Do You Give Your Breast Fed Baby Multivitamin Supplements With Iron?
My doctor recommended that I start giving my baby multivitamin supplements (poli vi sol with Iron) as of 2 months of age. My baby is now almost 5 months and I have actually only given the vitamins several times and discontinued to do so because I had read in my breastfeeding book (the Nursing Mother’s Companion) that it was not neccesary and that it could hinder some absorption of important nutrients that my breast milk is giving the baby. I am a full time breastfeeding mommy and I have not started my baby on solids yet. Second question, When I do start my baby on solids at 6 months ( this is when I read he may need a vitamin supplement), should I not give him the vitamins with IRON because the cereal also has iron? What is your experience with this.
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July 21 2009 10:19 am | Multivitamin supplements
Tanya on 21 Jul 2009 at 1:21 pm #
The extra iron is not necessary… though many doctors still don’t know it.. because of their own lack of research.
Your book was right. When solids come, just do foods rich in iron… like leafy greens (pureed steamed spinach…).
Unless your baby shows signs of some kind of deficiency…no vitamins are necessary. Just a healthy varied diet for him and you are all that you need!!!
Congrats, Good Job, and Good luck
Anonymous on 21 Jul 2009 at 6:48 pm #
I am a mother of 3 children (4 1/2, 3, and 19 months) and our pediatrician has only recommended giving multivitamins at age 2. I also started giving my children solids at 4 months. Breast milk is the most nutritional and healthy milk for an infant to have. I would get a second opinion. Iron is also very constipating.
gg on 22 Jul 2009 at 1:11 am #
I believe that YOU taking vitamins while breastfeeding can help your baby nutritionally.
Is your baby deficient? Otherwise I wouldn’t give the baby vitamins.
Anonymous on 22 Jul 2009 at 2:31 am #
I’ve never heard of supplementing a breastfed infant’s diet with multivitamins. Is the doctor concerned that your breast milk is somehow deficient in some essential nutrients? Ask him this — perhaps you can improve your own diet to improve your breast milk.
On the subject of feeding your baby solids, I think the powers that be (American Pediatric Society or whatever they’re called) recently revised their advice on when to start solids. Six months may be the soonest you should feed your baby solids. And I would think that if you’re feeding your baby iron-fortified cereal,that should be enough. You don’t want your baby to have too much iron, or he will become constipated.
Terrible Threes on 22 Jul 2009 at 5:02 am #
Neither of ababes have been supplemented. I also never gave them processed cereal.
Here is a very good links on starting solids.http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids…http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids…
Check out this article toohttp://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_…
Shavon's Wedding Silks on 22 Jul 2009 at 11:39 am #
OK, first of all, a baby has iron reserves for 6 months of their life that they stored while in the womb. After 6 months it is necessary to give your baby iron for brain development. Breast milk actually does not have much iron in it. But it does help your baby absorb the iron that you give him/her. As for the cereal, you are not going to feed your baby nearly enough to get the recommended value from it. Those are the facts. Not my opinion.
beckyf on 22 Jul 2009 at 12:51 pm #
My Doctor also recommended this for my younger child (but not for the older one 15 months previously). I didn’t give them to him at all because I read as you did that it was unnecessary. I breastfed both children exclusively for 6 months and then started feeding solids. I did not introduce the vitamin drops then either. Both of my children were tested for anemia at 9 months and both tested ok. I’m not a big believer in vitamin supplements and have only ever taken them myself when pregnant or trying to conceive. I still do not give vitamins to my children who are now 2 3/4 and 1 1/2. They are both very healthy and eat a healthy varied diet so I do not believe that they need vitamins.
littlede on 22 Jul 2009 at 4:11 pm #
Breast milk is perfect nutrition. I would get a second opinion on giving the baby a supplement. I breastfed my son for over a year and started him on solids at about 6 months. Once he started them he loved them. Now he is a very healthy 7 year. I think it’s great your nursing yours. Most women now days don’t.
mom2jjor on 22 Jul 2009 at 5:22 pm #
No supplements for breastfed babies!
Be confident in your body, it knows exactly what to do to ensure your baby’s health!
Anonymous on 22 Jul 2009 at 11:31 pm #
If you are still taking your pre-natal vitamins and eating all the proper foods while breastfeeding, there is nothing more you need to give your baby. You are providing all the necessary nutrition that your baby needs.
Your pediatrician should be the one to determine whether your child needs the multivitamin or not. I have a 6.5 month old who started solids at little over 4 months. My doctor has not recommended any vitamins because the food and formula that she consumes provides her with the necessary iron that she needs.
Good luck in your decision.
coffee_p on 22 Jul 2009 at 11:44 pm #
you take the extra vitamin…it goes into the breast milk….keep in mind that most doctors do not have a nutritional back ground per say…and those that think they do push the meat and cow stuff…eat more veg and sprouts….warm his cereal in a small cast iron pot the iron will be there….be sure to care for the pot..
shouldn’t really need extra iron at that early age….also so not switch to cow milk when you wean…go to soy as you will prevent a whole mess of childhood health problems avoiding the cow stuff….you too should be drinking soy and not cow since it will transfer….
Erika (Nina and Brady's Mom) on 23 Jul 2009 at 1:18 am #
If your breastfeeding then the only supplement you should be giving you lil one is one with vitamin D because it is not passed through the breast milk. Once you switch to either formula or milk when their older, it already has vitamin D added. Thats what my lactation consultant always told me!
Good Luck and Congrats
❀Bugsey❀ on 23 Jul 2009 at 7:19 am #
Babies who are breastfed do not need ANY suppliments!
Breastmilk = perfect nutrition (no matter what mom eats!)
And yes, 6 months is a good time to start solids. You can skip cereal as it has no nutritional value. Go with fruit and veggies.
katana_a on 23 Jul 2009 at 9:11 am #
everyone will have a different answer to this.
Mine is this, if your doctor recommended it then there is a reason. Breastfed IS best for the baby but sometimes for one reason or another the baby may not be recieving enough vitamins. And the book is a general advice book and not aimed directly towards your baby, although most is good advice, id follow your doctors orders before i would a books. I would also ask your doctor about the iron, as you probably wont need the added iron in the vitamins because most baby foods are rich in extra iron. If need be get a second opinion from a pediatrition not affiliated with your babys doctor.
Devilish Girl on 23 Jul 2009 at 11:37 am #
Your baby doesn’t need the iron if your feeding with cereal , My Dr. suggested the kind without Iron for the first 6 months since I was BF as well , but I like you only gave it to him a few times he so did not like the taste. I just recently stopped breastfeeding and have those dang vitamins still sitting in my cabinet. My Dr. says it’s fine not to give him anything although he would prefer me to give him some sort of vitamin …..
I hope this helps
Shannon on 23 Jul 2009 at 12:49 pm #
Good question. I asked my pediatrician the same thing, since I had read we should start giving vitamin D supplements. Our doc said supplements were completely unecessary at this age and that my breastmilk was providing him with all the nutrients he needed. (Babies are also born with iron stores – sufficient amounts to get them through until they are taking solids.) Later, he will get iron from other sources – such as meats. And vitamin D is made by your body, provided you have minimal exposure to sunlight.
Our son is 4 1/2 months and he is not yet on solids either. We were given the okay at our 4-month checkup but have decided to wait until he is about 6 months old.
The only reason I could think that your little one would need supplements is if he/she has a deficiency. Did you ask the doc why he/she made the recommendation?