What micronutrients might need to be supplemented in infants in the first 6 months?
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The government recommends all children aged 6 months to 5 years are given vitamin supplements containing vitamins A, C and D every day. Babies who are having more than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day should not be given vitamin supplements. This is because formula is fortified with vitamins A, C and D and other nutrients. Babies who are being
breastfed should be given a daily vitamin D supplement from birth, whether or not you're taking a supplement containing vitamin D yourself. Your health visitor can give you advice on vitamin drops and tell you where to get them. You're entitled to free vitamin drops if you qualify for Healthy Start. The Department of Health and Social Care only recommends vitamin supplements containing vitamins A, C and D. But some supplements you can buy contain other vitamins or ingredients. Talk to a pharmacist about which supplement would be most suitable for your child. Having too much of some vitamins can be harmful. Keep to the dose recommended on the label, and be careful not to give your child 2 supplements at the same
time. For example, do not give them cod liver oil and vitamin drops because cod liver oil also contains vitamins A and D. One supplement on its own is enough, as long as it contains the recommended dose of vitamin D. Vitamin D is only found in a few foods, such as oily fish and eggs. It's also added to some
foods, such as fat spreads and breakfast cereals. But it’s difficult to get enough vitamin D from food alone. The main source of vitamin D is summer sunlight on our skin. But it's important to keep your child's skin safe in the sun. Children should not be out in the sun too long in hot weather. Remember to cover up or protect their skin before it turns red or burns. Young children should still have vitamin drops, even if they get out in the sun. The Department of Health and Social Care recommends:
Vitamin AVitamin A is important for babies and young children, and some may not be getting enough. It's needed for a healthy immune system, can help their vision in dim light, and keeps skin healthy. Good sources of vitamin A include:
Vitamin CVitamin C is important for your child's general health and immune system. It can also help their body absorb iron. Good sources of vitamin C include:
A balanced diet for babies and young childrenIt's important for children to eat a wide variety of foods to make sure they're getting all the energy and nutrients they need to grow and develop properly. Get more advice and information on a balanced diet for babies and young children:
In most cases, breast milk or formula provides just about everything a baby needs for the first 6 months. The exception is vitamin D, which is recommended as a supplement for breastfed babies starting soon after birth (and some formula-fed babies), and vitamin K, which babies get as a shot at birth. Why would my baby need vitamins?After 6 months, as your baby's nutritional needs increase and their diet changes from just breast milk or formula to including solid foods, your doctor may recommend additional vitamin supplements. For example, babies need more vitamin A, D, E, and K from 7 to 12 months than they did from birth to 6 months. Babies also need more iron once they reach about 6 months old. (Newborns have sufficient iron stored for about the first 6 months of life.) Babies who eat a variety of foods over time likely won't need extra vitamins, but there are exceptions. For example, supplements may be necessary if your baby:
Your own health may come into play, too, if you're breastfeeding. For example, women who have had gastric bypass surgery, who are anemic, or who take certain medications daily may absorb fewer nutrients. This can reduce the nutritional content of their breast milk. If you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet yourself or are planning on feeding your baby a vegan or vegetarian diet, tell your baby's healthcare provider. Vitamin B12, iron, zinc, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids are nutrients that vegan moms and babies may need to make an extra effort to consume through diet or a multivitamin-mineral supplement. In general, though, even if your diet isn't perfect (and whose is?), your breast milk will likely contain the nutrients your baby needs. That said, your own nutrient stores may suffer if your diet is less than stellar, so pediatricians recommend you take a multivitamin while you're breastfeeding. Not all babies will need vitamin supplements. In fact, once your baby starts eating solid food, they may be getting more vitamins and minerals than you think – especially if they eat fortified foods, which often have added vitamin A, zinc, iron, and folate. A study by the American Dietetic Association showed that while supplements were helpful for infants who were deficient in some nutrients, other infants received too much of some vitamins and minerals. Also, keep in mind that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't regulate vitamins, so quality and potency might vary between brands. Always ask the doctor before giving your baby supplements. These are some common supplements for babies: Vitamin D for babiesBabies only get a small amount of vitamin D through breast milk, so experts recommend giving your breastfed baby a vitamin D supplement of 400 IU daily, starting in the first few days of life. Babies who are fully or partially formula fed but drink less than 32 ounces of formula a day also need a daily vitamin D supplement. Our bodies produce vitamin D after our skin is exposed to