Introducing Vitamins

Just keep being the best mom ever and Luc will be climbing door jams in no time.

Love ya sistah!

That is actually opposite of what my son's doctor told me when my son was the same age. He was also healthy, normal weight, etc.... My doctor has still not suggested vitamins for my son , who is now 3, he actually told us they were not necessary for a child with a balanced diet.

Why not just give him rice cereal which is iron-fortified instead of trying to give him a vitamin? Just a thought...

My daughter is 19 month now and I only gave her vitamins when she got sick and was eating very little. Otherwise just food and formula/milk will be fine from my experience.
Sometimes since I became a mom I wonder how many complications can be entered in raising our kids. You and me are from the same generation and I don't know about you but I feel I grew up pretty normal with the normal things: good food, no vitamins. Sleep at night and if I fussed my mom just made sure I was not sick and just let me cry it out so I could sleep. Regular education. You know what I mean.
Anyway, I would not introduce vitamins unless he is obviously deficient, but if your breastmilk was good it means you follow a good diet, which means you'll have your son follow a good diet.
:)

I breastfed both of my chilren until 13 months, and was never told to give them vitamins. Most vitamins these days are full of chemicals and fillers that our bodies don't need. :) Your body makes everything your child needs. Breastmilk, fruits and veggies is great nutrition for the first year. :)

I was told the same thing with my first daughter. I don’t think it really did too much for her except make her constipated; which is turn was really bad for her. Why don’t you try to give your baby cream of wheat ♥ That's what I did with my first and now my 2nd, and the doctor could not really tell the difference! So ha, then I told him what I had been doing instead and he was ok with that :) so you never know, just try it. ♥
LIZ from Hanford CA

I have to give our daughter vitamins too. We started at 4 months and now she's 6mo. I use the enfamil ones and you are right - they are nasty. She didn't like them at first and more came down her face than she swallowed but I just kept doing it. The first couple of weeks she would kind of fight me. Eventually she stopped fighting me. I give them to her when I give her a bath because they smell awful too, this way I can wash it off. Now when I grab the botle she just turns her head to me and opens her mouth.

Did you talk to his Dr about giving Flinstones? I would imagine the dosage is much more than he needs. Just keep doing the Enfamil - put the dropper as far back into his mouth as you can. Remember, you're the parent and he will grow accustomed to the taste - just like any foods he may not like initially.

i don't agree withyour doctor, i believe breastmilk has everything needed to nourish your baby. my son was breastfed for an entire year without any supplements and he was and still is doing wonderfully.

My doctor said the same thing. My daughter's iron was low because I strictly breastfed w/o solids until 6 months. Except my doc told me to give her Ferinsol (something like that). It was horrible!!!!! Then we did do the Enfamil drops. They were gross too. We were trying to introduce solids but all this nasty stuff we kept giving her was making this process difficult. We decided to just start giving her foods that had a lot of iron in them. She loved the rice cereal which is fortified with iron. When she was old enough to take a vitamin on her own, that is when we started giving her that. My thought is that breastfeeding is the best thing and should not need to be supplemented with anything. And guess what? She was and still is fine!

Hi A., I know back in the day...our parents day my day we didn't give vitamins, we all came out pretty healthy. Unless there is some underlying medical factor i think your totally fine with protein, vegetables, fruit, and wonderful breastmilk. I agree with you on introducing these tastes while he is just learning to eat new foods. Maybe call the nurse to double check....it might make you feel better.

since hes just starting solids i suggest to make some beans and smash them because they contain a lot of iron in them...i did that for my daughter and she loves them...now shes old enough so that i dont have to smash them...good luck!

.A. ..The answer is.....You (never) stop worrying about your child. lol. I have two grown sons,and I still worry about them. : ) I don't understand why A Dr. would recomend vitamins for a (Breast Fed) six week old baby? I really feel these Drs go overboard sometimes. Your baby is getting all the vitamins and iron he needs from you! I experienced a sad situation,when one of my sons were given extra iron,and they became so constipated,that they were in severe pain till i got them to the Dr.Iron has a tendancy to cause constipation,so to add to what iron he already recieves from you,is overkill in my opinion.You know,Jana...even (DRS) make mistakes. and they all have their own ideals on child development.We mothers,learn real fast,to take what advice sounds right and disreguard what doesn't for our children.The very best to you and please give that sweet new baby boy a hug for me.

How about crushing vitamins in with fruit, say applesauce, and always giving them in that. By the way, I came across non-prescription vitamin/minerals for kids that are more easily absorbed than any brands you find in the store.

I like the child life vitamins and i order them at www.herbalremedies.com.
BOth my children love them.
S

Since your son is breastfed, all you need to do is make sure you have enough iron in your own diet. He doesn't need extra iron, extra vitamin D, or any of the things that doctors who believe formula is "more complete" recommend. Your milk is far better than any formula could be, and in fact, as your son transitions to solid foods, your milk acts to fill in any nutritional gaps that might occur until he's eating a full, balanced diet. By the time he needs vitamins, he'll be able to take a children's chewable. Focus on your own nutrition and you're set!

