Vitamins and Minerals for Babies

The need vitamins for babies is often a confusing topic. If you are wondering whether your baby need vitamins or not, of course, the answer is yes. Your baby needs vitamins to grow well and healthy. He needs it in order to have strong bones, healthy teeth and also to "build" his blood so avoid anemia.

Well, almost all babies get all the necessary vitamins and minerals (like vitamin A, calcium, iron, etc.) through the intake of food they consume. So, even if your baby is indeed needed vitamins and minerals, but they do not really need the supplement every day, unless he is born premature or have certain health problems.

Overview of Vitamins and Minerals

Many parents assume that the vitamins will be met in full only by consuming vegetables and fruits. This opinion is not right. Actually, vegetables and fruits contain only some kinds of vitamins, like vitamin C, E, K and some types of vitamin B.

For vitamin A, B6, B12 and D, can usually be obtained through animal sources such as liver, milk and various dairy products.

While the minerals needed by the body can be obtained from foods such as salt, fish, shrimp, squid, as well as milk and other dairy products.

Newborns

For newborns, the need for vitamins and minerals will be met through breast milk. so, if you want your baby is getting enough vitamins and minerals, you can simply increase the quality of your milk, by eating enough and balanced composition. If needed, a referral to your doctor may take additional vitamins.

How to Determine Whether Your Baby Need Supplements or Not?

Actually it all depends on the condition of the baby in question - whether he had received breast milk or formula from birth, whether he was born in normal or premature, whether he has a health disorder, and so on.

If your baby is born premature or have certain health problems, please consult with your pediatrician if he needs a particular supplement or not. Later, when he got bigger and began to consume more food, the doctor usually will further evaluate whether he is still need supplements.

For a healthy baby and in time of exclusive breastfeeding, still much debate about whether or not to give supplements. Most say completely unnecessary. Some health experts say, even if need be, at most, you just give enough vitamin D supplements - 400 IU per day, on the grounds of the baby not getting enough vitamin D intake through breast milk.

According to those who argue the need for additional vitamin D for infants who are in the program exclusive breastfeeding, it is different from infants who consumed infant formula from the beginning. He no longer require additional vitamin D, because usually this element is already contained in the formula.

Conclusion

Basically, until the age of 6 months, infants who received exclusive breastfeeding does not need a supplement. To note the mother's diet instead. Ensure that breastfeeding mothers consume enough foods containing vitamin B12 (to prevent anemia in children), iron (also associated with anemia), zinc, and calcium. If necessary, then the mother may consume a multivitamin-mineral supplement. Of course with physician referrals.

After 6 months of age, if your baby is not having difficulty eating different kinds of food with a sufficient amount for his age, then vitamin supplements are not needed. The new supplement to be an alternative when your baby is really hard to eat or have a chronic health problem. Please consult with your pediatrician.