Multi-Vitamins And Milk for a 1 Year Old

I'm in the same boat you are (first time mom) and my pediatrician gave me the same advice about the multi-vitamin and iron. Thought you might like to the "second opinion".

Hi J. ,
Being a new parent is awesome and I read your words with care . Please consult with your doctor about iron concerns as we regular people are really clueless as taking over what doctor would think .Whole milk has it's pros and cons .At the 12 month age vitamins are more concern than a casual day care statement about your child .Never give your child a supplement without consulting your doctor.

Congratulations on your baby and Happy Birthday to him!
I have 4 children - My oldest 3 were all put on whole milk before their first birthdays, thanks to my mom being their babysitter for their first few years! Anyway, my older children are 20, 16, and 11 and all of them are healthy with no learning disabilities. They have all been on the honor roll in school! My youngest just turned one and I'm sure that she will follow in the footsteps of her older sister and brothers. Just make sure that your son gets plenty of nutritious food along with the milk. Good luck.

The one thing I would add to the other responses is make sure the fruits and veges are organic. I have friends in the permaculture world who have explained to me that produce that is not organic has very little of the vitamins and minerals, compared to 50 years ago, due to the way they have been produced. Even organic, unless it is VERY local, doesn't have quite as much because they have to be picked before they are fully ripe in order to make it to your home before it rots.
Personally, I take vitamins and give my kids vitamins because we all feel better and are healthier in general with them than we were without them and try to eat organically as much as we can.

Hi J.,

I recommend you give your baby organic milk as I heard that pasturized milk depletes the calcium from the bones. I put my granddaughter on whole food supplements from Nikken when she was 2 weeks old. She is 6 years old and very seldom sick.I used to sprinkle jadegreenzymes in her bottle, barley grass, along with immunity 14 different mushrooms, and lactoferrin. They say the soils are depleted and we should supplement what is missing from the soils so our children do not grow up with defficencies. If you want more info go to www.nikken.com/ninamarie

Listen to your doctor. Your daycare provider need to keep her nose out of it and respect your decision and your doctors advise.

I don't think milk depletes iron, however, some kids fill up on milk and don't eat iron rich foods. If your dr isn't concerned I wouldn't worry. I wouldn't buy anything over the counter, vitamins with iron cause terrible constipation. My daughter's dr. gives her a multi vitamin with floride for her teeth, but it does not have iron in it, She is almost 4 and very healthy.
J.

My son went on a nursing strike at 9 months when his Dr. recommended he started drinking whole milk. He has always been healthy and eats very healthy foods. I would listen to the Dr. or contact a nutritionist rather than listen to a well intended day care provider.
D.

Your doctor is correct from everything I have ever read and been told by my own doctors. As long as you are giving your child a varied diet with fresh fruits, veggie, and whole grains your child will be fine. Make sure you are filling up your child with healthy foods and not crackers or other snacks.

Jen

When my daughter was 1 and before we switched her over to whole milk, our pediatrian did a very quick blood test (a prick in a finger- results back in 15 minutes) to see what her iron level was. Since it was normal, we switched her over to whole milk that week. Milk doesn't deplete iron, it just doesn't have as much iron as breast milk or formula. My daughter is 2 1/2 now. She's a good eater and our pediatrician says what yours does about the fruits and veggies. When our daughter turned 2- our pediatrician told us that we could give her a vitamin every few days or so in the winter as there are less fruits and veggies around, but that her balanced diet should provide her with the nutrients she needs. Now we give her a gummy vitamin a few times a week at most as she does eat a lot of fruit (less on the veggies). She's healthy and growing.

I would listen to your doc who has way more experince that your day care provider. Kids generally dont need a multi vitamin until they are 3 years old. Milk does not delete iron either.

Nutrition plays a very important role in all of our lives. Mona Vie is a very good nutritional juice that kids and adults can drink. It gives you your 5-9 servings of your daily allowances and more of what your body needs to repair itself. You have more energy, better sleep, your getting your nutrition. Both of my kids are on it - my son is not the best eater and this has been the best thing for us.