I breastfed both of my children, and was never told to introduce vitamins. My son is now 5, and daughter 3, and we have strong healthy kids. What i'm trying to say is that if you can not get them to go in, you may not absolutely need to.

As far as I know, as long as you keep breastfeeding your baby he doesn't need any additional vitamins. Breast milk is complete nutrition for the first year. Also iron tends to constipate babies which is difficult to deal with. I would check out the Dr Sears Baby Book. Good luck!

Just give him food with iron: cream of wheat hot or cold (cold you can cut it and he can feed himself the bite size chunks), beans area great too lots of iron and they can get practice doing it themselves, spinache... they don't need vitamins yet.

unless you are eating like a junkie-sweets, deep fried foods, no veggies--then your son is getting all the vitamins he needs!

YOU have to make sure you are getting what YOU need because it will come right out of your bone marrow if you don't. you'll actualy feel your bones draining. not pleasant.

try rainbowlite prenatals, not the one a day, but three doses a day. you can actually only take one three times a day, but start with the recommended dosage. you will fantastic and you breastmilk will in fact get an extra kick--a little frothier.

i took the prenatals for almost 2 years post-partum. makes a huge difference.

but please don't give the baby any of that stuff. he starts vitamins when he stops breastfeeding and has a wide array of solids in the mix.

happy feeding,
-A.

I just give my son the cereals that are fortified with iron, and make sure to give him a variety of nutrient rich foods, and that seems to work for us. It is very hard when they are first learning how to eat, I can understand your frustration, I don't think that my son would like to eat vitamins either.
H. B.

Try foods that are high in iron like molasses and cooked/pureed leafy greens (obviously, foods that he can eat at this stage). The iron stores in breast milk *start* declining at 6 months, but that doesn't mean that your son is iron deficient at this point.

I would ask your doctor, "why does he feel your child needs vitamins?" Most children receive all the nutrition they need from breastmilk. With you breastfeeding and introducing solids, he really should be getting all he needs. I would be concerned about extra iron. "Why does he need extra iron?" Unless your child has a special need, the less supplements the better. Good luck.

BECAUSE a child is breastfed DOES NOT mean iron deficiency. A breastfed child will receive ALL necessary nutrients from breastmilk for two+ years. Vitamins are not necessary for at LEAST the first two years breastfed or not. IF the Dr is so concerned he should have pricked his finger to check his iron levels. Feeding a child grains before the age of one can do more harm than good. Children don't develop the necessary enzymes to break down grains until at least 1yr. This can cause constipation, stomach upset. Introducing grains too early can also cause food sensitivity.
Here is more info:
readiness for solids: http://www.kellymom.c...
iron supplementation: http://www.kellymom.c...
virgin gut: http://www.breastfeed...

Also, please don't give your child juice as many others suggested. There is no nutritional value, just tons of sugar. Actual fruits and vegetables is best.

I give my daughter the liquid animal parade with iron. It is sweet so she likes it. Whole Foods stopped selling it so you can buy it off the internet or go to a small health food store and they should be able to order it for you. They sell it at Health Nut on Redondo and 3rd in Long Beach.

Congrats A. on your beautiful boy. I am in disagreement with your doctor about suppliments at this early age. Your son is getting what he needs via the breast milk - as long as you are eating with good nutrition in mind. I don't think babies should get anything like that until they have the teeth to chew them. I agree with you on the issue of adding artificial flavors into his foods! When he gets a bit older, try the gummy bear vitimans that are available at the health food store! BTW, breastfed babies whose mother's eat a varied diet are getting different flavors in the breast milk! Stuff like bananas or avocados and soft brown rice warm cereal are also good starts.....GOOD LUCK!

We give our son the Infant Vitamins that you find at Wild Oats or Whole Foods. They are not black in color so they will not stain the teeth. Seem to work very well and have the DHA that is recommended for brain and eye development.

Have you tried putting them in his morning bottle? That's what our doctor told us to do...the morning bottle was the one that got finished so I knew that my daughter was getting her full dose of vitamins. If he's still breastfeeding, get the medicince dropper out, pinch his cheeks like you're making fishy lips and insert the dropper in his cheeks towards the back of the throat and dispense. I had to do that a couple of times with my daughter. Given, she didn't like the taste of the medicine, but it had to be done. When all was over with I gave her one M&M to help get the taste out of her mouth. And to reward her for taking her "yucky" vitamins. I hope this helps..good luck!

I have to agree with all the other moms who are saying to disregard what the doctor told you. If you are still taking prenatal vitamins while breastfeeding him then there should be no consern, unless she tested him and he's low in iron. It wasn't until my son's 2 year checkup that the doctor finally agreed that a vitamin was ok for him.

