To think veganism is not for children?

[ohhhhlivia]

Yes, I am aware that it is perfectly possible to have a healthy vegan diet at any age. I know that.

However, it is more difficult and easier to get wrong if you want to be vegan. It still is restrictive (even with all of the new stuff coming out) as in you need to tell hosts, check menus in advance etc.

It's a barrier that has to be overcome. I don't understand why you would do that to someone who has no choice in the matter.

Lots of kids go through a fussy phase too, add veganism in and surely you're at a high risk of health problems?

I think what I'm getting at, is that childhood nutrition can be hard enough as it is, so it just feels wrong to make it harder for reasons that do not directly benefit the child.

Non vegan

@ohhhhlivia

"I think it's quite telling that there is no such thing as vegan formula."

This 100%. I saw someone a few pages back saying something about breastfed babies technically being vegan for the first 6 months of their lives... well no actually because breastmilk isn't vegan is it? Its milk from a mammal.

The dairy industry is beyond awful, and I do find it odd adults drink milk from another species but in the case of formula it is needed or babies not breastfed would suffer.

I'm a vegan science academic (well, I was anyway!) but 100% believe that babies and young children are much better off not having their diets restricted.

@CorbynsComrade

That's the US.

All of the formula licensed in the UK for use under six months is dairy based. Cow or goat.

Soy based formula is available but is not recommended under six months except under medical supervision.

Don't peddle dangerous information just to win an online debate.

about breastfed babies technically being vegan for the first 6 months of their lives... well no actually because breastmilk isn't vegan is it? Its milk from a mammal.

I don’t think you’ll find a vegan in the land that objects to any animal being fed milk specifically made for it by its own mother.

Honestly, do people engage their brains on here?

Breast milk is vegan from an ethical point of view.

Biologically however, of course it's an animal food.

Therefore I wonder if it's possible for a person to exist solely on a vegan diet from birth...ie zero animal products including breast milk?

All of the formula licensed in the UK for use under six months is dairy based. Cow or goat

So why does Boots sell SMA Wysoy which is labelled as suitable from birth?

breastmilk isn't vegan is it? Its milk from a mammal.

Did you actually mean to type this?

In case of confusion :
Human milk = breastmilk produced by humans for smaller humans
Cow milk = breastmilk produced by cows for smaller cows

@ohhhhlivia www.viva.org.uk/soya-based-infant-formula-fact-sheet Except you’re wrong, and while not completely vegan it’s still soy based.

No.

You either breastfeed your baby or feed them dairy-based formula.

Anything else will attract the attention of social services. Quite rightly.

Anyway, this thread has taught me something very interesting- that some people really do think that concern for children other than your own is judgemental. Sad.

We’re meat-eaters but I think now that adequate supplementation is available it is ok for kids to be vegan. Humans need macro and micronutrients, as long as you get them it doesn’t matter which foods/supplements are providing them. I wouldn’t think raising a child vegan would be an issue, just more effort to ensure they were getting enough protein, iron, omega 3 and vitamin B12. And as a pp said, exceptions should be made
for vaccinations.

Anyway, this thread has taught me something very interesting- that some people really do think that concern for children other than your own is judgemental.

That’s bollocks as you well know.

And where are your concern filled threads for non vegan kids with shit diets? Why is it only vegan kids you are so ‘concerned’ about?

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/types-of-infant-formula/

Sigh.

How expensive is it, also, to cook from scratch?
And how much time is needed if both patents work fulll time?
Why would you need to supplement their diets with vitamins, other than Vit D?

It's not Bollox.

(He's behind you!)

Sorry, if you're going to act like you're in a pantomime...

This is a thread about veganism. If you're not even a vegan, why do you care?

OP, you haven't answered my question about what happens to babies with dairy allergies?

Op my point was that the paediatricians comment that someone made was a pointless generic statement that doesn't actually mean anything as paeds are concerned about a lot of things regarding kids.

Regarding non dairy plant based formula for new born babies it's only available on prescription from your gp in the U.K. isn't it ?

Just for the record, I was brought up vegan, still am vegan and I haven't died of malnutrition yet. As you were.

Although not vegan, I was brought up as a vegetarian from birth as my mother was one.

As an adult I have issues with food. So much food was restricted and controlled when I was younger, and now as an adult I am obese and anaemic. The minute I could control my own food intake I went overboard at finally having freedom to make my own choices and not being forced to eat whatever tasteless veggie slop was forced on me, and that has stuck with me for life. My mother took so much pride in telling everybody I was a vegetarian as a child. I was the awkward kid at parties, sleepovers and meals out. I was the kid the cooks sighed about in the dinner hall. I was always so hungry at the end of the day. I wouldn’t wish it on any other child.

@cushioncovers, no, or at least not exclusively. You can buy it in Sainsburys and Boots according to a quick google search.

Btw OP, can I point out you're being deliberately inflammatory and changing the goalposts constantly.

Today you said "I'm not sure that veganism is a perfectly healthy choice for young children. That's the point!" and made it clear you think a vegan diet for a child is unhealthy.

However, in your OP your first words were "Yes, I am aware that it is perfectly possible to have a healthy vegan diet at any age. I know that."

You then complain that people are not answering your question. So which is it? Really I think you are just starting arguments for the sake of argument. Half the things you're posting are not even coherent.

OP, you haven't answered my question about what happens to babies with dairy allergies?

Then they are given non dairy formula which is better than them starving to death

Zira that's interesting thanks I didn't know that.

@formerbabe OP says that people who give their kids non dairy formula get reported to social services.

I'm curious, formerbabe, do you think that children with dairy allergies are all suffering from malnutrition? Or is it possible for them to be healthy?

Regarding non dairy plant based formula for new born babies it's only available on prescription from your gp in the U.K. isn't it ?

Or Amazon. Or Boots. Or Tesco. Or Waitrose.....