are you supposed to give fish oil to 16 month old babies?

[mommie]

am totally confused about this. Boots do a version for babies over six months which i have just bought, but i thought health dept was worried about mercury levels in tuna fish for small babies (admittedly those being breast fed, not those of 16 months). Boots says to give a half teaspoon every day. What age are you supposed to start supplementing babies' diets with omega 3 etc....?

google 'food standards agency' and look up babies and oily fish. Can't remember what it says, but it will give you the suggested amounts.

fish oils are totally different to a lump of tuna!

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i shouldn't think that mercury is present in supplements in any level. You don't NEED to supplement with fish oil at all unless you have a specific reason.

starlover - why is a lump of tuna different to tuna fish oil? or am i being daft. surely it all comes from the same source.

well for one, fish oils may not even come from tuna!

the mercury in tuna is found in the flesh and cannot be removed.
oil however could be "cleaned" as i am sure it has to be before it is sold

i did check the source of the fish oil: the bottles say it's tuna fish oil

The capsules given to children in the trial contained oils high in Omega 3 fats, which are found naturally in oily fish such as mackerel, salmon and sardines and in some plant crops such as rape seed.

fish oils are refined

You don't have to give your child any supplements - if they are eating a balanced diet that is. Having said that I give my two vitamins during autumn and winter months (not fish oils tho)

Forgot to say, it's better to try them on 'real' oily fish first