My kids are picky eaters, they have been since they were old enough to eat whole foods. While this is frustrating for me as someone who prioritizes health and wellness and would like to share my passion with my family, I am also understanding of the fact that kids are kids and they’ll likely grow out of their picky eating habits as they age.
In late 2020 when my youngest turned two and my oldest was four, I began looking for a daily kids multivitamin that would support both of my children. That’s when I discovered Hiya, a new kids' vitamin brand that offered a direct-to-consumer option. For a myriad of reasons, which I will get into later in this review, I decided to give Hiya a try. 3+ years later, Hiya Vitamins are still being delivered to our doorstep every month, this article is going to explain why based on our unique experience.
Are you considering Hiya Vitamins for your kiddos? Wondering if the cost is worth it? I’ve got you! I’ll share our experience with the brand and why we continue to subscribe.
How I Found Hiya Kids Vitamins
It’s hard to believe, but it wasn’t until recently (within the last few years) that we started seeing an influx of direct-to-consumer brands. Typically, if we were in need of a kid’s vitamin, we’d either hit up our local Walgreens or head to Amazon. Today these options still exist, but we also have the option to buy vitamins right from the manufacturer, as is the case with Hiya.
I discovered Hiya the way I discover many products these days, by way of a Facebook ad. I was instantly intrigued as Hiya looked different than most kids' vitamins (chewable vs gummy) and their marketing (no sugar!) was compelling.
After clicking over to the website, I started doing some research to see if this brand was the real deal or not.
What Makes Hiya Kids Vitamins Different Than Other Brands?
Most vitamin companies say that they third-party test, but none of that information is truly verifiable. It is with Hiya, and they are the leader in the industry, going above and beyond standard quality assurance practices. Hiya conducts heavy metal testing on every batch of every product that is produced. They use independent, reputable third-party labs for testing, which are accredited ISO/IEC testing laboratories with affiliations with the FDA and other regulatory bodies. This is the Hiya difference!
Making the Buying Decision
Hiya’s website is bright, fun, and informative, and it tells me all the things I like to hear as a mom like “no added sugars, dyes, and gummy additives!” Prior to Hiya, I was giving my 4-year-old son gummy vitamins, which I’m sure weren’t inherently bad, but every parent gets the “no gummies” speech from their kid’s pediatrician and dentist, so I was definitely feeling a bit cringy about them.
I liked how the brand highlighted expert's opinions and reviews of their kids’ vitamins and the fact that the brand was started by a couple of dads who wanted to do better for their kids. It seemed super legit and wholesome.
I was a little taken aback by the monthly cost of the vitamins, but they definitely softened the blow by offering 50% off your first month. I decided to start off with just one bottle to test the waters before purchasing a subscription for both of my kiddos.
Another thing that I noticed was that they didn’t give me the option to do a one-time purchase, it’s a subscription only. I have mixed feelings about that, but ultimately I was fine with it since Hiya promised that I could cancel at any time.
First Impressions
I don’t recall exactly how long my order took to ship, but I don’t remember there being any issues either. We received our first Hiya package and were impressed with the quality of the bottle and the packaging. Staying true to their theme, the packaging is bright, fun, and kid-friendly.
The best part was the fact that the reusable glass bottle that you get with your very first purchase comes with a pack of stickers that your kiddo(s) can use to decorate their own bottle. My 4-year-old eagerly took on the task and began stickering up his bottle. They even included letter stickers so that you can have your child’s name on the bottle, which comes in handy when you have more than one child.
Taste Test!
This is what we really want to know, right? Does Hiya taste good? Do kids like them?? Well, mine sure do! Both kids tried and loved Hiya on the first day. In fact, they both wanted more than one tablet.
Of course, I taste-tested them, too, and have to agree, they’re good! Think Flintstones vitamins without the weird vitamin taste. Hiya is sweet, but not too sweet, and it doesn’t have any kind of funky vitamin taste. I was very pleasantly surprised!
Results?
When I see people speaking about specific results or benefits that their kids are getting from taking a multivitamin, I have to raise my eyebrow a bit. How do you quantify that? I suppose if your kid had a dramatic transformation from adding a multivitamin you have a case, but in our scenario, there wasn’t much I can report as far as results are concerned.
