Re: Vitamins

[Guest guest]

> I know that a breastfed baby doesn't need supplemental

> vitamins and iron, but what about once they're over one

As long as Steffi was bfed, i.e. until she was just over 2yo, I didn't

bother with vits.

Since she turned three I have had her on vits on an occasional basis,

ususally for a month when there are major changes in her life i.e.

when she started school, when we came to Oz, in the hope it will tide

her over.

Can't say I've ever noticed a huge difference to be honest. When she

started school she had cold sores for about three weeks and I started

the vits about a week after she started I think. It eases my

conscience but I'm not sure they do any good!

FWIW, I give her something that has the full range e.g. Sanatogen for

Kids rahter than just the ACD & E ones.

--

Sue

[Guest guest]

>I'm sure

Hahahaha. The prospective author of Muddling Through Motherhood -

Maternity with minimal effort (though somehow I don't suppose it

would sell as many copies as Contented Little Baby...)

But that has made my day, thanks!

>or someone can give you the full ins and outs but as long

>as mine were drinking breasmilk fairly regularly and eating a variety of

>foods I never worried too much.

Phyllis is dead right that the advice seems to be a bit skew whiff

really. On the one hand we're all told how important it is that our

children get X, Y and Z and then we're told not to worry if they

won't eat. And yes, some 'official' sources do advocate Vitamins A, C

and D from ?four months for breastfed children, but that offends my

intuition - I wouldn't be happy to advise it professionally because

of the effect on perceptions of the value of breastfeeding beyond

that age and IIRC it isn't a vegetarian source of Vitamin D so I

wasn't interested personally. I just keep presenting them with what I

consider to be a healthy and child friendly range of foods...and my

worm bin fills up and I get fatter on the leftovers!

IIRC iron deficiency anaemia is the most common deficiency in

children - but supplementing iron can be a dodgy business.

For what is is worth I *have* dosed my children with multi

vits/minerals (seems preferable to specific ones, less chance of

getting things out of balance - largely as an aid to *me* hanging

loose if they are going through a phase of not eating all that well

for whatever reason. (My men believe they can live by bread alone)

Mind you, since I was adding the stuff to their food or drink, they

weren't taking the full dose anyway!

--

jennifer@...

Vaudin