If your baby is full-term breastfed during the first year, he doesn’t need vitamins and mineral supplements for the average healthy. But in some cases (they are exception rather than rule) breastfed baby needs vitamin supplement in this period. Here are the specifics:
· If your baby weights less than 3.3 pounds/1500 grams, he needs minerals and extra vitamins to be added to the breast milk.
· If you don’t feed your baby with breast milk, he needs Vitamin A added to his diet. Breast milk is an excellent natural source of this vitamin and protects baby from Vitamin A deficiency even in the world`s areas, where it is widespread.
· Your baby needs thiamine (Vitamin B1), and if you get it enough, your milk provides needed supplement. If you are thiamine-deficient, additional Vitamin B1 supplement should be added to your diet.
· Vitamin B6 is also come to your baby with your breast, but if you don’t get adequate amounts of B6, you should increase the level of it in your milk by adding the vitamin to your diet.
· If your baby`s diet is erratic, pediatrician will recommend you to give him supplemental C, D, A vitamins. B team can also be added. You should continue this supplement until your baby eats a consistently- balanced diet.
· Breastfeeding women`s diet doesn’t include the reliable source of B12, so you need additional multivitamin-mineral supplement or you need zinc, iron and calcium to make extra effort to consume through your diet. If your baby is raised as vegan and eats no animal products, it is of utmost importance for him to have a source of B12. If he is not breastfed provide him a diet including zinc and iron. He may eat more soy foods and cereals. Your healthcare provider will help you to choose the supplement you are concerned.