Do Children Need to Take Fish Oil ?
4 Key Benefits of Fish Oil for Children
At What Age Can Children Take Fish Oil?
Can Children Take Adult Fish Oil? 4 Things to be Aware
How to Choose Children’s Fish Oil? 4 Key Principles from Nutritionist
Recommended by Pharmacists and Nutritionists: RISAL
Author / Jessie Feng, Nutritionist
Do Children Need to Take Fish Oil ?
The simplest way to determine this is: Does your child eat fish at least twice a week?
If not, there's a high chance they’re not getting enough Omega-3 fatty acids.
Even if they do eat fish, parents should still consider:
What kind of fish are they eating? (Not all fish are rich in Omega-3. Fish like mackerel, Pacific saury, and salmon have higher levels.)
Is the cooking method destroying the nutrients? (High heat or long cooking times can degrade Omega-3 quality.)
Why Is Fish Oil Supplementation Especially Important for Children?
"Eating fish" is emphasized not just because it's a great source of protein during development, but also because fish contains DHA and EPA—key nutrients for a child’s growth.
These are essential fatty acids that the body cannot produce on its own and must be obtained through diet. DHA and EPA help maintain balance in the body and support proper function.
DHA & EPA: Dual Support for Growing Children
DHA: Especially beneficial after birth and during growth spurts. It supports cognitive development and reading comprehension.
EPA: Helps regulate daily body functions and maintain emotional balance.
What If a Child Doesn't Get Enough DHA and EPA from Food?
If your child dislikes fish or your family’s diet doesn't meet Omega-3 needs, you can supplement with a suitable children’s fish oil to support daily DHA and EPA intake.
4 Key Benefits of Fish Oil for Children
✅ Benefits 1. Improved Learning Ability : Supports focus, reading rhythm, and cognitive clarity
DHA is a type of Omega-3 fatty acid and an essential nutrient for a child’s growth. For children in their prime learning stages, supplementing with DHA helps maintain clear thinking and a steady learning rhythm, allowing them to keep up with progress in language, logic, and reading, while reducing learning obstacles.
💡 Suitable for: Children who are often distracted, skip lines while reading, or struggle with comprehension.
✅ Benefits 2. Enhanced Emotional Regulation : Helps stay calm, balanced, and emotionally stable
EPA helps children stay calm, balanced, and emotionally stable, especially for those with high activity levels or mood swings.
EPA is an important nutrient that helps regulate daily rhythms, making it especially suitable for highly active, easily excitable, and emotionally sensitive children. Proper supplementation of EPA can support emotional balance and flexibility in social interactions, promote a more regular lifestyle, and help maintain a positive mood and mindset—greatly benefiting learning.
💡 Suitable for: Children who are hyperactive or struggle with transitions.
✅ Benefits 3. Better Adaptation to Environmental Changes : Especially for sensitive kids
Some children tend to show noticeable reactions to changes in weather, diet, or external environments. In such cases, supplementing with EPA can act as a daily support to help them stay balanced and maintain a stable condition amidst changes.
💡 Suitable for: Children whose condition fluctuates easily during seasonal or environmental changes, or those with sensitive skin conditions like eczema.
✅ Benefits 4. Energy & Metabolism Support
EPA, one of the Omega-3 fatty acids, plays a role in the body’s overall metabolic circulation. For growing children, it serves as a key nutrient for building foundational energy and supporting healthy circulation. Children with irregular routines, high activity levels, or a preference for high-fat diets can benefit from fish oil to help maintain a healthy balance.
💡 Suitable for: Highly active children, those who frequently eat out, have irregular sleep schedules, or experience fluctuating energy levels.
At What Age Can Children Take Fish Oil?
Generally, children can take fish oil from 1 year old. Babies starting solid foods and reducing formula, which typically contains DHA, would be a suitable timing to start Omega-3 supplementation.
❗ Infants under 6 months who haven’t started solids are not recommended to take fish oil directly due to immature digestive systems. They should continue to rely on breastmilk or formula.
How Can Infants Under 6 Months Take Omega-3?
If the mother is breastfeeding, mom can take fish oil supplements, which enriches her breastmilk with Omega-3—one of the most natural and stable ways for infants to get DHA and EPA.
Can Children Take Adult Fish Oil? 4 Things to be Aware
Some parents wonder: "Can I just give my child the adult fish oil we already have at home?"
Here’s what to consider:
💡 Issue 1. DHA and EPA Content
Children require different amounts than adults. Children's fish oil is formulated with age-appropriate doses and ratios of DHA and EPA.
