before switching. 

• Mix it in. You can mix supplements in with baby cereals or oatmeal. You can also blend it with fruit and ice to make homemade smoothies.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Meredith Grace Merkley, DO, FAAP

Meredith Grace Merkley, DO, FAAP, is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with over a decade of work in community health. She serves as the medical director of a school-based health clinic at a federally funded health center.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts