I really hope that by sharing our story, it gives you tools and insight you might not easily find elsewhere.
Childhood anxiety, sleep issues, mood swings, and neurodivergent conditions are extremely common. One in six children aged 5–16 are now likely to have a diagnosable mental health problem. Countless more sit just below the diagnostic line—“sensitive,” “emotional,” “struggling to switch off at night”.
Before we rush to label a child as “too emotional” or “too sensitive,” sometimes it helps to ask a simpler question:
“Are they just running on empty?”
With one of my boys, Mighty Kids Liposomal Magnesium was truly a game changer.
Since he was little, he’s felt things deeply—a big thinker, a big feeler. Always thoughtful, always caring. But also easily overwhelmed and anxious. He has the kind of brilliant brain that leaps ahead, notices everything, and connects dots others don’t. It’s the kind of wiring that brings many strengths—and also, at times, big feelings that are hard to carry in a little body.
As his mum, I knew he wasn’t being difficult—he was genuinely feeling distressed.
Certain foods, places, or situations clearly affected him, even if he couldn’t always explain why. There was a stress and worry that seemed to sit just beneath the surface. He masked it well and got on with things—but I could see it. I felt it.
I knew I needed to support his nervous system, and magnesium changed so much.
It helped bring calm where there was constant alertness, softness where there was stress.
More on magnesium—why it’s often the first “empty tank”
Magnesium helps so many kids because it’s essential for emotional regulation, quality sleep, and healthy nervous system function. It plays a direct role in:
- Producing GABA—the calming neurotransmitter that helps us wind down and sleep
- Regulating the HPA axis (the body’s stress response)
- Reducing neuronal excitability, which can ease anxiety, restlessness, and irritability
The Mighty Kids Liposomal Magnesium supplement can help so much simply because most kids are low in magnesium, and reaching optimal levels through diet alone is very difficult.
Let’s be honest—most kids aren’t eating cups and cups of almonds and freshly picked raw spinach (grown in nutrient rich soil) each day to meet their daily needs.
Another challenge: magnesium is depleted by stress, processed food, poor gut health, frequent illness, and even indirectly by excessive screen time.
This is why so many parents see dramatic changes when they start supplementing with magnesium such as calmer behaviour, better sleep, fewer meltdowns, and fewer emotional spikes – the nervous system is finally getting the fuel it needs.
When magnesium helps… but then “wears off”
Although magnesium is incredibly supportive and results can be dramatic at first, sometimes, a few months in, things plateau. That was the case for us. It’s not that the supplement has stopped working. What’s more likely is this:
The body has caught up on magnesium, and levels have stabilised.
This in turn reveals another missing piece that starts to show up—vitamin B6, the crucial co-pilot.
It’s a bit like a two-phase nutrient story:
Phase 1 – Refill magnesium: rapid calming, better sleep
Phase 2 – B6 becomes the bottleneck: the brain wants to make more GABA and serotonin, but can’t without enough B6, so symptoms start creeping back
It’s like topping up petrol (magnesium) and then discovering the spark plug (B6) is the next thing that needs attention.
Once the body has enough magnesium, the nervous system begins to relax and reset.
That’s when it’s ready to take the next step—to produce more of the feel-good, calming brain chemicals like GABA and serotonin. But to do that, it needs vitamin B6—a key helper in making those calming neurotransmitters.
Why B6 sometimes doesn’t work in isolation
If we had introduced B vitamins before magnesium, we may have hit some bumps along the way. B6 and magnesium work closely together, especially in producing calming neurotransmitters.
But without enough magnesium, B6 can’t do its job properly. It may not be effective—or may even seem to make things worse.
In some kids, starting B6 too early (without magnesium) can be too stimulating.
Magnesium acts like a calming buffer. Without it, B6 might cause restlessness, moodiness, or hyperactivity. Magnesium really sets the stage—it calms the nervous system and supports sleep, laying the foundation for B6 to do its work.
