vitamin drops for 6m+ bf babies?

[mumofmoo]

I've just read that it is recommended that bf babies (or those having less than a certain amount of formula) should be given vitamin drops from 6m.

Is it really necessary if they/I have a good/varied diet?

I think there's some case that can be made for vitamin D drops if the baby is quite dark skinned and/or deprived of the sun.

Otherwise, no, I don't think so.

The vitamins are added to formula, mumofmoo, which is why they are not given to ff babies.

Standard advice in the UK is that all breastfed babies should have them after 6 mths, but it's really to ensure sufficiency in dark skinned babies and babies who are not progressing into solids and babies who don't get outside much...would be daft to say 'every' baby needs them. Ask your HV - she should assess it for you.

That's interesting because my 6mo bf baby isn't eating much in the way of solids. I'll speak to my hv... I wouldn't have even thought of it, MoM.

I dont think you need to give vitamins to an exclusively bf baby. To be honest its probs more of a marketing thing and another way to make bf mums feel that their milk isnt adequate enough. Although Im sure vitamins wouldnt do nay harm if you are worried. Breast milk is packed with vitamins which are very efficiently absorbed by the baby, formula has much higher levels of vitamins (esp iron) because the baby cannot absorb very much of it...does that make sense? This often gives the impression that breastfed babies should be exposed to the same level of vitamins, which is not necessary.
hth!

You're wrong, mumof2pixies....it really isn't a marketing thing. This is official DH policy, and is evidence-based - of course the one-size-fits-all guidance is not evidence-based, but it is a fact that some bf babies are at risk, not because of breastfeeding but because of lifestyle.

Exclusively breastfed babies don't need extra vits - the OP referred to 'from 6 mths' which is when most babies will be at least starting to get some solid foods.

My understanding is that Vitamin D is the thing here. There is not much of it at all in breastmilk, even less if the mother was vitamin D deficient herself. It is added to formula.

You get your useable vitamin D from sunlight mainly, food sources are generally pretty poor, we don't fortify food with it in the UK and beside, food has a different form of the vitamin in them, which is not as easily used by your body.

If you are darker skinned or don't get out much or tend to cover up a lot, or live in the UK or other northern latitudes and it is winter (October to April IIRC) you can't get vitamin D from sunlight either as the wavelength of the light is not right. Some places are seeing more cases of rickets now, others more cases of bone aches and pains indicative of deficiency.

I've read a lot on this recently (work). I give my DS vitamin drops and have since he was weaned. I don't think it's an inadequate breastmilk thing at all - formula feeders are already supplementing, just as part of the feed, not with separate vitamin drops. It's just how things are in northern latitudes.

NICE guidance including vitamin supplementation advice has just come out, so there will be more info around on this in the coming months. If you really don't want to give your lo vitamin drops, the best thing to do is to try and ensure your vitamin D levels are high throughout pg and bf - supplement if it's winter, get out in the sun for 15 mins a day around the 11-3pm window if it is summer.

Captain, I agree with you - it's common sense. It's not a slur on breastmilk, or an attempt to 'get at' breastfeeding mothers - just a way of ensuring modern day lifestyles don't affect the health of young babies. One way of doing that is to make sure babies get outside on most days.

Human beings evolved over millennia, and spent far more time outside than we do now. Mr and Mrs Caveman did not go from home to car to shopping mall and back again, and nor did Little CaveBaby

I agree with the vitamin d argument, and you are right tiktock...but human beings also survived on breast milk for over a millennia and they certainly weren't supplementing with vitamins then! I think as long as you and your lo are having a varied diet (and perhaps taking vitamins yourself?) then I dont think theres a need. But obviously thats just my opinion! It wont do your lo any harm mumofmoo, so if you feel you need to give vitamin drops then go ahead!

Sounds like I had better get some. Not dark skinned but tend to be covered up when outside, especially in this weather!

DD is 7 months and HV has never mentioned it.

Thanks for the advice.

10-15 mins twice a week without sunscreen should be enough

mumof2pixies, you say "but human beings also survived on breast milk for over a millennia and they certainly weren't supplementing with vitamins then"

I know.....and you are right. But did you not read my post? We live differently now, and most people get less light on their skin as a result.

In addition, Far Northern hemisphere people would naturally enough eat lots of Vitamin D (in large amounts in many traditional diets) so mothers would have more to pass on.

Not really an issue, even so, until the baby starts moving away from breastmilk only (as the Vit D in breastmilk is easily bio-available). If the baby starts to have rather less breastmilk, he'll have less vitamin D, unless he has supps, gets outside a lot, has foods containing it.

MoM, your health visitor should be able to get you vitamin drops through HealthyStart if you are eligible. Tiktok, totally agree about the cavebaby. Car to mall to home is as effective a way of denying sunlight as victorian smog ever was...

sorry quick post as my 3yo is pestering! Yes I read your post tiktock which I why I agree with the vitamin d thing.

Thanks again. Just been out and bought some Abidec (all they had a the local chemist). Rather err on the side of caution.

I asked a friend of mine yesterday about this...her husband is a gp, as I was quite taken aback with the strength of opinion on this thread with regard to vitamin supplements (mainly vit d)...and she got back to me this morning. Her husband said that babies who breastfeed dont need extra vitamins for the first year of life (assuming the mum and baby are both on a varied diet). He mentioned that there is a divided opinion on vitamin d, with some ppl believing that we dont get enough and others who think it only takes a 10 minutes walk on a moderately sunny day to accrue enough vitamin d (obviously longer on a cloudy day!). Both sides however think its best to use supplements when there seems to be signs of a deficiency (not sure what the signs are!) or if the baby and mum do not get enough sunlight, rather than routinely. I think its a poor state of affairs, as someone already mentioned, if its car to shopping mall to car to home again! Definitely more of a lifestyle thing (which surely should be addressed first?). Interestingly he said that it if the mum takes vitamin supplements, vitamin d would get to the baby from her milk.
I was just really interesting in this, mainly because if it was an issue then surely every hv would be talking about it to all bf mums when they hit the 6 months mark, and would be advising them to administer a vitamin supplement?

thanks mumof2pixies. I must say I was quite surprised that the HV hadn't mentioned it if it was so important.