Vegan baby

[Expecteddeclathon]

In your opinion, is it ok for a baby to be vegan from weaning (6 months)?

The definition of dairy is a semantic point that doesn't really matter. I define dairy as milk from a non human animal that is produced for human consumption. That is a category that covers a number of mammals who are exploited for their milk to feed humans. You can also define it as any milk produced by a mammal if you want - I don't think that makes a lot of sense personally - is mouse milk dairy? Elephant milk? If you include them - what does your category of dairy mean in relation to food? But define it so if you prefer. Regardless, human breastmilk provided by mother to baby willingly isn't 'dairy' in the context of food production and it's compatible with veganism.

Animals absolutely will drink the milk of other animals, if they get the chance to.

Round my way some years ago a mother was prosecuted for child neglect, one of the bits of evidence was that she had fed the child a vegan diet that had resulted in severe nutritional deficiencies.

I think times have changed a bit now - being vegan wasn’t mainstream and the availability of supplements and substitutes wasn’t the same. But - no, I don’t think a baby should be fed a vegan diet. Prioritise their health over your principles.

You need to be careful about a lot of things with very young children such as salt levels, getting enough protein and fats etc. so it depends on what you're planning to feed them. I'd speak to a nutritional adviser to be honest, to make sure I wouldn't be depriving them if something essential or giving them too much of something (soya, for example could cause issues in excess).

Otherwise, feed them a wide, balanced, non vegan diet of whole foods and then transition to vegan later.

I suppose it depends on whether this is more important to you than your child's nutrition.

Should be fine, just make sure you regularly consult a dentist as deficiencies can play havoc with their teeth.

It's likely that your child will be ok on a vegan diet. Will they be optimally healthy? I personally don't think so. But neither will a lot of meat eaters children be optimally healthy because they will be fed processed meats and cheeses or unbalanced diets etc etc. I do think it's easier if you feed a child meat to give them all they need to for good health but it certainly doesn't mean many meat eating diets are healthier than vegan ones either. Both take thought.

People suggesting breast milk is dairy are being ridiculous. The milk industry unfortunately is incredibly cruel. Im not vegan but it's not hard to see it.

If deficiencies are showing in the child's teeth then they are affecting the rest of the child's body too.

Just wanted to say I know 2 vegan athletes, one is a boxer and one is a driver. Both in their prime. Incredibly fit and healthy. They are lacking nothing. Its about adjusting your duet and making sure you get what you need from other foods.
The vegans I have come across are vegan because they ethically disagree with how animals are killed and treated.
The milk one in particular they disagree with mass production of cows milk (at much discomfort to the cow - taking their babies away etc) for human consumption when there are alternatives. They dont disagree with cows feeding their babies or humans feeding their babies their milk.

No mention of how the baby will get the essential fatty acids required for brain and other development. Seeds and oils are no substitute for fish in terms of bioavailability and ease of digestion....not to mention palatability for a baby trying foods.

Yes because people who eat meat feed their children much healthy diets?! 🙄

A lot more thought is required when introducing solids in a vegan diet. According to the vegan society you will need to give more supplements as well. The only thing that concerns me is that some vegan food groups are more processed than non vegan foods - soya milk vs dairy milk, for example.

https://www.vegansociety.com/resources/nutrition-and-health/life-stages/under-fives

But they're vegan by choice and supplements can be taken to help them if necessary. More difficult with a very young child.

Nothing against vegans. This is about whether you can ensure a baby gets what they need from a solely vegan diet and I don't believe you can ensure it.

This is such a bizarre argument and I find it difficult that a vegetarian would make that argument. It is literally her job as a parent to make that choice for her child while the child is too young to make that decision for themselves. Just like she makes every other decision for the child, like where they should live and what they should wear and how they should spend their day.

As a vegetarian the not eating meat is the default - it comes with the label!

Of course a baby will be healthy on a vegan diet, with breastfeeding. A vegan diet is nutritionally better for anyone at any age.

Not what I meant. How will they get the essential fats children need to grow? Can you ensure a small child eats enough vegetables/legumes to get enough protein? Will alternative sources of it cause other problems such as soya causing an influx of oestrogen?

It is given voluntarily rather than stolen

Yeah im not knowledgeable enough to advise ppl on feeding babies! But I do think its daft when people think meat eaters are feeding their babies more healthily. Its not necessarily true. People feed their babies, toddlers and kids all kinds of sh*te and not enough veg, protein and healthy stuff. So just wanted to counter the argument there.
Anyone feeding a baby should fully research what they need and it isnt red meat, processed crap, juice and sugary cereals

As a woman, and even more so as a mum, you will always be judged and criticised for eeeeeeeeverything you do, always (specially around how you feed your chidlren). Do what is right for you and your family, and shrug/fob off anyone who disapprove of how you raise your kids (unless they're the co-parent or a professional).

A vegan diet can be healthy for anyone.

But I think the advice of seeing a dietician is good. If you get something wrong then the affect can be life long with a baby.

This is assuming you have been vegan for a while and have a healthy diet yourself.

That's not what most meat eaters feed their children either...

Meat is incredibly nutritious with steak alone having 10 essential vitamins and minerals. Compared to plant-based alternatives, meat is incredibly nutrient dense and highly bioavailable. There really is no comparison. Meat is also natural as opposed to the highly processed diets of many vegans - just look at the amount of supplementation required, nevermind the UPF meat substitutes etc.

You need to get specific dietary advice. My friend brought her kids up vegan and both are healthy adults now - from memory because obviously a long time, she breastfed until preschool age, they had a supplement prescribed/recommended by the heir doctor and she definitely saw a dietitian. They were always thin children but rarely ill so they must have been getting the right nutrients plus both actually ate veg

Hmm. Not necessarily.
Some people can't absorb non haem iron.
People with IBD can't eat pulses and brassicas without causing a flare.
Nut allergic people can't eat nuts.

I'm not anti vegan at all, but a lot more thought needs to go into a vegan diet to ensure optimum nutrition.

I haven’t read the whole thread but I’ve read a lot of it and I haven’t seen any mention of introducing allergens? All evidence suggests that introducing them before they’re one really helps reduce risk of having an allergy. I have no knowledge or opinions on vegan diets generally, but I’d be doing a few tastes of dairy, eggs and probably fish in the first 6 months just to check allergy reactions and introduce their body to it. Even if you then choose to only feed vegan.

Make sure you give plenty of fats not just veg purées. Coconut cream and avocado are good.