I wanted to supplement my kids’ diets with a multivitamin because they don’t eat as balanced and nutrient-dense of a diet as I’d like them to. The benefit that we get from giving these to our children is knowing that they are being supported by additional vitamins and minerals that they’re likely lacking in their regular diet.
For my family, I can’t claim any crazy results or anything like that, just peace of mind that they were getting what their bodies needed.
Why We Still Take Them Today (3 Years Later!)
Over the last 3 years, my kids have both taken Hiya pretty consistently. We ended up getting a monthly subscription for both kids. Aside from the handful of times that we have paused our subscription to try some other options like First Day, Mary Ruth’s, and Smarty Pants, we have kept up with Hiya most consistently out of any other vitamin brand.
Why? Because it’s easy, I trust Hiya, and my kids like them. The vitamins are delivered right on time to my mailbox every month, eliminating the problem of running out of vitamins and forgetting to pick up more for weeks or months at a time. Truthfully, the subscription model has helped us be far more consistent with our vitamin routine than ever before. Plus, the slightly elevated cost helps keep us motivated not to waste them!
At some point over the past couple of years, Hiya added a kid’s probiotic and a nighttime supplement to their lineup, both of which I jumped on board with and tried. I get into the details of those products in separate reviews, but to sum things up, we like all of Hiya’s products. My kids now take the multivitamins and probiotics daily and take the nighttime sleep supplement as needed.
Who Do I Recommend Hiya For?
Since I’m not a pediatrician, I’m not going to vehemently suggest Hiya, or any vitamin for that matter, to any parent as we should all be consulting with our pediatricians. However, as a mom speaking to other parents, I would say give Hiya a try if you feel like your child isn’t eating enough fruits, veggies, and overall variety in their diet.
As a parent, I prefer Hiya to Gummy Kid’s vitamins because I know it’s an overall cleaner product. Gummies tend to contain a lot of junk and fillers, whereas Hiya keeps its tablets clean and free of extras. Plus, my kids love them, which is a major win.
For parents of multiple children, Hiya is great because it caters to children of all ages, beginning at age 2. Additionally, the reusable glass bottles that each child has the freedom to decorate makes the idea of taking their daily vitamin fun and convenient. You can also feel great about the fact that Hiya is really eco-friendly!
Other Kids Vitamins We Tried And You Should Consider
Many different companies sell kids multivitamins to meet the nutritional requirements of little ones. Let’s compare Hiya Kids to a couple of popular alternatives.
First Day is one of the brands that is on par with hiya, but let's take a look at some others and what the alternatives may be.
Below is a table of other kids vitamins we considered compared to hiya vitamins:
Kids vitamin | Form | Sugar | Serving size | Ages | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
hiya | Chewable | 0g | 1 | 2 and up | $30 |
First Day | Gummy | 2g | 2 | 4 and up | $36 |
1st Phorm Kiddos | Gummy | 3g | 2 | 2 and up | $24.99 |
Manna kids | Liquid | 0g | 1 tbsp | 2 and up | $29.95 |
Smarty Pants | Gummy | 5g | 4 | 4 and up | $17.08 |
Flintstones | Gummy | Artificial | 2 | 2 and up | $13 |
Nordic Naturals | Gummy | 0g | 4 | 4 and up | $34.95 |
Olly | Gummy | 2g | 2 | 2 and up | $13.99 |
First Day
First Day kids gummy multivitamins contain nine essential nutrients from 12 organic fruits and vegetables to support your little one’s growth and development. They offer a subscription similar to Hiya’s. First Day is also environmentally responsible and ships monthly refill pouches if you choose to subscribe.
The main difference between these two is the nutrient profile and the sugar content. First Day multivitamins come in gummy form and have 2 grams of sugar per serving (two gummies).
Their vitamins have vitamin K, but lack minerals such as zinc, manganese, and calcium. A one-time purchase costs $32 a bottle. However, with a subscription they only cost around $27.43 a bottle.
