vitamin drops

[merristems]

Yesterday my HV said I should be giving vitamin now dd is six months. This is the first I've heard about this! How do i do it? What do other people do xxxc

 

[ShakeItBaby1]

My DDs pediatrician told me to start vitamin d right away at her 2week check up. Unfortunately with breast feeding, they don't receive vitamin d, iron, or fluoride. All you have to do is go to a pharmacy and enfamil makes vitamin d & iron drops (iron is recommended starting at 6 months as well). For my 1 month old, i just put 1 drop of it on my nipple & let her nurse

 

[Elmo5]

I never bothered. Balanced diet and plenty of sunshine.

 

[summer rain]

My DDs pediatrician told me to start vitamin d right away at her 2week check up. Unfortunately with breast feeding, they don't receive vitamin d, iron, or fluoride. All you have to do is go to a pharmacy and enfamil makes vitamin d & iron drops (iron is recommended starting at 6 months as well). For my 1 month old, i just put 1 drop of it on my nipple & let her nurse

In the UK (where OP is from) advice is that they don't need any vitamins until 6 months unless a baby was born premature or has certain medical conditions. Also iron supplementation is no longer routinely advised here and I believe it's the case in the US as well, while iron deficiency anaemia is a concern, excess iron can also cause problems. A recent study found BF infants who did not receive iron fortified cereals and formula did have lower iron levels but they were within the healthy normal range. There are studies that suggest that if mother has adequate vitamin D levels and takes a high dose supplement of vitamin D, it does pass into her milk at adequate levels. Different studies have found different levels that would be the minimum maternal intake required, anything from 400iu to 4000iu. As for fluoride it's not essential to life and any cavity fighting benefits are negligible to a baby who probably has no teeth at all yet.

OP I give abidec drops and seperate b12 drops to my 8 month old, however this is because I have a vegan diet as does LO and it's just a safeguarding measure. I often forget and he is a strapping healthy lad. Xx

 

[merristems]

Ok thank you for advise I will check out the drops this week. Can't believe noons told me this!

 

[w8ing4bean]

I give my lo abidec drops x