More on vitamin B6: the missing co-pilot
B6 is essential because:
- It’s a cofactor for GABA – magnesium cannot convert glutamate into calming GABA without B6
- It’s required to produce serotonin and dopamine (our mood neurotransmitters)
- It regulates homocysteine, which affects brain inflammation
- It supports methylation and detox pathways
- It modulates immune and histamine responses
- It enhances magnesium absorption – the two nutrients amplify each other’s effects
A 2022 double-blind trial found that high-dose vitamin B6 significantly reduced anxiety in young adults compared to a placebo.
How common is B6 deficiency?
More than you might think. Risk factors in kids include:
- Poor or limited diets
- Gut issues (e.g., low stomach acid, SIBO, malabsorption)
- Chronic stress or inflammation
- Certain medications (e.g., antibiotics, anti-epileptics)
Symptoms of low B6 may include:
- Low mood or irritability
- Poor stress tolerance
- Restless sleep or vivid dreams
- Nervous tics or sensory issues
There’s growing evidence that some children—especially those with sensitive nervous systems—may need higher levels of vitamin B6, particularly to support mood, emotional regulation, and stress resilience.
Our experience when B6 was added:
We don’t have a diagnosis or label—but we saw signs of anxiety and underlying tension that told me his system needed extra support. For my son, increasing B6 (alongside magnesium) made a noticeable difference. We increased B6 by introducing the daily Mighty Multivitamin (higher strength version) in an age-appropriate dose.
(Please see this blog post on how to use the adult Mighty Multi in smaller servings for younger children.)
A few weeks in, the change was incredible. My son has always had his ways—only drinking from his own water bottle, using his own toothbrush, and having a sticker-marked cap for his supplements so he knew no one else had touched them. If he forgot his bottle, it would cause a lot of stress—he couldn’t drink from a shared cup.
But after being this way his whole life, something shifted. Just weeks into the new supplement routine, those little worries disappeared. They might seem small on the surface, but they were signs of deeper stress. And I’m beyond grateful to see that as he calms on the outside, something is settling on the inside, too.
What the research shows:
Autism Spectrum Conditions often show lower B6 levels in blood tests, display signs of B6 deficiency even with “normal” intake, and respond positively to B6 + magnesium in some studies
A 2002 meta-analysis (Kuriyama) reviewed over 20 studies and found improvements in communication, social interaction, and behaviour in some children
ADHD Research:
B6 (especially with magnesium or zinc) may help reduce hyperactivity and improve attention.
A 2021 study found children with ADHD had lower plasma levels of B6 and magnesium compared to healthy controls (Maia et al.)
Why They May Need More
-Some neurodivergent children have genetic differences in B6 metabolism
-Others have oxidative stress, inflammation, or gut imbalances that deplete B6 faster
-Sensory issues and restricted diets can lead to low B6 intake
About the Mighty Multivitamin
The Mighty Multivitamin has a very similar nutrient profile to the Mini Multi, with one main difference: it contains higher levels of B vitamins. Sometimes kids need that extra support—especially during growth, stress, or when their nervous system needs extra nourishment. The B-vitamin levels in the Mighty Multi are still well within safe limits, but high enough to make a meaningful difference.
It also contains most of the B-complex, which is key—B vitamins work best as a team. Together, they help the body use them efficiently and keep things balanced.
Supporting the whole system
All my boys also take:
- Mighty Kids Omega-3 – for brain health, focus, and emotional regulation
- Mighty Kids Vitamin C – supports adrenal health, the immune system, and acts as a gentle antioxidant
All of these products are available in the Mighty Kids Shop.
While this blog focuses on magnesium and B6, I truly believe in supporting the whole system. The Mighty Multi also includes vitamins D, A, E, K, choline, and most of the B-complex—all of which play a role in calming, nourishing, and regulating the nervous system. Together, these nutrients work beautifully to support his nervous system from multiple angles.
If magnesium was your child’s game-changer but has lost its edge—don’t give up.
Add the co-pilot. Feed the whole pathway, not just the first step.
I hope this will be a huge support to you, too.
References
- NHS Digital. Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2023.
- Barbagallo et al., 2012. Magnesium and the Brain: Mechanisms of Action. Nutrients.
- EFSA. Magnesium dietary reference values for children.
- Galland, L. Magnesium and B6 synergy in stress regulation. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.
- Field et al., 2022. High-dose B6 reduces anxiety in young adults: A randomized, controlled trial. Human Psychopharmacology.
