Baby Supplements?

[feline01]

I was reading Becoming Vegan this weekend (great book but VERY scientific) and it mentioned that if you are raising vegan baby (or babies in my case), starting at 1 week, they should begin receiving a Vitamin D supplement and at 2 weeks, a B12 supplement. Even if breastfeeding. I was wondering what type and how do you give newborns supplements and if it is really necessary? Any views on this?

Thanks

Sue

[Erin Pavlina]

I never gave my kids the supplements, nor could I find any liquid supplements they could take.

To me the vitamin D requirement doesn't seem right. Why wouldn't omni mommies need to do that too?

B12 passes through the breastmilk so if you are getting an adequate supply, why wouldn't baby?

I'm no nutrition expert, so I don't want to refute what you've read. Maybe I'll ask Brenda more about that and get back to everyone. It is indeed very confusing.

[veggiemomma]

I don't supplement either but I've read that vit D should be supplemented in the northern areas during winter, unless you expose the child to lots of sun during the winter.

[Christa]

Pediatricians are actually recommending that all breastfed babies be given vitamin D supplements, not just babies of vegan moms. There has been some controversy about this b/c some people feel that it discourages women from breastfeeding b/c it makes it appear that breastmilk is not complete.

I did not supplement, either, though. From what I have read, exposing your baby's face & hands to direct sunlight for about 1/2 hour/day should be sufficient for him/her to produce enough vitamin D. The concern seems to be that many parents are being very cautious about sun exposure & babies are thus becoming deficient in Vit. D & some have developed rickets.

I don't imagine that it would hurt to do D supplements, assuming that you can actually find one that is formulated for an infant & isn't an animal derived supplement - that may be a bit hard to do.

B-12 should be fine, though, if you are getting enough in your diet. Just keep taking your prenatal vitamins while you are breastfeeding. I also sprinkled some nutritional yeast on my girls' vegis when they got old enough to eat vegis!

[Doug]

Erin, you mentioned earlier in this thread that you were going to speak with Brenda about it. Did you get a chance to do that yet? I'm very interested in learning more about supplementation.