sunshine. But it's best to keep your baby out of the sun for their first six months, so they won't get enough vitamin D from the sun – even if you live in a relatively sunny place. The skin of very young babies is extra thin and delicate, and every minute of sun exposure contributes to skin cancer risk and wrinkling later in life – even if the skin doesn't burn. Since sunscreen isn't recommended for babies under 6 months old, they have less protection. And while sunscreen helps keep children safe in the sun, it also blocks the rays that enable the body to produce vitamin D. Iron supplements for babiesBreast milk and formula both contain iron, but about the time your baby starts solid foods, the iron requirement jumps (from 0.27 milligrams daily through 6 months to 11 mg daily from 7 to 12 months). At that point, it's important for your baby to have a good source of iron from food. Good sources include pureed meat, iron-fortified cereal, and pureed legumes such as lentils, kidney beans, lima beans, black beans, and pinto beans. Your baby's doctor may recommend an iron supplement if your baby doesn't eat iron-rich foods or if your family is vegan or vegetarian. Babies born prematurely have less stored iron at birth and usually need to take an iron supplement. If your baby is exclusively breastfed, it's also recommended to give them an iron supplement once they're 4 months old, since breast milk contains little iron and your baby's iron stores will start running low around then. Once your baby starts solid foods at around 6 months old, they may not need an iron supplement anymore. Your baby's doctor can help determine what your baby needs. Vitamin B12 supplements for babiesVitamin B12 is critical for development of the nervous system and to prevent anemia. This vitamin is naturally found in fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products (like cheese and yogurt). If you're breastfeeding and you don't eat many (or any) animal products, it's important to have a regular and reliable source of vitamin B12 – whether it's from a supplement or fortified foods – so that your baby's diet will also contain adequate amounts of the vitamin. DHA supplements for babiesDHA, an omega-3 fatty acid important for infant brain and eye development, shows up in your breast milk in proportion to the amount of DHA and essential fatty acids in your diet. Many formula brands are fortified with DHA. Learn more about omega-3s and omega-3 supplements and how to get this important fatty acid in your diet. Breastfeeding moms who don't consume a dietary source of DHA – vegetarians and vegans, in particular – may want to ask their healthcare providers about taking a DHA supplement. Vegetarians and vegans and their babies have been found to have lower levels of DHA than those who eat meat. Zinc supplements for babiesZinc is important to immune function, wound healing, and your baby's developing senses of smell and taste. If you exclusively breastfeed your baby, they'll probably get enough zinc until they're about 6 months old. After that, the amount of zinc they need increases, so they need to get some from the solid foods they eat, too. On a vegan or vegetarian diet, this may be difficult, since the most common sources of zinc are meat and dairy products. If you're worried your baby may not be getting enough zinc, talk to their doctor about ways to increase zinc in their diet. Vitamin K for newbornsNewborns routinely get a vitamin K shot while they're still in the hospital, within hours after delivery. Vitamin K helps blood clot and helps keep bones healthy. Babies have very little of it when they're born, so they're at risk of bleeding too much if they don't get the shot. The shot gives babies enough to prevent vitamin K deficiency for the first months of life, until they start eating solid foods and get the vitamin through other sources. Are probiotics good for babies?Probiotics are used to promote good gut health. While they're safe for adults, there's less research on their effects on children and infants – though some evidence suggests probiotics could help relieve eczema and manage allergies. There have been some studies on whether probiotics can help with colic, but the research is inconclusive. Talk with your healthcare provider before giving your baby probiotics. What Micronutrients are required for infants?Micronutrient needs for infants and toddlers. Calcium. Infants: 600 mg. Toddlers: 800 mg.. Iron. Infants: 15 mg. Toddlers: 10 mg.. Vitamin D. Infants: 400 IU. Toddlers: 400 IU.. Vitamin E. Infants: 5 IU. Toddlers: 10 IU.. Thiamin. Infants: 0.5 mg. ... . Riboflavin. Infants: 0.6 mg. ... . Vitamin B6. Infants: 0.4 mg. ... . Folate. Infants: 100 mcg.. What are the nutritional needs of a 6 month old baby?Guidelines of food volumes. Breast Milk or Infant Formula: 24 to 36 ounces in 24 hours.. Cereals: 8-12 tablespoons with breast milk or formula / day.. Vegetables: 2-6 tablespoons / day.. Meat or meat substitute: 2-4 tablespoons / day.. Juice: Not recommended until 1 year of age.. Which change in infant nutritional requirements occurs at age 6 months?Breastfed infants may require iron supplementation after 4-6 months of life where formula-fed infants do not as infant formula is fortified with iron.
What nutrients would need to be supplemented into a breastfed babies diet between 6 month to 1 year?Iron is particularly important for breastfed babies who take in minimal or no formula. This is because breastmilk contains very little iron. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends an iron supplement for breastfed babies until they are introduced to iron-rich solids at 6 months.
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