R. - ###-###-####

I would always take the advice of my pediatrician over a daycare provider. She means well but doesn't have the proper training to be giving medical advice. My kids both take multi-vitamins on the recommendation of our pediatrician -- but my kids aren't great eaters (they don't like any meat!) so they need it.

Id go with your pediatrician on this one - I have never heard of a child having to go on a multi vitamin just because they are old enough to transition to whole milk. There is no reason for a child to take a multi-vitamin unless they are poor eaters: as long as he drinks his milk and eats well, there should not be a problem. Children are rarely anemic unless there is something else going on healthwise, and as a special education teacher, I have NEVER heard of a child diagnosed with a disability caused by anemia.

I'm a grandma with advice.

I always gave my kids vitamins. And I know my five grandkids get vitamins. I have never heard of milk depleting iron. I'd check that out on the web.

Good luck. If interested I could suggest some vitamins. Let me know.

Blessings, B.

Hi J.,

I am a mom of 4. I have 9 year old twin girls, a 6 year old girl, and a 1 year old boy. I have never given my children a supplemental vitamin. I always made sure that I offered plenty of fresh fruits and veggies. Cheese and other dairy products (yogurt, cottage cheese) have some iron and other vitamins in them as well. I also offered vitamin fortified cereals and healthy snacks. Many toddler snacks will say "Good source of iron and zinc". I buy those for the baby and he loves them. I also have always started my kids on table foods by 10 months old and they love meat. I would cut up little pieces of chicken, steak (go light on the spices though) and they would eat it up. This is an awesome source of iron as well as many vitamins. All my kids are thriving just fine and yours will too. My 6 year old (in June) is ready already almost 2nd grade books. My twins are close to straight A students. So lots of love and good healthy food and vitamins aren't necessary. Stay away from the empty calorie foods. Good luck, T.

I'd trust your doctor. Chancer are he/she did the blood iron level test (a finger-prick blood test) or will very soon. Most of the vitamins in a pill aren't going to be as well absorbed as from the source anyway. For iron, meat, beans, and dark green veggies are "hard-hitters". Never heard of the milk depleting iron thing.... wonder what that's all about? Happy first birthday to your little one!

I would definitly follow your pediatricians advise. I have a 4 yr old and we have never put him on a multi-vitamin. He is healthy and happy! :)

Hi J.:
I have had a great experience with Shaklee Vitamins. My girls do not get sick anymore except for the ocassional runny noses...and even those are gone quickly. You might want to try Infant Mix, Kids MealShakes and Ocean Wonders by Shaklee. Learn more at www.shaklee.net/natural_family_products
Good Luck!

Hi J.,
You Pediatrician is right on about eating fruits and veggies and not needing a multi-vitamin. Our bodies are not vitamin deficient, they are whole food deficient. What you are eating the 9-13 servings each day, you don't need a vitamin. Honestly, vitamins are isolated and your body doesn't even recognize them...I started eating Juice Plus+ which are fruits and veggies in a capsule. They also come in gummies and chewables for kids. Dr. Sears, who is a very well known Pediatrician highly recommends Juice plus+. You can go to his web-site www.askdrsears.com and get questions answered, etc...I have been taking Juice Plus+ for 3 years and my son and husband as well. If you go to www.natalie4health.com, you can get more information regarding the benefits of JP+!

Hi J.,
My pediatrician said the same thing. As long as my daughter was eating plenty of fruits and veggies AND not drinking too much milk, no multi-vitamins were needed. Your son should be drinking about 24 oz daily. If your daycare provider is giving him more, have her only give milk at meals and water the rest of the time. Trust your pediatrician, but if you are worried they can do an anemia test. I've seen similar articles regarding iron deficiency and maybe those children aren't eating a balanced diet/ drink too much milk.
Sincerely,
L.

As long as your son is getting the proper foods, I believe you shouldn't have to give him anything extra.