Is anyone using the Poly Vi Sol vitamins successfully?

Angela - posted on 03/05/2009

i didn't read everyone elses, but our doctor said to give tri-vi-sol vitamins.  what i've read is that they need to start getting more iron around 6 months.  if your baby eats rice cereal that has the iron in it.  maybe the iron is hurting your babies tummy.  maybe you could switch to the tri-vi-sol w/o iron.  good luck!

Jennifer - posted on 02/25/2009

I give my daughter the Polyvisol vitamins w/ iron in the bath at night.  I hold her head upright so it doesn't run out the side of her mouth until she swallows.  And then occasionally when it does run down her cheek, it goes onto her shoulder/chest while she's naked in the bath.  I wipe it up with a wet washrag and then clean her face too.  That way it doesn't stain clothes and she doesn't stink like the horrible vitamin smell for the rest of the day.  I'd also heard that rice cereal has enough iron, so I'm wondering if I can switch to the polyvisol withOUT iron when she starts on cereal?  (maybe that won't stain as much b/c there's no iron to oxidize?)   

Jennifer - posted on 02/23/2009

My daughter was tested for iron levels at the doctor's office when she was 10 days old b/c I was breastfeeding. Our pediatrician then wanted us to use the poly vi sol drops. For the first week I tried using that dropper and I agree, the smell is HORRIBLE and it stains everything, plus she was spitting it out just like your little one. I decided then just to give it to her in her bottle with at least 4 oz. of breastmilk. It ended up working out b/c my husband does that feeding when he gets home from work, so he feels more involved with her too. That's their special time and I get a little break. Our doctor also said that we have to keep up the vitamins (b/c I asked him at 4 mos. if we could quit) until I'm done breastfeeding or I switch to an iron fortified formula. I would ask your pediatrician if there's an alternative if you don't use bottles. The orange flavored ones sound a lot better.

Kristin - posted on 02/22/2009

I mix it in with fruit and my son is none the wiser.

Taryn - posted on 02/21/2009

My daughter was the same way. She didn't start keeping then down until about four months of age. Not sure why, but my advice is keep trying every once in a while.

Jaclyn - posted on 02/21/2009

These vitamins are awful. The smell and taste disgusting. We got to a local vitamin store and buy orange flavored ones. Ian has no problem taking his vitamins now.

Desirae - posted on 02/18/2009

I also nurse and my Pedi told me to give my son tri-vi-sol. He has no problem taking that.. he loves it. Is your daughter on cereals yet? They have iron in them.

Jennifer - posted on 02/18/2009

My doc gave them to me too, and my son refuses to swallow them.  I was giving them in expressed milk, but that got to be such a pain, and he hates the bottle that I gave up.  According to what I have read while researching this, doctors vary on whether you need to give vitamins to baby or not.  I just make sure to take my prenatals, so that I'm getting enough and it will pass through the milk.  Even if you don't have enough often baby gets enough, because your body steals it from your resources.  I'm not going to worry about it until 6 months when he starts solid food which is when they really need to start vitamins, then I'll mix it in with his fruit or veggies.