To learn more see our First Day and Hiya side-by-side comparison.
Smarty Pants
Similar to Hiya, Smarty Pants kids gummy multivitamin contains 15 essential nutrients. They also have added omega-3s. While they are considered organic, they include 5 grams of sugar per serving. For your child to meet his or her daily needs, they’ll have to consume four gummies per day. In my opinion, this can lead to them becoming more of a candy than a vitamin. However, they are a cheaper option and cost around $20 per month.
Pricing On Hiya's Website
Hiya Multivitamins can be purchased and delivered to your door for $1 per day directly from their website: www.hiyahealth.com. Currently, they are not available at amazon or Wal-Mart. Each bottle contains 30 chewable tablets. Fortunately, for us mommas with more than one child, Hiya offers discounts if you purchase more than one bottle.
1 kid | $30 per bottle |
2 kids | $28 per bottle |
3 kids | $25 per bottle |
4 kids | $24 per bottle |
5 kids | $23 per bottle |
All prices include shipping.
Once enrolled, your first month will include fresh vitamins along with a refillable glass bottle and personalized sticker pack to decorate!
Each month after that, you’ll receive a recyclable, non-plastic refill pouch to replenish your glass bottle. Your subscription will auto-renew every 30-days on a pediatrician-approved schedule.
You may cancel your order at any time. Hiya strives for complete customer satisfaction and offers a refund on all orders with no return required.
Lastly, if it's your first time shopping with hiya, you can get a 50% discount on your first order!
Who is Hiya?
Hiya was founded by two new dads, Darren Litt and Adam Gillman, who were shocked when they realized most children’s vitamins on the market today are filled with sugar, artificial ingredients, and additives that can cause more harm than good.
After realizing there were no options available that weren’t essentially glorified candy, they decided to develop a better solution.
Over three years, the duo partnered with pediatricians, scientists, and nutrition experts around the globe to manufacture a tasty, chewable multivitamin made completely with organic fruits and vegetables.
Hiya multivitamins are manufactured in a cGMP (Certified Good Manufacturing Practice) compliant USA-based facility with globally sourced ingredients individually selected for maximum absorption.
Their vitamins are also third-party to ensure they are free of heavy metals, pathogens, and allergens.
Hiya's vitamins are in tablet form because many pediatricians advise against gummy vitamins for children because they can get stuck in your child’s teeth and cause cavities. They can also be tempting for a child to get into and overeat, increasing the risk of toxicity.
What’s neat about Hiya vitamins is the fact that, since it’s a subscription-based service, you’ll continuously be getting fresh vitamins each month. Many vitamins sold in stores sit on the shelves for months, causing quality to decline over time.
Pros
- Third-party tested
- Free of major allergens
- Many positive reviews
- Made with organic fruits and vegetables
- Free of added sugar
- Optimized for freshness
- Reusable bottle, no plastic
Cons
- Auto-subscription required
- Pricier than other brands on the market
Are Hiya Health Vitamins for Kids FDA Approved?
No, the FDA does not have the authority to review dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before being sold to consumers. However, Hiya uses organic, clean ingredients that are third party tested to give you peace of mind when choosing Hiya vitamins for your children.
What Age Are Hiya Vitamins For?
Hiya Health Kids Daily Multivitamins are formulated for boys and girls between the ages of two through mid-teens. For safety measures, Hiya recommends close parent supervision for kids under the age of three or until they can properly chew.
Is Hiya Worth the Extra Cost?
I say yes, mostly because it’s a product that I feel really good about giving to my children. I believe Hiya is integral with its transparency and labeling, meaning, I think that the vitamins contain what they say they contain.
I also think Hiya is worth it because the convenience of having your children’s vitamins delivered on auto-pilot ensures that they’re taking them consistently. I never kept up with a multivitamin routine prior to Hiya, and if I did, I was always grabbing the vitamins that happened to be on sale, so who knows if I was doing more harm than good.
If you try Hiya for your kiddos, be sure to come back and let us know what you think! I think there’s a lot of value in hearing testimonials from multiple parents so we can get the best picture of the product and make the most informed decisions!