I tried with our baby who is now 8 mo and she refused her bottles if they had the drops in them. Her doctor was not worried, said we tried and we can try again later.

Check the fruits and veggies you are giving him and see how much iron those have, you might find that he is already receiving a little iron. You are probably transfering iron through breast feeding and the prenatals you are taking too.

Do you give him juice? I think that's how I used to give them to my son. I know the vitamins don't taste good but it's just something you do.

Please do not give him flintstones vits. I am so glad you asked other moms about this because I think they'll have good advice....perhaps you should ask a different pediatrician...did your dr. suggest to simply try cereal/ oatmeal w/ iron first? I'm confused as to why his iron defiency(sp?) is such an issue....please continue to ask ?'s and learn about your child's nutrition. Dr.'s should be explaining their reasoning behind prescription...don't be afraid to ask.
Best, N.

Contrary to what you've been told, breastmilk is the perfect food for your baby and you do not need to supplement with vitamins as long as you are breastfeeding. Many doctors prescribe unnecessary "remedies" for children just to cover themselves. My doctor told me the same thing, but my son has never had any vitamins (he is now 20 months old and was breastfed until 18 months) and has only been sick twice. At 6 months (and until the first year), breastmilk is your child's main source of nutrition (the solids you are introducing right now are for learning experiences and not necessarily for nutritional value) AND breastmilk does contains enough iron for your child . So don't worry...just breastfeed and continue to introduce nutritious foods to your baby. If your baby is rejecting the vitamins, there is a reason for it (especially at this age). Here's an article you can use as reference as well http://www.irondisorders.org/News/Infants.pdf
Good luck!

Hi A....I am surprised that the doctor didn't give you liquid vitamins for infants that are easy for the child to take and digest. Crushing vitamins is a little too much for an infant. Both of my children were given Vitamins from the doctor - TriVitamin Drops with Fluoride...maybe you need to ask your doctor.

A.,
Did a blood test reveal that the baby has an iron deficiency? Your breastmilk does contain iron and it is better absorbed by your child either cow's milk or formula. Doctor's usually recommend iron supplements after six months, but they usually call for that following a blood test which would show anemia. If your doctor just wants you to introduce iron, then an iron-fortified cereal would do the job - and there is less of a chance of your baby getting too much iron, that way. I remember taking liquid iron as a tween (I couldn't swallow pills and I was a real sickly kid). It was the most vile, repulsive, disgusting tasting ich - ever! I started eating vegetables after that! Don't panic about this - and don't stress - your breastmilk and a little bit of cereal should do the trick, with a healthy baby. J.

Have you really researched what your baby is getting from your own breast milk? You can't always take advice from your pediatrician (they aren't always totally informed as you m ight think). I have two beautiful, healthy daughters that I breast fed for 2 years each and when we started introducing food it was more to just get them ready to eat solids. At 6 months they are still truly relying on you for their food intake and nutrition. One food my girls both loved was yams and sweet potatoes. I steamed them then put them into the food processer and they loved it. Take a look at what vitamins you get from vegies like that! Way better than you'll get trying to make a baby take a vitamin. I'm sure your doctor is totally well meaning but I have found that I actually learned more about nutrition from other sources than a doctor and that I had to inform my doctor on things like vitamins and such. A great read is Dr. William Sears "The Baby Book" - full of great info from a man who has 9 children and has been a doctor for over 20 years. I highly recommend reading this book - you will find out some wonderful info and put the care and nutrition back into your hands where it belongs, not forcing vitamins on your little baby. Best of luck!

Hi A., I'm a mother of 3,and my advice would be that no added vitimans are needed at such a young age. The baby is getting all he needs from the breast milk and now added baby food. Unless a blood test shows low iron levels, added iron isn't necessary.Also iron is a mineral and minerals are stored in the body unlike vitamins so let your baby get his vitamins and minerals from natural food sources and please dont give any artifical suppliments to your precious new baby, just eat really good yourself so your milk is healthy for your baby

A.,

Try going to Whole Foods or Wild Oats, they have a better selection, will allow you to return them if they are not working and tend to have less of the articifial junk in them. Good luck.

C.

A.,
If you are still breast feeding, why don't YOU take an iron supplement if your levels are not good. I had mine checked at the pediatrician's office to be sure my levels were up so he would get enough. You could also give him iron-fortified rice, oatmeal or multi grain cereal. Earth's Best makes organic ones with added iron. I give that to my 7 month old in the mornings and he gets veggies and fruits for lunch and dinner. There is some iron there too. The other vitamin you want to be you are getting enough of is vitamin D. Breast milk is usually low b/c women are usually deficient. Get some sunshine every day or take a vitamin D supplement. Make sure it is D3 - not D2, as D3 is more bioavailable. (I used to be a nutritional supplement rep for a professional line of vitamins/herbs sold to Dr's) I would try, as much as possible to take the nutrition yourself and let your baby get it through your milk. Giving him cereal that is iron-fortified is good too.
Good Luck
D.

