Get a 'Thumbs Up' Sign from your Pediatrician before Starting your Baby on Supplements

An Infant Feeding on Solids for the First Time

Seeing your baby eat his/her first few morsels of solid food is exciting and intimidating. Most babies start feeding on solids between their fourth and sixth month, gradually increasing their portion size. At around 9 to 11 months, infants reduce their breast-feeding dramatically as they start getting their nutrition and calories from solid foods.

During this transition phase, it is ideal that parents and caretakers pump in extra effort to meet the nutritional demands of children critical for their growth and development. This may also convey the use of carefully chosen supplements in some kids to fill their nutritional gaps. A pediatrician/registered dietitian & nutritionist can help you prepare a healthy diet chart for your baby to fill his/her nutritional gap in most scenarios.

Iron

Babies are born with capacious iron content which would last for about 4 to 6 months. Pediatricians suggest starting the baby on iron supplements from their fourth month, if the full-term infant is exclusively breast-fed. It is better to consult a pediatrician to verify the need of iron supplement for your infant. This is because, premature children and low-birth weight infants may have reduced iron stores and your doctor may suggest iron supplements until your child’s first birthday. Formula-fed babies rarely require iron supplements as the infant formula is usually iron-fortified.

When the infant starts to feed more often on solid foods, feeding them iron-rich foods such as iron-fortified cereal, meat or beans at least twice a day will fulfill their iron needs. Pediatricians recommend iron supplements to babies over 6 months who breast-feed and don’t eat iron-containing foods.

You can add vitamin C-rich foods along with iron-rich solid foods in your child’s diet to promote iron absorption from plant foods. Maybe, you can serve a bean and rice puree or finger food meal along with tomato sauce, fruit or a fruit puree. For interesting and healthy baby foods, log on to www.firsteatright.com.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and to prevent chronic disease. As vitamin D deficiency is very common, pediatricians advise parents to put their infants on supplements if these formula-fed or breast-fed infants drink less than 900ml of formula every day. Vitamin D drops can be added to the pureed solid foods or can also be added to the formula or water.

Attractive Finger Foods

Fluoride
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It is better to know the level of fluoride in your local water supply before putting your baby on fluoride supplements, which are needed to prevent cavities. It is advised to consult your pediatrician first, as these supplements are available only by prescription.

Pediatrician-Baby Rapport is Critical for Baby Cooperation

Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12, required for healthy neurological function and anemia prevention, is present in animal products such as meat, fish, eggs and dairy. Though most children have enough of this vitamin, if your child is introduced only to plant-based foods in his/her diet, he/she may require a B12 supplement. Formula-fed infants can add B12 to their diet by consuming a special fortified formula, which is often soy-based.
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Vegan breast-feeding mothers should make it a point to consume adequate vitamin B12 through fortified foods and supplements to provide her baby with generous B12 through breast milk. Vitamin B12 is a part of most over-the-counter infant vitamin drops and many ready-to-eat cereals and milk substitutes.​​

In any case, remember to consult with your pediatrician before starting your baby on any supplements. Not all infants need supplements when starting solids. Make your baby get used to a variety of foods to meet his/her nutritional demands. ​