Jillian - posted on 09/13/2009 ( 4 moms have responded )
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I have gotten conflicting advice on this. Is it necessary to supplement your breastfed baby with a vitamin, such as Poly-Vi-Sol? My son seems to hate when I give it to him and I'm having a hard time believing that my breast milk is not providing him the vitamins/minerals that he needs.
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Heather - posted on 09/14/2009
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I was told to give my oldest vitamins but that made me feel horrible, I was always told breast was best and that it was all that a baby needed. So I decided against the vitamins, all four of my babies are healthy and thriving and my self esteem from feeding them has gotten better with each baby :) Though I do take vitamins.
*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 09/13/2009
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I take my prenatal vitamin still. From what I understand, breastmilk is all they need until 6 months. Then the low iron comes into play, but usually that's when solids are introduced so that makes up for it. My baby only gets breastmilk, she's 4 months old and doing great.
Gina - posted on 09/13/2009
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No. As long as you're baby is getting adequate sunshine for Vitamin D, you're good to go! Sounds like ou're doing a bang up job!
Minnie - posted on 09/13/2009
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I don't complicate things with supplements. I myself don't take a vitamin. Babies generally begin taking solids (of their own volition- not you spoonfeeding it to them) when they need something to complement your milk (for my daughter that was about 9 1/2 months).
Although breastmilk is low in iron, it has high bioavailability- meaning it's very readily absorbed and utilized by your baby.
Vitamin D, while low in concentrations in breastmilk, is sufficient for the first few months, and then all baby needs is half an hour unclothed in the sun, two hours clothed, per week. During the warm summer months, if baby gets adequate sun exposure, baby will store the vitamin for the cold winter months.
The other vitamins, A, B, etc. baby will get just fine from your milk, and will get them as well from a varied diet once baby takes the initiative to pick up food and eat it.
Don't worry- if breastfeeding was this hugely complicated and inadequate system that it seems to be I highly doubt that mammals would have been so successful on this planet.
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