A.,
I would hope you are eating correctly with you breastfeeding and getting ready to go back to work. We would not even entertained the idea of introducing vitamins at that young age. If your son is eating the introductory solid foods and you vary them the way you should there wouldn't be a real reason for vitamins as he will already get what he needs from those foods.
We have two children ages 15 and 19 and they breastfed and started solid foods on a good schedule and they didn't take vitamins until they could chew them up on their own and they have no deficiencies.

If you are breastfeeding your child...good for you and him!!! There is absolutely NO need to introduce vitamins. Your milk is all your child needs until he's at least a year old. If my word holds no merit for you, try contacting your local La Leche League. They are a plethora of information for the breastfeeding mother and child. Do your own research as well, books by Dr. Sears helped me with my two boys. Both were breastfed for two years with solids introduced at 6 mos. Not my midwives or my pediatrician ever suggested introducing vitamins. As you said, "artificial flavors" etc...not remotely necessary. Don't always believe one doctor's word, there will be three or four doctors or midwives that give you entirely different information. Good Luck and don't ever underestimate your own instinct as well.

Hi A.,
So glad you asked! We do not want to introduce artificial anything or stuff with sucrose. I tell my clients how to get great quality supplements wholesale. I tried putting a hyperlink in here, but now sure how to!! So copy and paste what I put below:
http://www.naturessunshine.com/us/products/catalog/catego...

and you will see both chewable and liquids that are great quality and natural. also great stuff for you and your hubby. For basic great nutrition look at super trio - gives you vitamins, omegas, and antioxidants in little easy to take packets.

You can call toll free 800 453 1422 and give them my number which is 18844722 and ask for your own number and you can pay the wholesale price.

I trust you find this helpful. :)

www.mynsp.com/scio is the website

Is he eating cereal? If the cereal is fortified, it has iron in it. I would think that would be fine. Also, you can try giving him some of the meat dishes the baby food companies offer. My daughter is BF, but doesn't tolerate the cereal well, so I just give her one bottle of formula a day and the babyfood. My ped. wasn't concerned with her iron, but I did it anyways. I hope that helps.

i was able to hide things from my little boy in his bottle. he tends not to notice after the first few times

Yeah, those vitamins with the iron were pretty stinky. They were a no go for my girls, too. So you know what? We just decided to skip the iron variety and get the plain ole a,d,b or whatever that one is. Rationale? Better some vitamins than none at all cause baby won't take it, right? Hopefully, you are able to get in the iron in other ways. Talk to your dr. to confirm this will be ok w/your situation. It was for us.

Go to a homeopathic pharmacy and talk to them about vitamins for babies. Flinstone vitamins contain food dyes and artificial food dyes have heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic.
To learn more checkout www.bluedominoes.com

D. Merlin
mother/author
www.victoryoveradhd.com

Try the oatmeal or rice cereal. They have iron supplements and it mixed great with yogurt (which, my son ate up the vanilla - couldn't get enough of it). Much easier (I think) than crushing up vitamins and probably better tasting when mixed with something your child likes.
Good luck!

There is a product called Youth Juice and I swear by it. I give it to my family and its the best tasting, whole food drink out there. Adults take 4 oz a day, a child 2 oz, a baby is probably like a table spoon. Because it is a liquid, its also more bioavailable (absorbable) for the body. Please contact me if you'd like more information on it. It's an incredible, healthy, organic, whole food drink that has helped my kids tremendously (10, 6) - but I know plenty of people who give it to their infants! www.ourworldnetwork.com/sunnyb
Good luck!

I too was advised to start them but instead, I continued with my prenatal vitamins. My opinion is that our bodies are made to give the babies what they need through breastmilk!

If your breast feeding along with starting solids, take vits yourself baby will get plenty neutrients from your milk,just make sure you drink plenty of water.
A mom of 4

at this age mam from what I understand they do not need vitamins just a well balanced meal especially strained meats. flinstone vitamins and other character type vitamins are intended for children 2 and up. Under this age can potentially do more harm than good

Hi A.,

I checked online for some foods that are high in iron since supplements are not always the best choice, both because babies resist them and they taste nasty (see below). I retrieved this information from www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/iron, I wish this website was around when I had my babies, it has a ton of information.

I breastfed both of my girls and neither had issues with low iron. Check with your Doctor again to be sure these foods would be safe. Both my girls loved the Sweet Potatoes and either Prune Juice or Puree'. I hope this is helpful.

