Baby Vitamins w/ Fluoride??

[tattlebaby]

Doctor prescribed my LO, 17 months old, Vitamins w/ fluoride. Anyone have any more information, advice, experience with these? I don't like giving my LO any prescriptions, pills or anything man made that isn't absolutely necessary. So I'm a little Iffy about them. I make sure I feed LO the best possible foods, and organic whenever possible. I stick to real foods and try my best to keep her away form processed stuff. So when doctor told me to give her these, I was completely rejecting the idea. I figured I've been also BF all along, so the need for vitamins was probably unnecessary. However, now LO is pretty much self weaning and I'm concerned that she'll be lacking vitamins here and there. To make sure she isn't I'm considering them. Anyone know more about this?

TIA

 

[_Meep_]

Vitamins, fine ... but fluoride???!!! It's recommended here that children aged 6 months - 5 years are given a water soluble vitamin supplement, especially if they are breastfed (formula contains added vitamins), as babies can be picky about food, and unless they are outside for much of the day with minimal clothing, they may not get enough vitamin D. They say to use water soluble vitamins so that any that isn't required from the supplement is simply peed out.

Fluoride though??? It occurs naturally in our drinking water in many parts of the UK (I don't know whether it's the same in the USA?), and in places where it doesn't occur naturally or in high enough concentrations, it is often added manually. I've heard of ADULTS who aren't drinking fluoridated water sometimes being advised to take a supplement but I've never heard of it for babies. Especially if your water IS fluoridated (do you know?).

The only thing we need fluoride for is to keep our teeth strong and help prevent dental decay. Some people here believe it is a dodgy scheme of the government or a conspiracy theory, as fluoride is, essentially, a poison and can be toxic in large amounts. It can also cause flurosis of developing teeth (white spots) if too much is taken. That's why we spit out our toothpaste. That's why you're only supposed to use a tiny smear of toothpaste for your baby's teeth until they are old enough to spit.

I really don't know why your doctor would want you to use this. I would definitely ask for further clarification before going ahead. There's no way personally that I would give that to my kid.

 

[MindUtopia]

Do you know if your water is fluoridated? The one we use doesn't contain any fluoride, but we also get regular drinking water from the regular county water mains. Usually children get an adequate supply of fluoride through toothpaste and drinking water. But if you live somewhere that doesn't have fluoridated drinking water (I think all mains water would in the U.S., but not if you live somewhere with well water - like natural water you pump yourself out of the ground, not processed or treated by the local water treatment facility), you would usually be recommended to use a supplement. My husband grew up on a farm that got its own water from a well on the farm, so it was untreated and unfluoridated. His mum did have to give him fluoride supplements growing up. But I don't think it would be a standard thing, unless your doctor knows that you don't use regular drinking water. If your drinking water is fluoridated, then no, I'd just use a regular old vitamin rather than add in extra fluoride.

 

[SpringCrane]

I live in the US, and our town does not have fluoridated water. It's standard for pediatricians to prescribe fluoride supplements for kids in our town. My son has a liquid dropper he uses every night after brushing his teeth. I'll have him continue until I think he's ready for fluoride toothpaste. I'm glad our water is not fluoridated as there is increasing evidence of many water supplies being too heavily fluoridated and causing long term negative side effects... but like many things, it's hard to find very clear evidence one way or another that isn't a study sponsored by those for or against. The amount he gets on a daily basis is safe, whereas he could possibly be getting far too much if he was drinking heavily fluoridated water all day every day.

I grew up with well water and no fluoride supplements, and my teeth show the results. Despite good oral hygiene, I'm prone to cavities.

I don't know much about vitamin supplements in general for little ones, but I'd ask your doctor to explain the reasoning or necessity behind the prescription. Ask if it's standard procedure in your area or just his/her policy. I hate to say it, but doctors (at least here in the US) are definitely courted by pharmaceutical companies and have been known to prescribe things not medically necessary. The vast majority don't, I'm sure, and those that do likely only do things they believe to be harmless "extras"... But it can't hurt to ask.

My son had an iron supplement until he started on solids because breast milk doesn't provide enough. Apparently our ancestors got enough iron by living in and around dirt, but thankfully we've advanced in that area!

 

[gingmg]

Our town water is not fluoridated and my pediatrician wants me to give fluoride supplements as well. I have yet to pick up the script because I'm just not sure how I feel about it. Ive read such a mixed review online and I can't decide what I think is true or not. I don't know what to do either.

 

[_Meep_]

I would just make sure you are brushing regularly and well with a fluoride baby toothpaste for starters, as that's the best way to take care of the teeth! That is a hard situation. I guess, though, nearly everyone you see will have consumed fluoridated water growing up, and (for the most part) people are fine ...

 

[AnonymousCAT]

I've spoken to my dentist about this as well. Babies who are older than six months are supposed to consume some fluoride to help make their developing teeth stronger and more resistant to cavities as they age... It is used as prophylaxis to prevent cavities in adult teeth. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is in water and some foods. But depending on where you live there may be more or less flouride in drinking water, depending on your local geological mineral deposits. The recommendation for fluoride changes depending on a baby/toddlers age, so it is best to check with your pediatrician or dentist to find out what the recommendations are for your child. Consumption of flouride is most important while adult teeth are forming (so in children) to prevent cavities. Sometimes fluoride is naturally in drinking water or some municipalities add it to the water. I would check with your city to see what the level is in your water. I checked with my city and they said that the level in my water is 0-0.35 mg/l. My dentist said that this is likely enough for my son until he's 2, considering it will also be In some foods that he eats as well. After 2 years, I would likely start using a child friendly tooth paste as long as he's not swallowing it. Consistent brushing of teeth (and flossing when they are old enough) are also key to preventing cavities.