Quick answer

NIH lists potassium amounts of 2,000 mg a day at ages 1 to 3 and 2,300 to 3,000 mg for older children and teens, from food and drinks, and sets no upper limit for healthy people. Both prescription labels say safety in children has not been established. Ask your doctor before giving a child potassium.^1,2,3

Key facts

NIH lists 2,000 mg of potassium a day at ages 1 to 3 and 2,300 mg at 4 to 8, with higher amounts for boys and teens.¹
NIH sets no upper limit for potassium for healthy people, but the kidneys must be working normally and medicines can change that.²
The potassium chloride and potassium citrate labels both say safety and effectiveness in children have not been established.^3,4
Among people aged 2 and over who use a supplement with potassium, it adds a mean of only 87 mg a day to intake.²
FDA lists potassium iodide as an emergency drug for radiation, with doses set by age, and not as a daily supplement.⁵

What potassium amounts does NIH list by age?

NIH's consumer sheet lists 400 mg a day from birth to 6 months, 860 mg at 7 to 12 months, 2,000 mg at ages 1 to 3 and 2,300 mg at 4 to 8. For ages 9 to 13 it lists 2,500 mg for boys and 2,300 mg for girls, and for teens 14 to 18 it lists 3,000 mg for boys and 2,300 mg for girls.¹

Those amounts are meant to come from food and drinks. NIH names milk, fruit juice, potatoes and fruit as the top sources for children in the United States.^1,2

Is there an upper limit for children?

No tolerable upper intake level is set for potassium, because high intakes from food have not been shown to harm healthy people with normal kidney function. That does not apply to people whose kidneys or medicines limit how much potassium they can pass.^1,2

NIH adds that people with chronic kidney disease or on certain medicines can develop high blood potassium even at food intakes below the recommended amount. Those at risk should talk to a doctor about potassium from all sources.^1,2

Do children take potassium supplements?

In a national survey, 12% of children and adults aged 2 and over used supplements containing potassium, and among them supplements added a mean of only 87 mg a day. Most hold 99 mg or less per serving.²

The prescription potassium chloride label and the potassium citrate label both say safety and effectiveness in children have not been established. FDA also requires some oral drugs with more than 99 mg of potassium to carry a warning about small-bowel lesions.^2,3,4

Many salt substitutes replace some or all of the sodium chloride in salt with potassium chloride, at about 440 to 2,800 mg of potassium per teaspoon.²

What about potassium iodide, potassium alum and potassium sorbate?

Potassium iodide is an iodine product. FDA approves it as a thyroid-blocking drug for radiation emergencies, lists doses by age, says local officials will say whether anyone needs it, and warns that a higher dose or more frequent doses give no extra protection and can cause severe illness or death. See the iodine page for more.⁵

The sources checked do not address potassium alum or potassium sorbate for children. That is not a finding either way, so ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Who should ask a doctor about potassium for a child or teen?

Anyone whose child has kidney disease or takes an ACE inhibitor, a diuretic or another medicine that changes potassium.²
Anyone considering a potassium supplement for a child, since the labels say safety in children has not been established.^3,4
Anyone using a salt substitute at home, since many replace some or all of the sodium chloride with potassium chloride.²

Ask your doctor, and bring the Supplement Facts panel of anything a child takes.

Questions people ask

Is potassium good for teens?

NIH lists 3,000 mg a day for boys and 2,300 mg for girls aged 14 to 18, from food and drinks, and says most Americans eat less than recommended. Ask your doctor before a teen uses a supplement.^1,2

Are potassium supplements safe for teens?

NIH says supplements usually hold 99 mg or less per serving and add little to intake, and sets no upper limit for healthy people. Kidney disease or certain medicines change that, so ask your doctor.²

Is potassium iodide safe for kids?

FDA approves it for radiation emergencies with doses set by age, and warns that taking more than directed gives no extra protection and can cause severe illness or death. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.⁵

Is potassium alum safe for kids?

The sources checked do not address potassium alum. That is not a finding either way, so ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Is potassium sorbate safe for kids?

The sources checked do not address potassium sorbate. That is not a finding either way, so ask your doctor or pharmacist.

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This page is information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.