K. D

Foods that are high in iron include:

breastmilk
winter squash
sweet potatoes
prune juice
meat & poultry (beef, beef & chicken liver, turkey, chicken)
mushrooms
sea vegetables (arame, dulse), algaes (spirulina), kelp
greens (spinach, chard, dandelion, beet, nettle, parsley, watercress)
yellow dock root
grains (millet, brown rice, amaranth, quinoa, breads with these grains)
blackstrap molasses (try adding a little to cereal or rice)
brewer's yeast

High-iron foods to save until the end of the first year or later:

dried beans (lima, lentils, kidney)
chili con carne with beans
tofu
egg yolks
grains (cooked cracked wheat, cornmeal, grits, farina, bran, breads with these grains)
tomato
dried fruit (figs, apricots, prunes, raisins)
meat (pork)
shellfish (clams, oysters, shrimp)
tuna, sardines

Warning: Some of the foods listed above are not suitable for babies. Dried fruits should not be given to babies under a year old, due to the choking hazard. Also, pork, fish, shellfish, wheat, citrus fruits and eggs are highly allergenic and may not be suitable for babies under a year or who have a family history of allergies. See Suggested ages for introducing allergenic foods for more information.

Your doctor has a completely backwards approach! Breastfed babies get what they need in a far more absorbable, appropriate way than formula fed babies do. Seriously, forget the vitamins. You can take vitamins or just continue to eat really healthy, iron-rich foods if need be and your child will benefit from that. When he is old enough to eat good baby chewables, fine, but 6 months is WAY too early. I am not a doctor, but a doula who has raised my own really healthy daughter, now 12, and we breastfed for a long time and never were encouraged to do such early vitamins. Good luck and trust your gut.

what about giving him spinach and other leafy greens that are loaded with iron?

This is from The Breastfeeding Answer Book (available at amazon.com):
A full-term baby will not usually need extra iron until he is ready for solid foods, at around six months. At that time, foods naturally rich in iron can be offered.

When iron supplements are given, the baby’s delicately balanced use of iron may be jeopardized and digestive problems, such as vomiting and diarrhea can result. Two specialized proteins in mother’s milk, lactoferrin and transferrin, pick up and bind iron from the infant’s intestinal tract. In binding this iron, they stop harmful bacteria from multiplying by depriving them from of the iron they need for growth. When iron supplements are given to the breasted baby, the iron-binding abilities of the lactoferrin and transferrin are overwhelmed, allowing bacteria to thrive.

If you are concerned about the baby’s iron levels, a simple blood test can be done to determine a true deficiency.

Our doctor prescribed vitamins with fluoride. I was hesitant about the fluoride as there is such controversy about it but all seems well. The brand is Qualitest and he takes mult-vit with fluoride. It is in a dropper like the Enfamil stuff and we put in his milk. It smells disgusting but he takes it. I would suggest talking with your doctor first before giving your baby any vitamins. If your son is still on formula or breatfeeding in addition to solids you may be giving him stuff he doesn't need.

I give my children a whole food supplement called Juice Plus. It is essentially 17 fruits and veggies in a capsule, gummy, or chewable. Dr William Sears, a well know pediatrician in San Clemente recommends Juice Plus....opening a capsule and putting half of it in applesause or yogurt is the best way. Once he becomes a year old he can have the gummies, (my kids love the gummies) It is safe for infants who have started solids. You can find out more info on www.juicyfruitsandveggies.com or on www.askdrsears.com website. Juice Plus is backed by lots of clinical research so I know my kids are getting good whole food nutrition.

My son's doctor said to give him vitamins (Tri-vi-sol) at 1 month. I asked how long he should take them and she said as long as I'm breastfeeding him. However, I feel that if I'm breastfeeding him he's getting all the nutrients he needs, so I'm not sure why she said he needs them. I think as long as you're eating right and taking a multi vitamin, the baby probably doesn't need one too.

I'm not a doctor, but I am confused as to why your doctor thinks that a breastfeed baby wouldn't be getting enough vitamins. Maybe you should take more vitamins with the added iron. He should get the vitamins through your breast milk. The doctor told you to give a 6 month old vitamins, but didn't tell you how? Maybe you should call and ask, because to me this sounds really really weird.... :) Find out if you taking the vitamins would be enough.

A., after what I've learned about nutrition, I would never take or recommend vitamins unless someone has a specific vitamin deficiency. Whole food nutrition is definitely the way to go. I work with a product that provides the nutrition of 17 fresh whole raw fruits, vegetables and grains in capsule form. The capsules open easily and can be added to a toddlers food. They also come in gummies and chewables when they are old enough to manage them. We also have an awesome soy protein powder that can be used for toddlers and it also has the whole food nutrition in it. Many doctors have little or no education in nutrition, so we can't expect them to be the expert in that area. Doctors practice medicine, not prevention. It is up to us as moms, to be the prevention advocates for our families. If you are interested in more info, please visit my website at www.marymortonrn.com or email me at ____@____.com
Hope that helps,
M.

We got dropper style vitamins from our pharmacy. You can get an Rx from the Pedi, they really don't cost much. Also it ensures that your baby 1 is getting everything he needs and nothing more, and 2 no artificial anythings. It smells horrible to me, but my son loves it. If you're not so lucky, then while you're at the pharmacy pick up one of those new medicine-in-a-bottle things. Mine was $9 at kmart. It puts the dose in with the drink so you're sure that they get all of it & it bypasses the tastebuds like a straw would.

good luck!

