Baby Vitamins

  Vitamins are naturally occurring substances required for our bodies to be healthy. Unfortunately, the foods we eat no longer have enough vitamins because of modern agricultural practices and food processing. In addition, our bodies these days undergo exposures and stresses that necessitate extra amounts of vitamins.

            We recommend beginning a multivitamin preparation at six months for all babies, whether breastfed or not. Vitamins should be given earlier than six month of age if half or more of the baby’s total daily feeding is from formula or other milk. We calculate half a baby’s feeding as 1 1/2 ounces of milk per pound (100 mL. per kg.) of the baby’s weight daily.

            Addition of other nutritional supplements, such as omega 3 fatty acids (flax seed, walnut oils) and probiotics (friendly intestinal bacteria such as acidophilus and bifidobacteria) are also very beneficial to the growing infant. Regular supplementation of these can begin as early as one to two months of age. The multivitamin is the most important, followed by omega three fatty acids and then probiotics.

            Breastfeeding mothers should take omega three supplements because they will help both her and her baby, in the form of EPA and DHA. Probiotics, whereas important to the mother have limited usefulness to the breastfeeding child. Mothers also should be taking daily multivitamins and minerals, such as a good quality prenatal vitamin and mineral as long as they are breastfeeding their child.