💡 Issue 2. Form and Taste
Besides nutrient content, texture, flavor, and palatability matter. Products not designed for children may be hard to consume or unpleasant.
Common formats include:
- Chewable softgels
- Jelly-like soft capsules
- Liquid drops
- Oil-in-capsule (can be cut and squeezed out)
For infants, choose liquid or squeezable versions, as their chewing and swallowing abilities are still developing.
💡 Issue 3. Ingredient Simplicity
Check for minimal additives. Children’s supplements should be sugar-free, artificial color and flavor-free, and have a clean formula for long-term use.
💡 Issue 4. Tolerance to Trace Contaminants
Children—especially under age 3—have lower tolerance for trace contaminants (like heavy metals, plasticizers, dioxins), which are sometimes found in fish oil.
Even small amounts safe for adults could be harmful to babies. So, don’t just reduce the adult dose for kids. Instead, choose fish oil clearly labeled for infants or children, and ensure it meets strict infant food safety standards.
Infant-specific standards are much more stringent in testing scope, allowable limits, and technology—designed to fully safeguard young children's health.
How to Choose Children’s Fish Oil? 4 Key Principles from Nutritionist
There are many children’s fish oil products on the market, varying in ingredients, sources, and formulations. When selecting a product, parents should look beyond brand and flavor to the quality, safety label, and nutritional content. Here are 4 key principles recommended by nutritionists:
✅ Principle 1: Raw Material Source & Transparency of Testing
When choosing children’s fish oil, prioritize products that clearly state their fish source and provide third-party testing reports.
The purity and quality of fish oil depend heavily on its raw material origin. Sourcing from low-pollution waters ensures safety from the start. Further validation through quality certification and third-party safety testing offers added assurance.
✅ Principle 2: Clearly Labeled DHA and EPA Content
Some products only list the total Omega-3 amount, but DHA and EPA have different roles and are needed in different ratios depending on a child’s age. Choose a product that clearly lists both DHA and EPA contents and meets age-appropriate intake guidelines.
✅ Principle 3: Kid-Friendly Form and Taste
Children of different ages have different preferences and tolerances. Consider the size, flavor, and whether the product includes odor-removal technology (to eliminate fishy taste). Chewable forms, small softgel capsules, or fruity jelly textures are great for helping kids take their fish oil regularly.
✅ Principle 4: Simple, Clean Ingredients with Minimal Additives
Look for products free from artificial flavors, colors, or unnecessary additives. Choose sugar-free and naturally flavored options. The simpler and more transparent the ingredients and source, the more suitable it is for children’s long-term use.
Recommended by Pharmacists and Nutritionists: Children’s Fish Oil – RISAL Fish Oil Chewable Capsules
Why Choose RISAL Fish Oil Chewable Capsules?
From raw ingredients and nutrient ratios to formulation and testing standards, every aspect is carefully crafted to meet the real needs from children—offering a truly reliable fish oil supplement for kids.
⭐ Select Pure Fish Oil Source
Made from wild cod liver oil harvested in the pristine waters of Alaska, certified by MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) for sustainable fishing and recognized by Monde Selection for quality. The raw material is rapidly preserved after catch and processed with deodorization technology to retain nutrients while reducing the fishy taste, making it easier for kids to accept.
⭐ Optimal DHA to EPA Ratio – 2:3
Each capsule contains DHA 66mg + EPA 100mg, based on internationally recommended nutritional standards. It uses natural TG (triglyceride) form for better absorption, helping to meet your child’s daily needs for Omega-3 fatty acids.
⭐ Simple, Clean Ingredients – Specially Designed for Kids
The capsules are sugar-free, undergo a 7-step purification process to eliminate fishy odor and impurities, and are flavored with natural orange oil. The mild citrus taste makes fish oil enjoyable for kids.
⭐ Tested to Infant Food Safety Standards in Taiwan – Higher Protection
Unlike standard fish oil products, RISAL capsules pass the stricter “Infant and Toddler Food Testing Standards” in Taiwan with more test parameters, lower residue limits, and more sensitive detection methods.
“Residue / Additives not detected” doesn’t always mean safe — what matters is the quality of testing.
RISAL fish oil capsules meet the highest standards in the place of production to ensure every bite is safe for children.
⭐Adorable Soft Jelly Capsule – Tasty and Easy to Take
Shaped like tiny fish, the capsules have a soft, chewy texture and moderate size.
Children over 3 years old can chew directly – they melt in the mouth.
For children under 3, parents can also cut open the capsule and squeeze out the fish oil for direct consumption or mix it into meals — easy and convenient.