My doctor told me not to give my son vitamins until he was at least 2. She doesn't recommend it unless they arent eating well. You should consult another doctor before trying to force vitamins on your child.

Just a suggestion.

I started giving my son a product from Arbonne and it is vitamin powder you can mix in water. So it is like a drink. You can give it to your son in a bottle. Just to be safe, you might want to talk to your doctor about it since he is only 6 months. You want to make sure it is ok at that age. But I love it because it is so convenient. No crushing of vitamins. It is kinda like Crystal Light. There are no artificial flavors or sugars and your son will get the awesome vitamins as well as veggies and fruit. I love it. check it out https://www.arbonne.com/products/weight_loss/hybrids/kids...
I market all the products because I love them so much. www.kellygould.myarbonne.com or email me at ____@____.com

If you are still breast feeding, you can supplement yourself with Iron pills. Your child will get additional iron through the breast milk.

If he drinks apple juice, put them in the juice. He won't be able to taste them then. Good luck!

I'm just wondering why your dr suggested that "because he is breastfed, he needed added iron"??? Breastmilk is THE BEST source of iron for baby with 50-70% iron being absorbed. The milk you give him is better for him than any flinstone vitamin...i wonder about what other crud is mixed in with the vitamin part?? colour...flavour...ack!! i had a public health nurse tell me the last time i was in for immunizations that "she hoped i was feeding my baby iron-fortified cereal bc they dont get alot from breastmilk"!!! I almost asked if she was serious!!! the so-called fortified cereal, first of all, has 4% of the recommeded daily intake of iron. Put that together wiht the fact that he's going to absorb approx 4-10% of that, and i would say he was a heck of alot better off with bmilk..50-70% absorbed!!!!!
Below is a pasting from a webpage called kellymom.com
It is great and has a billion answers to tons of questions. Your baby is getting all he needs from you! Arent boobs crazy?!? haha!!!

Anemia is uncommon in breastfed babies for several reasons

Healthy, full-term babies have enough iron stores in their bodies to last for at least the first six months. The current research indicates that a baby's iron stores should last between six and twelve months, depending upon the baby.

The iron in breastmilk is better absorbed than that from other sources. The vitamin C and high lactose levels in breastmilk aid in iron absorption.

Iron Source & Percentage of Iron Absorbed
breastmilk : 50 - 70%
iron-fortified cow milk formula: 3 - 12%
iron-fortified soy formula: less than 1% - 7%
iron-fortified cereals: 4 - 10%
cow's milk: 10%
Note: The amount of iron absorbed from any food depends greatly upon the milk source of iron (eg, human vs cow), type of iron compound in the food, the body's need for iron, and the other foods eaten at the same meal.

Breastfed babies don't lose iron through their bowels; cow's milk can irritate the intestinal lining (resulting in a tiny amount of bleeding and the loss of iron).
The original iron stores of a full-term healthy baby, combined
with the better-absorbed iron in breastmilk, are usually enough
to keep baby's hemoglobin levels within the normal range
well into the second six months.

Dear A.:

You might consider getting an opinion from a licensed dietician. Here's my reasoning: Breastmilk has been adequate since the beginning of time; only 25% of all medical schools even require a prospective doctor to take a class in nutrition; there is growing concern about over supplementing, especially base metals such as iron.

Hi A.,
I am not critizing your doctor. I remembered I did not give my four children of vitamin when they're one year old. I breast feed them for one year. Our own milk has a solid and good source of vitamin as long as we eat nutritious food and drinks healthy drink. But it is your doctor and you make your own judgement on what to do with your child. If you're going back to work, my suggestions is pump your breast milk and freeze or if your work is close at home, you can go for lunch and breast feed your son if possible. Even thought he ate solid foods already. I will continued the breast milk because it is very nutritious and healthy for your son and you. Your son won't get sick as much as children that was not breast feed. Your son closeness to you and he will be a good son to you because you sacrifice lot of things for him. Good luck.

A.

First ask your doctor why your baby needs iron. Breast milk should be giving him everything he needs. An iron overdose is more dangerous than not having enough.

