Vitamin help

[USAFeyez06]

Ok... I am extremely confused about vit supps. in bf babies. All the research I'm finding is up until 6 months old. My little one is 6 and half months old currently and is exclusively breastfed and on solids (right now pears, sweet pot, peas, and carrots).

I called her ped about a vit D supp for her and she said yes and to come pick up samples. Well the samples are Vit D, A, and E with iron. Label says 100% Vit D, A, and E for infants in one dose and 67% iron. Is this really necessary for her? I know they need D supps but, isn't she getting too much A and E with her solids and being bf?

Please know... I am on a restricted diet due to her multiple food allergies. I eat steak, chicken, potatoes, fruits, veggies, salads, and fish. I do take hypoalllergenic prenatal vitamins and Vit D and Cal supplements for myself. So, with my prenatals are A and E and even iron necessary?

Please shed some light for me... what did you do with your little ones? Also, what about flouride supplements?

Thanks a lot ladies! I just don't want to give her too much of one thing... as this is def no good either!!!

[madelsmama]

I get my girls out in the sun for a few minutes a day to get their Vit D. I did not give my older daughter any vitamins until she was weaned at 2 1/2 yrs. My 11 month old has never taken vitamins.

So, I think what your doc gave you is way overkill. And there's no way I'd be supplementing with iron unless a blood test confimed that she was anemic. Sweet potato, among other foods, is an excellent source of vitamin A, btw. And no way on the flouride supplements. Don't you have flouride in your water?

[USAFeyez06]

Thank you for replying!!!! I knew this couldn't be right!!!

I don't know if there is flouride in my water... but I'm assuming there is. I live in Colorado and it's apparently the best water around. LOL So am I correct to assume that she gets the flouride from me when I drink water? And I am also correct to assume that she is receiving iron, A, and E from foods and me?

I had a feeling this was overkill. And the only thing this vitamin did so far was to constipate her from all the iron.

I would put her on Vitamin D drops (she got a little sunburn the other day IN THE SHADE, so I am a freak about her with sunscreen, hats, etc. now). Do they sell JUST vitamin D supplements for infants?

[intokermit]

I would have her checked first for a vitamin d deficiency. To much of a good thing is bad for her. If you are taking supplements and eating right, she should be getting all her nutritional needs met thru you. And yes, there's fluoride in your water. It's been made mandatory for the cities in the US to have it in there. We're the only country in the world that does it. You don't want to give her fluoride tablets. Fluoride is technically a poison, so you really don't want that! It's safe in the water, I believe.

[whitnessforhim]

My pedi. gave us an Rx for liquid vitamin that includes floride. In a way I understand why they want to push the vitamins b/c mainstream america's diets really are horrible, void of a lot of essential nutrients...which means the parent usually will introduce those same bad habits when solids become a part of the babies diet.

However for a family who maintains a decent diet of healthy, nutritous foods I really do not see where a vitamin would be necessary.
Personally, I really think this push for floride rediculous. Considering that our youth is the fatest its been in history, I would venture to say that its the horrible junk food diet their on that is rotting their teeth not the lack of floride in the water they drink. For over 7yrs I have only brushed with non-floride toothpast and I have always filtering my drinking water and I have never had one cavity during that time.

if you have good diet habits and pass those on to your DC I really don't see the necessity for vitamins unless there is some sort of deficiency

[RedheadbyChoice]

I'm with Cheryl, to a T. :)

[madelsmama]

She *does* need to get some sun, mama, even if it's 5 minutes a day, without sunblock on. It's how our bodies were meant to receive Vitamin D. The sun is just more harsh than is used to be, lol.

I don't think a test for vitamin D is necessary, IMO. She does get small bits of it via BM, but not alot. Yes, she gets vitamins and iron from your BM, as well as flouride. Unless you have well water, it has flouride.

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/vitamins.html

[StElmosFire]

I agree with Cheryl also :)