Should baby be vegan

[Confusedmaa]

My daughter is vegan and currently pregnant. What do other vegans do in terms of bringing up their children. Should the baby be strict vegan or would being brought up with mainly plant based diet but some non vegan elements be ok. Would the baby need extra vitamins once fully weaned? Would intolerances build up if they aren't introduced to all food groups? I feel that she should explore all of the options. On more of a social point, I had a vegan friend growing up and they were never invited to parties or to anyone's house for tea. They always seemed so upset when treats were offered at school or birthday cake shared out as they weren't allowed any. This was in the 80s so not much understanding back then. I know that's not the end of the world and I really don't want to come across as ignorant but I'd just feel like I want to hear peoples experiences.

I would have thought she would do best to commit to extended breast feeding, and then take lots of advice about a diet that is nutrient dense but not too bulky for a child’s tiny stomach.

It has been a problem for some families that a vegetarian diet can cause a toddler to feel full before they have taken in enough nutrients.

Ethics aside, it seems that our digestive systems were designed for omnivores. A vegan diet can of course be mitigated to ensure the right intake of the full range of nutrients for a growing child but it needs knowledge and planning

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/proceedings-of-the-nutrition-society/article/risks-and-benefits-of-vegan-and-vegetarian-diets-in-children/A8539A11838C49A98FAF2DB2C6EE0AF2#

If your Dd has asked you for advice I would see whether she would consider eggs from a known properly free range source. Ditto milk, possibly goat milk if she wants to avoid the mass dairy industry. And the occasional wild (not farmed) oily fish.

But I would reassure her that I would support, not undermine, any decision she takes.

@Aparecium
You said: 'Veganism may be an ethical choice, but looking after your health and your children's health is also an ethical choice.', and I completely agree!

she needs to do her own research really to see how to ameliorate possible problems - some studies have shown that vegan kids have a better cardiovascular profile but there are links between veganism in kids and certain vitamin deficiencies, lower overall height and lower bone density.....calcium, vit D and protein are critical for bone development and growth and these are the areas that vegan children may struggle with unless their parents are very thoughtful about dietary sources...especially seeing as some kids can be super fussy . A vegetarian diet might be more suitable until they are older.

If they’re willing then eggs would fill a lot of the gaps for an otherwise vegan child - lots of protein and b12.

It is possible but would need thought and planning to ensure baby gets the correct nutrients. Breastfeeding would make it an awful lot easier. There have been cases where babies have died through malnutrition when parents have been fixated on a vegan diet - extreme, but it’s happened. I would suggest mum and dad are prepared to abandon if it turns out baby is not thriving.

I think you would have to plan very carefully, it’s not just vitamins and minerals, it’s things like protein, calcium, phosphorus, choline for brain development etc. I wouldn’t, dh was raised vegetarian but had plenty of dairy (not eggs though).

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200127-how-a-vegan-diet-could-affect-your-intelligence

I think you could possibly plan a vegan diet but bear in mind kids are fussy and don’t a.ways eat whats good for them.

I would definitely eat a cat or dog, before starving to death. Would you?

I didn't express that as my opinion, it was clearly a quote from another poster.

To add to this - if mum breastfeeds she would also need to be very careful about her nutrient intake as breastfeeding could deplete her severely. Definitely take advice from her midwife and I would suggest an experienced dietician/nutritionist.

@DrinkElephants I am pregnant with my first and we're a vegan household. At the moment we are planning to do exactly as you have done and introduce our child to common allergens.

@Confusedmaa I believe all infant formula sold in the UK is based on dairy milk, so if your daughter needs to supplement bfing she will have to accept dairy (or import vegan formula from France!)

Me too, though I'd rather not unless I really had to. I'm not sure why we don't eat horses in this country, many others do.

I remember the cases in Totnes and ther places.

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/healthy-living/how-our-vegan-diet-made-us-ill-848322.html www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/healthy-living/how-our-vegan-diet-made-us-ill-848322.html]]]]

Nigel Denby, a dietician and author of Nutrition for Dummies, says: "It can be hard enough bringing a child up to eat healthily, but with a vegan diet you are really making a difficult job for yourself. It is absolutely not something that should be tried without support from a dietician."

The problem here is the golden rule:
Grandparents must never interfere.

I'm aware of that.

OP was asked, she isn't interfering.

I'm vegan and was vegan during my twin pregnancy which was unremarkable and my children were healthy at birth and needed no medical assistance (they were born at 36 weeks) breastfeeding wasn't successful for me so they were formula fed but ironically had cows milk protein allergy so specialised formula. They are 3 now and have a vegan diet, I have no confidence in cooking meat and paranoid I would poison them if I tried! As they get older they can make their own choices about their diet, if they want to try dairy and meat it will be up to them. Currently they are very healthy 3 year olds with endless energy! They have multivitamin and probiotics daily and their nursery have been fantastically supportive in catering for them which has been a massive help.

I was given cheval as a steak in France, not realising what it was until someone mentioned it. Then found I couldn't eat it, nor can I eat rabbit, probably because both are domesticated.

I'd rather shoot the pigeons in the garden and eat them than ever eat a cat or dog.
Or I'd rather become vegan!

My baby will be raised as vegan from conception (currently pregnant) and I was vegetarian (with minimal dairy, no eggs) from conception too, vegan for 12+ years now. I’m far more clued up on nutrition than most people I know. It’s your daughter and SIL’s choice.

Not criticising your approach at all, but a nursery or school environment may be a good place for them to try meat or dairy products, if you're open to that and if it's half decent quality? It would at least let them try without your understandable worries re cooking meat?

I know but there's a line .....

They've been mentioned at this point - things like low birthweight, vitamin deficiencies affecting development and immune system, bone density problems...I can't easily summarise but there is literature out there to read. There is also recent research about how your genetics influences your ability to gain sufficient nutrition from a vegan diet. It's very interesting.

Lots of people are clued up on nutrition, vegan or otherwise. I hope your child at least gets to try other options so they can make their own choice.

Which she doesn't seem to be crossing.

What is wrong with you? The op is totally fine starting a thread about a topic she has an interest in, and people she cares about.

Yes I would but I would want to either research and see a nutritionist and give them supplements

Oh, I’m also, tall, muscular, strong with an Oxbridge degree and a demanding professional career. I’ve never eaten meat or fish. There is STILL so much ignorance around, it astonishes me!