Forget about the Flinstone vitamins; they aren't good and 6 months is too young to have all the additives. Look on the internet to find better quality ones. (doctors don't know too much about nutrition as they don't usually take the time to read up on the subject, but check with him, he could surprise you)

anpublic

I just spent the all afternoon to research this for my 6 mo ds. I end up asking DR. Jack Newman
http://www.drjacknewman.com/breastfeeding-help.asp
I just love this dr, he emailed me back in few hours and said that it is not need for D vitamin if we go outside in the sun.
I would not give any suppl vit to my son. I just want to make sure he gets a lot of veggies, fruits and meat...all organic, no preservatives and fresh homemade:)

he is 6 months old, what is that doctor thinking

A.,

Both of my kids were strictly breastfed and I was told that they also needed a vitamin with iron because they weren't getting enough. I've had a stuggle getting them to take the drops. The only way I was able to get my daughter to take them is if I mix them with a splash of apple juice and let her drink it out of a cup or you could try out of a bottle. She used to scream when she'd see the dropper coming and I didn't want t deal with that. Both of my kids had their iron levels tested and they were at the low end of normal. The Dr said it would be best to try and get them to take a daily vitamin. My son is now 3 and I still give him a vitamin. Hope that helps. Good luck.

L.

Your doctor can prescribe a liquid multi-vit for your baby that tastes good, my kids loved it. It depends on where you are located too, but you can get the liquid multi with fluoride in it for their teeth (if your water isn't fluoridated) and it is typically recommended for the child to have fluoride supplements starting at 6 months (I work for a dentist). If your doctor cannot prescribe them, which they should be able to, ask your dentist to write the rx. I have a 7 yr old son and a 3-1/2 yr old daughter. Have fun going back to work next week, it will be hard but you will enjoy the adult conversation aspect of it! H Norman, CA

When I gave my son vitamins, I used to put it in a small amount of applesauce and give him then follow it with the rest of the applesauce. I also gave him a powder vitamins that Shaklee company produces. Check the website, you can buy it there. I also kept trying. I used to make his own applesauce with different flavors(added banana, or pears, mangoes). He really liked these flavors. Try it and see if it works. All the best!!

I have a 2 1/2 yr old son, and at his 2 year check (where they do blood work), our pediatrician said he didn't need vitamins. I'm surprised your doctor suggested vitamins so early. You can get the iron from the baby oatmeal or multi grain cereal. They dissolve easily into purees.

I bought one of those bullet smoothie making machines and I pureed my son's favorites and then put them in ice trays. Thawed a cube as needed. I used to mix in baby oatmeal (lots of iron) into his applesauce, which I did until he was 2.I've always given him lots of food plain (no salt or anything added). Salt is suppose to be bad for their little kidneys.

Now with the running around I don't puree as much and I can't be as strict with the salt but he loves fruit and some vegetables. When he gets older, you can check out http://www.deceptivelydelicious.com/site/

What about mixing in formula? That's what we did; it's a great source of iron. I only breastfed too.
Good luck

6 months sounds a little early for vitamins. If you are still breastfeeding, he wil get his nutrients that way. If you're not, formula has lots of vitamins. Not to mention the foods you are introducing. If you feel like you want to include vitamins, Arbonne makes a great water soluble vitamin which is pediatrician approved and vegan. it is berry flavored so kids just think it's juice. It's in powder form and you just dissolve it in water. You can even make popcicles out of it for him to suck on to make it more fun. I have a website you can visit for more information. www.T..myarbonne.com.

Congratulations on your new baby and good luck with your transition in going back to work. I know how hard that can be.

I don't want to be mean but, DO NOT give your 6mo old flintstone's. He is not old enough for a full one. Vitamins, especially with added iron can be very harmful and even fatal if too much is given. If you continue him on vitamins, give an infant liquid oral only!!

My daughter is 18 months old and has been breastfed as well. At around 6 months our pediatrician also recommended beginning vitamins to add some extra iron to her diet. He suggested Tri Vi Sol and we've never had any problems. It helped to make the vitamins seem like a special treat or privilege and she actually gets excited for them! Good luck to you!

Try liquid vitamins in juice. There are some really good quality ones in the baby supplement section at Whole Foods market (health food chain).

What about pureeing foods known to be high in iron, like liver and kidney?

I think we started with the liquid A,C,D vitamins which I would put into my daughter's rice cereal or veggies. (Can't remember what age) But then when my daughter was around 12 months old, we tested her iron levels and she was a bit low. So our pediatrician recommended switching to the liquid multivitamin with iron. It smells awful! But I'm able to get her to take it by mixing it with yogurt, banana, wheat germ and strawberry flavored dhl vitamin drops. The drops must be working b/c when we tested her 2 weeks ago her iron levels were fine.

Hello A..
Have you tried POLY-VISOL? ( hopefully I'm spelling it correctly) the bottle has a little rabbit picture.
I have 3 kids myself, and all of them were on that vitamin when they were babies. The pediatrician they had until they became adults, always suggested i give them vitamins regardless. It was a great flavor. Flinstone's vitamins are more for like toddlers & i have to admit they do taste funny.
Poly-visol can be found in the vitamins baby section at most stores
thanks
D.

Hi A.
Since your son starts eating solids try to introduce him to iron rich foods. Here are some examples: dark leafy greens, iron enriched cereal (like rice cereal and multigrain cereals from Gerber Baby (if he'll eat it that is, my babies would not touch anything that contained formula and wouldn't drink it either)), beans, lentils, chick peas and soy beans... Serve him some vitamin C loaded food along with it and it will help to absorb the iron. Later on you can give him egg yolk, clams and scallops and liver too.

