Concerned for ebf/vegan baby

[NotTheCoolMum]

More of a WWYD. Namechanged as identifying. Mum is vegan. Baby is 7 months old, ebf, sitting and playing, no developmental issues. But absolutely tiny. We hang out in the same playgroup and the child is smaller than a 3 month old. Mum has now begun weaning and says only vegan food.

This is not a debate about veganism. I get that mum has beliefs about diet and respect that. It is the size of the child that concerns me. Mum has said she was under increased monitoring for child dropping percentiles but is very much of the opinion that HV are just busybodies who know nothing. Not being monitored anymore, don't know the full story of why or when monitoring stopped. Baby was born at an average weight apparently. Mum thinks her child is just naturally small. I don't know if HV are aware that mum is vegan or is weaning with vegan foods.

I am worried because the tiny size could be a coincidence or it could be linked to the diet.

I'm not going to say anything to her as it would upset the friendship group. I could only report if the mumsnet wisdom is to report, would need help on how to do that if that is the right thing to do. WWYD?

[PutThatPomBearBack]

Would you wean your baby on cheese sandwiches, babybels and kit kats?

[rogueantimatter]

Even babies don't actually need vast amounts of protein. We're fixated on protein in the west. A big slab of meat or chicken will provide all the protein required for a whole day. So in that respect, a vegan diet is unlikely to be problematic. Babies and toddlers need proportionally more fat than older children and adults so no problem with a vegan diet in that respect either.

[NotTheCoolMum]

To clarify of course I am aware that first foods are fruit and veg so of course vegan

What I meant to say and obviously failed to communicate clearly was that mum intends to feed only vegan food full stop.

I don't think there was really any need to be rude to someone who is concerned about a child and is asking for guidance.

So far consensus seems to be butt out, so I shall!

Thanks all for responses.

[Berylliuum]

'Report' to whom, OP?

What's the issue? The mother's vegan diet is lacking somehow? The baby, after all, is breastfed at the moment, as others have said.

[deeedeee]

www.bounty.com/baby-0-to-12-months/weaning/ask-the-experts/weaning-around-the-world


According to this you should also be worrying about and potentially reporting the babies of the carribean, middle east, china, the far east, latin america and india!

[DailyMailReadersAreThick]

What I meant to say and obviously failed to communicate clearly was that mum intends to feed only vegan food full stop.

We get that, dear. It still isn't a problem. Everyone from the NHS to the WHO (not the band, as far as I know) agrees that a vegan diet is appropriate and healthy for ANY age.

Perhaps spend a few hours educating yourself on veganism. It would alleviate your concerns about this child and stop you being on Mumsnet.

[Berylliuum]

That I meant to say and obviously failed to communicate clearly was that mum intends to feed only vegan food full stop

Baby isn't technically vegan at the moment, though. What is it you were considering reporting, and to whom? Do you think the vegan diet will not be adequate for the child?

[MerryMarigold]

My baby dropped from 25th centile to 2nd. She was chubby but tiny. At 8 she wears 6-7 clothes. I'm not vegan, the opposite! We eat crisps, chocolate, desserts as week well as healthy stuff. She's just petite and very strong/ fit.

[unavita]

'Vegan food' 😀 all food is vegan, the only exceptions being if it was once part of or came out of an animal.

[deeedeee]

Since the baby is EBF at the moment, do you think then that it's the mum's veganism that is making the baby tiny? or the mum's intention to make the baby vegan that is making the baby tiny?

is it that you think the baby needs fattening up on some cheeseburgers?

[PinkHeart5911]

What I meant to say and obviously failed to communicate clearly was that mum intends to feed only vegan food full stop

And what's the problem with that? Do you think people die if they don't eat chunks of meat or cheese?

Shocking I know but a child or adult doesn't need meat or diary to survive

[Edsheeranalbumparty]

You should have made the child in this story a bit older, maybe 18 months, and then maybe you would have got some more of the sorts of responses that you wanted.

[Berylliuum]

You do need to educate yourself on veganism, OP. Very much so. You sound very ignorant on the matter, all faux concern talking about reporting.

[BlahBlahBlahEtc]

A 7 month old baby died recently because of a strict vegan diet. www.aol.com/article/news/2017/05/19/malnourished-baby-dies-after-parents-fed-him-vegan-diet/22099336/

[anchor9]

what do you think is appropriate for an apparently healthy 7mo that isn't vegan... ?

MYOB

[BogQueens]

You should have made the child in this story a bit older, maybe 18 months, and then maybe you would have got some more of the sorts of responses that you wanted



Yup, because you admit that the baby, being EBF with some normal fruit/veg first foods, is in fact the reverse of vegan, in that most of his/her diet is milk, so in fact his/her smallness cannot be blamed on the fact that he/she is going to have a vegan diet in future.

So what we're left with is a non-vegan baby who is small for his/her age. What can be blamed???

[TheDisillusionedAnarchist]

I intend to feed my baby only vegan food (at least until he's old enough to make up his own mind) why is that a problem?

Statistically children fed a vegan diet are slightly lighter and shorter than average but if a 7mo is small it's either underfed with milk or genetically that way as solid food vegan or not is not making a significant contribution to the diet.

[deeedeee]

that baby didn't die because of a vegan diet, that baby died because of the mental health problems of the parents! or actually there's not enough information to say why the baby died, but it seems that the baby wasn't being given formula or breastmilk! No comparison to this AIBU either as the baby in the OP is EBF!

[BogQueens]

But blah, this baby isn't vegan. He or she is being breast fed.

[TheDisillusionedAnarchist]

And that Belgian baby who died did not have vegan parents and was fed quinoa milk instead of breastmilk or standard formula. Recently I met parents who followed a paleo diet who wished to feed their baby formula made of bone broth. Dangerous stupidity isn't limited to vegans.

[newbian]

I know a few vegans and they did extended BF so the baby actually was getting "animal" fat and protein from mum's milk until 2-3 years old.

I'm currently living in Asia and it's common to feed kids nothing but milk and rice porridge (congee) until they are 2.

You're completely overreacting! I'm sure you mean well but raising a vegan child isn't illegal and besides the baby isn't technically vegan now due to drinking milk.

[HiJenny35]

The NHS weight guides are based upon formula fed babies not breastfed. For breastfed you need to follow the 'who' guides which are based on breastfed. Breastfed tend to have a slower rise in the 3-9 month stage.
You concern is obviously about her being vegan which is frankly none of your business and really shows you lack of understand about nutrition and the fact that a vegan diet can be perfectly healthy for a child. Has she asked you how you intend on getting the correct amount of nutrients into your child, no? Well don't second guess her then.

[JumpyCastle]

I go to a vegan pot luck once or twice a year when I can and the people are the healthiest looking group of people I ever see.

Ot but I make this vegan cheese, ok it's a bit more jelly like but it slices well and goes down really well.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Just chipping in to agree with everyone. DD was born at 8lb 10, which is quite big, but she's now following a steady line just over the 9th centile. She is tiny. It's perfectly healthy and normal. This baby is probably similar. At 7 months the vast majority of its nourishment will come from milk - a bit of fruit and veg to try is really neither here nor there.