Vitamin supplements - how necessary for BF baby?

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

My pediatrician has told me to give vitamin drops to my DD - I didn't get the impression this was for any specific reason, but recommended as a routine thing (I'm in Spain, incidentally)

I read somewhere that vitamin supplements aren't necessary for breast-fed babies except if they were premature, because then they haven't got the natural stores of vitamins and iron. My DD was slightly premature - born at 36 weeks. But she seems perfectly healthy and nobody has suggested she's lacking in any essential nutrients.

I'm wondering if it's really necessary to give my DD the supplements? I don't imagine they'd do her any harm, but I'm wondering if I need to bother?

Any experience of this?

How old is your DD?

I was told this too. This advice seems to stem from the fact that breastmilk does not contain iron and babies who are at 6 months or approaching 6 months will have run down their iron stores by this age. I decided not to bother as I felt that my DD did not need it and would be getting a lovely rich diet full of iron in due course. Lentejas are now one of her favourite foods

should have read contain much iron.

She's 5 weeks old...

no, there is no need to supplement. your milk contains all she needs

breastmilk does contain iron. it contains less than formula or cow's milk, but that is because it is more readily used by the body, so needs less to start with

Iron is a mineral, and would not normally be in vit supps....do you think your paed meant drops for Vit D?

These would be very unlikely to be needed for any babies in sunny Spain

But check it back with him. Maybe he thinks there is some reason your baby might need them (maybe you never, ever go outside, or something, for all we know!)

HV told me told me to use vitamins from 6 months with BF babies. First time I was told with DD because of irom supplies running out from 6 months, this time 2 years later with DS I was told its because of vit D, so who knows. 5 weeks sounds way too young for anything other than breastmilk, it has all she needs, only thing I don't know is the prem thing. I would go back and challenge. Good luck and happy breastfeeding

Thanks All!

It appears to be a general multi-vitamin supplement, hence my doubts that it's strictly necessary. I am vegetarian, but have a good diet and I take a vitamin and iron supplement myself.

We get out most days and although the weather is still quite chilly, she gets a little sunshine on her face, anyway.