I breastfed all my children too. I just weaned off my youngest. Non of my children would touch formula and so i couldn't give them any of the iron fortified baby cereals that you can buy. Everybody told me to start my babies on solids by feeding them mashed fruits. But after talking to my doula and my midwife i was told it is a good idea to introduce veggies first since once baby gets a taste of sweets he will probably refuse to eat veggies. I took their advice and i have to say that all my kids are veggie eaters.

You can also have him tested for iron deficiency later on if you're still concerned.
Bye. M.

Good luck with the vitamins thing. They do make chewable gummie bear vitamins which my 3 year old daughter greatly relishes but I'm not sure you're little boy is ready. it's all I can think of though that might work. When my daughter was little she was on a medicine that made her pretty anemic, and it was very frustrating forcing her to take the liquid iron, and nothing disguised the taste enough for her. I finally just made her take it and after awhile she got used to it and put up with it just fine. Um.. wish I could be of more service. I think just persistence might be the trick. until he gets used to it.

Hi A.
I am sure you are dealing with a lot this week with just going back to work but I wanted to comment on your request.
I have been giving my daughters (20 mos, 4 and 5) Juice Plus gummies since they were babies. I cut them up with scissors and they gummed them down! I would love for you to do some research on JP+ to see why it is better than vitamins, it is made from whole food, 17 fruits, veg, and whole grains and I love it. Please look at my website and let me know if you have any questions. There is research as well as pricing and other info on WWW.JPMOM.NET. You can see on this site that Dr Sears recommends this too! He is wonderful

Good luck on your journey into motherhood, it is a wonderful ride!
Love,
A.

A.,
As long as you are feeding him a good diet with fruits and vegies plus breastfeeding, I would not worry about the iron. If you are takiing your prenate vits you are passing along the good stuff to him.

Not sure if this is the same ones you were recommended but we give our twins the liquid drops called Tri-Vi-Sol. There is also a kind called Poly-Vi-Sol but they do taste bad- we have never had a problem with them taking the Tri-Vi-Sol and my son is pretty particular. Generally speaking I would trust your instincts and if vitamins aren't working- try again later. Your breastfed baby is quite healthy and likely doesn't truly NEED them.

My two boys are several years apart and I did breast feed both. The first no talk of vitamins the second (18 months old) a big talk and push for vitamins. I too went through the motions of trying to add the recommended vitamins, either with the Enfamil drops or by disguising them in food or breast milk. Sean hated them so much that we just stopped and when asked at well baby visit's we openly admitted to not using them. As Sean was above the 100% percentile for height and 90th for weight the Dr couldn't argue with our decision. My first was also and still is very tall for his age and neither have ever had any health issues. My advice skip the vitamins - as a new Mum you do not need the added stress and your child is going to be just fine without them. Keep breastfeeding for as long as possible as I believe that's the most important way babies get their nutrients. Good luck.

Shaklee makes a great vitamin for kids called Liquilea (or something like that). I've not used it for years cuz my boy is 30 something now but it was delicious.

J. C

Hi! a 4th cup of prune juice works because iron is constipating
and at a young age even more so with vitamins I found out, but the prune juice is sweet to taste and has lots of iron in it.
Keep up the good work, God bless.

Hi A.,

Here's a helpful article http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/food/general/iron.html

Does the Dr feel that your son needs extra iron because he is anemic or because you are breastfeeding and breast milk is low in iron?

Most infant cereals are iron fortified.

You don't want to try too hard to get in iron, it is the leading cause of poisoning in children under age 6. http://marshallbrain.com/cp/iron.htm

I rep for Nutrilite, a supplement company, and I have crushed our children's chewables and mixed it into something bland already, like cereal. It works pretty well and I don't think it interferes with the "experience" as cereals aren't that tasty anyway. :0)
They have no artificial colors or flavors so that isn't a concern with these.
If you are interested in more info. on them or in free samples for your little man, message me back and I'll help you out.

~M.

a Liquid, good tasting multi-vitamin by Child's Life. I mix with Juice and now that my son is 3, I use it as a cover for his Omega3. BTW - Omega3 excellent for Brain development

You can find it a Whole Foods and Lindbergs. If you are in the Southbay Area (CA), Lindbergs is on Sepulveda and Hawthorne, if not, they have a website that gives alot of good info on the products -www.nutritionexpress.com

Not sure he really needs that much iron though, do some research on that. I breatfeed-only til 6 months, then food and breastmilk. He is 3 and still breastfeeding morning and night - but when I would search out iron stuff, they did not have that for babies because too much is not safe... not sure why, but I know breastmilk is complete and unless he is anemic or something, green veggies should be enough of an iron source. Try the Yo-Baby yogurt with cereal. - at trader joes and whole foods