My son is a little over 3 months old and is breastfed. I was flipping through Parenting Magazine and read that infants who are strictly breastfed need to have vitamin supplements (drops), particularly Vitamin D, as breastmilk is lacking it. I have never heard this and am now worried that my son is missing out. Has anyone been told to give infants supplements?
My kids were also breastfed and both times the pediatrician recommended OTC vitamin drops but at only half the dosage recommended on the package. Ask your doctor at your next visit just to put your mind at ease.
Lisa
My lactation consultant just called today about vitamin D! She said she wanted me to talk to my doc about it on the next visit and they may sugest poly-vi-sol for the winter but she shouldn't need it now. Just make sure she gets a little sunlight so she can generate D. Apparently Vitamin D is the only thing that does not go through the breast milk. You don't get it from food either.
my son is also breast fed and my doctor gave me drops at his six month visit to give to him.
L.
Nope. My sons' pediatricians have always raved over all of the benefits of breast milk and assured me that (as long as the mother is taking in proper nutrition) breast milk provides all of the nutrition a new baby needs.
you do not need to supplement vitamin D if you just let your little one get some sun sans sunscreen. just expose his arms and legs in non peak times for 15-20 minutes and there you go! no drops needed. the one nutrient your baby will need is iron, but his stores left over from you will last a bit longer. when you introduce food around 6 months you can just use iron fortified rice!
I have never been a successful breastfeeder personally but I was told that if you keep up with your own nutrition and still take your pretnals and added omegas you are supplying baby with everything they need. If you are concerned talk to your ob or the babies pedi. I wouldnt believe most of what you read in the magazines personally they are more general. Congrats on the new baby!!
I hope this helps: My pediatrician offered me a prescription for infant vitamins (for my exclusively breastfeed children), telling me that it is the AAP recommendation. Then, however, he basically said that in his opinion it's not really necessary especially if the Mom has good nutrition, so it was up to me to fill the prescription.
HOWEVER, if you live in Portland, be sure to ask your Pediatrician when he/she recommends starting fluoride drops. This is more essential.
A. - I have NEVER heard of giving kids Vitamin Drops!!! I breastfed both of my boys, and his DR. never said a thing. As a matter of fact, my first son and I were in a HORRIBLE car accident when he was three weeks old and we spent 7 weeks in Children's Hospital. His doctors had me continually pump (every three to four hours, for 6 weeks, ugh) so that when he could finally take "food" or liquid it would be MY breastmilk, because mama moo juice is the best. It is SPECIFICALLY for your baby. The longer your baby nurses at each feeding the more nutrients he is sucking (literally) out of you. You take care of your diet, and your breastmilk will take care of your child's.
By the way, my son is FINE, you would never know he had a car accident. He is smart and wonderful, and had no lasting effects, and I truly believe that not only was it an act of God that saved him, but the fantastic Drs. at Children's Hospital. My younger son is great too, and he breastfed until 18 months with no vitamin drops.
Good Luck, L.
I would ask your doctor about vitamin supplements. When my son was an infant I was exclusively breastfeeding and he was given a supplement that was a multivitamin plus flouride. I wouldn't overly worry about it though. I did not give them to my son regularly and he is turning out just fine.
