Vitamins and minerals supplements are not necessary for a healthy baby until the breastfeeding is going on. Mother’s milk is the best for baby fulfilling every need of baby. Many researches have shown that there is no requirement to supply any additional nutrients to a baby if it is healthy. Yes, of course, if your baby is underweight or not healthy by any means, it is to be supplied with rich nutrients. Though, pediatricians recommend various vitamins supplements to be on safer side even to the healthy baby and therefore, vitamin supplements have become one of the routine prescribed items in doctor’s list.
Breast-milk is considered to be nectar for a baby at least up to six months. Studies have shown that fluoride, juice, vitamins, formula, iron, water and solid foods are very less beneficial to healthy breastfed babies especially during first six months of their lives and opposite to that, some could be harmful if given without any necessity.
Supplements of vitamins to baby is necessary in some cases but it is not a rule. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that…
“No supplements (water, glucose water, formula and so forth) should be given to breastfeeding newborns unless a medical indication exists… Exclusive breastfeeding is ideal nutrition and sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first six months after birth”.
On the other hand, babies which are premature and having LBW (low birth weight) should be supplied by additional vitamins and minerals from outside. These vitamins can be added to mother’s milk and then can be given to baby.
Here is the list of vitamins that play an important role in baby’s growth and development of good milestones.
Breast-milk is considered to be natural and excellent source of vitamin A. It is useful for eyes and other bodily functions like it helps in growth and repairing body tissues. It also helps in building body’s immunity and helps in night vision. They can be supplied as vitamin A drops directly to the baby and as food as in eggs, dark green and yellow vegetables and fruits, dairy products and liver.
This is one of the most important vitamins. Vitamin B has many sub-vitamin groups and therefore, it is called as vitamin B complex. Right from the day one when a woman conceives, she has to start taking vitamin B complex. This is to be done at any cost as it good and adequate supplement of this group of will ensure good growth of embryo and it will build mother’s body also. One of the vitamin from this group, Vitamin B2 or riboflavin are generally not recommended for breastfed babies as it is very rare especially in developed countries.
In same way, Vitamin B1, B6 and B12 is also very important and needed to be supplied to mother and in some cases when the baby is underweight, to the baby. Vitamin B complex helps baby in carbohydrate and protein metabolism, nervous system maintenance, formation of antibodies, blood cell formation and in building immunity.
This is also known as Ascorbic acid and is very important for wound healing, collagen maintenance and it also builds resistance against various infections. It is equally important for healthy gums and blood vessels. Vitamin C can be found in almost all citrus fruits, tomatoes, berries, green and red peppers, broccoli and melons. You can also get some medicated drops containing Vitamin C in it. The dosage is to be fixed as per the age and weight of the child and has to be decided by pediatrician.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends you that you should provide your baby a supplement of 200 IU per day of vitamin D if it is exclusively breastfed or drinks less than 17 ounces per day or fortified formula. Breast milk are transferred in breast milk, while fortified formula contains sufficient amount of Vitamin D. Infant vitamins typically provide 400 IU of vitamin D, it is the same amount that is found in 33 ounces of infant formula. Mind it that baby can safely take up to 1000 IU per day of vitamin D and therefore, the amount found in formula or a supplement shall not be too much.
This is extremely important for infants and hence, the injection containing Vitamin K is immediately given to newborns. This is done to protect child or newborn from internal bleeding (internal bleeding is quite possible while delivery of an infant). This will check out any internal bleeding and Vitamin K will stop it and hence, will prevent the further damage in the body.
You can supply vitamin E from outside as it is available in the form of pills or drops. It is also known as tocopherol. It helps as free radical scavenger and it probably has role in developing immunity.
Along with vitamins, minerals are also important for baby’s growth. Zinc, iron and fluoride are equally beneficial for baby’s health and immunity. They provide immunity and also nice development of the bodily systems.
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