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've been vegan for many years and I brought my kids up on a vegan diet. As a pp said, the best advice is to get advice from a dietician if you're unsure about how to do it.

My kids have always eaten lots of beans, pulses, lentils, tofu, tempeh, nuts, fruit and veg, dairy alternatives, fortified foods. There is plenty of vegan junk food too to eat at parties etc. My kids have never been left out but that was probably more to do with having nice people around us. There were other vegan kids and vegetarians too.

I always gave my kids a multi vitamin but I'd have done that even if they weren't vegan.

One of my kids has tried cows milk and eggs for a short time when they were older with no allergic response. He's back to being vegan now.

My kids are healthy. I didn't have any issues in pregnancy, I've never had low iron, but I've always eaten a healthy vegan diet. I breastfed my children until they were over 2.

I think your daughter should get advice from a dietician (not a nutritionist who needs no training) and see how it goes.

Well nutritionally as a growing human being I would not be bringing my DC up as vegan

I think it's a choice you should be able make yourself when you're old enough as to what you want to eat

A lot of people say this, but I was made to eat meat as a child and I hated that I had eaten it. I'd much rather always have been vegetarian or vegan.

As parents, we make all sorts of choices for our children before they are able to.

I think though that's the point where a parent says ok then, learn about nutrition and I'll support you in your choices. I'm not keen on forcing anything on children who make a valid request for something else, with the huge 'but' of educating yourself to do it correctly, of
Course with support and direction from external sources ... that way they'd always be in control

Can you really? 🫣

@FloofPaws

I don't think eating meat and animal products should be the default. Just because something is available to eat doesn't mean we have to eat it.

It's my job as a parent to know about nutrition on behalf of my children. They got everything they needed from what I'd chosen and if they want to add in other things later, they can. One of my kids did for a few months. Other people do it differently which is their choice. My kids are happy with the choices I made for them, but even if they weren't, they would understand that I chose what I believed to be the best for them.

And I can imagine the sort of people that think giving your own child your own breast milk doesn't come under vegan.😅

Haha. I missed this. I can also imagine what sort of people would think this. In fact I've met a few who think it's some sort of gotcha moment. They're always lacking in intelligence. 🤣

That's your opinion, mine is different, I feel an omnivorous diet is fine for omnivores and that's ok too. If my children wanted to be vegan or any other diet that eliminates sources I'd be very supportive but I'd ensure they were fully educated on absorption, the most important detail in diets that avoid certain foods IMO

Suggesting people lack intelligence is always an interesting way to debate. 😵‍💫

@Werweisswohin - equal to those who assume that meat eaters eat only crappy diets 🙄

Suggesting people lack intelligence is always an interesting way to debate

These people were my in-laws and their friends. I know them well and they're not bright. Suggesting that your own breast milk for your own child isn't vegan is stupid. You can't argue with stupid.

I haven't read the whole thread, has someone said that?

Other than not agreeing with people eating animal products, it would be silly to say all meat eaters eat crap diets. There will be people who eat very healthily to very unhealthily across all diets. Nutritionally you're can get everything you need from either vegan or non vegan diets.

That's your opinion, mine is different, I feel an omnivorous diet is fine for omnivores and that's ok too. If my children wanted to be vegan or any other diet that eliminates sources I'd be very supportive but I'd ensure they were fully educated on absorption, the most important detail in diets that avoid certain foods IMO

My children are fully educated on nutrition too. As they're older now, what they eat is their own choice anyway.

1. humans are naturally omnivorous
2. there’s more to veganism than not eating meat

You could say that about anything though, couldn’t you. 😆

I’m vegan, DH eats meat, DD encouraged to try all types of food. She was tucking into steak and sea bass when she was 4. Roll onto 8, they’ve covered where food comes from in school and she’s now vegetarian.

I ate meat until I was age 12, we never had much meat when I was growing up in any case. We had a lot of fish and chicken.

I don’t think there anything wrong with it as long as you know what you’re doing. Presumably with col many people can’t afford good quality meat products so look to other food groups. 🤷🏼‍♀️

As long as she does it properly her baby will thrive. Most babies start out weaning on vegetables and fruit, instead of introducing meat she can introduce beans, pulses, pasta, legumes and on and on and on.

There is no limit with the exception of meat and dairy - rice/quinoa/beans have plenty protein and loads of calcium enriched alternative milks (if she doesn't extend breastfeeding).

If I were having babies now (instead of over a decade ago) I probably would wean on a whole food plant based diet (I'm not vegan but cut meat/dairy for health reasons). Kids don't know any different and there are so many vegan/plant based options now.

You just need to let them know the definition of vegan

Yes the first says: “the available evidence shows that well planned vegetarian and vegan diets may be considered safe during pregnancy and lactation, but they require a strong awareness for a balanced intake of key nutrients.”

What I found interesting was it says “If the choice is not cultural but is due to ethical beliefs and good socioeconomic status, the probability of a balanced diet increases.”

Then again sample size must be small and correlation does not equal causation. Pre pregnancy after 10 years vegan I had good blood work and in my vegan pregnancy I certainly had good iron levels, good blood sugar levels and no obvious issues, DD was 97th percentile for height and remains tall but that is obviously anecdotal. I took a vegan prenatal with B12 and vit D (and folic acid obviously but that is rich in plant based foods) throughout though, and for the first 4 months survived mostly on crackers due to bad morning sickness.

@FloorWipes the first study also says:

“Vegetarian and vegan diets are emerging worldwide due to the evidence that plant-based dietary patterns reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Pregnancy is a critical window of opportunity to provide dietetic habits that are beneficial for fetal healthy. It is also an exclusive condition in which the requirements of energy and micronutrients intake increase to maintain the supply of essential nutrients for fetal development. Each stage of fetal growth is dependent on appropriate maternal nutrient transfer, so a balanced diet is essential to avoid fetal complications. The choice of vegetarian or vegan diet is always in the preconception period due to ethical reasons or poor social condition, so a well-adjusted preconception nutrition is essential for healthy pregnancy. Available data demonstrated that micronutrients insufficiency and caloric restriction are more common in developing countries, where vegetarian diets are chosen because of socioeconomic reasons. On the contrary in developed countries, the consciousness and the concern of a balanced diet is taken more into account. Generally it is difficult to verify the effects of such diets on pregnancy outcomes and to separate them from other confounding factors such as ethnicity, lifestyles or smoking.”

So basically they cannot really tell due to limitations of the study but there is nothing there to say that a vegan diet in pregnancy will negatively impact the child as long as the diet is well planned.

Jesus this meant to be a chat forum - op can ask!!

The second study only had 60 vegans in it so not much can be extrapolated from that tiny sample size. The third study had only 52 vegan children in it.

The fourth did show a modest fracture risk which is something to consider, mainly so that vegans ensure we supplement vit D and consume plenty of calcium sources.

You just need to let them know the definition of vegan

I tried a couple of times. They're thick, not interested (which is fine if they would just keep out) and not worth the effort. They think a human, especially a man, can't function without meat at least twice a day. They're constantly negative about us being vegan, but if we answer them back, we're preaching. 🙄

Education is key.

I'm a meat eater.
I think anyone can eat a crap diet tbh.

Education is key

Yes, but some people don't educate themselves and won't listen to others because it doesn't suit their agenda.

Especially bearing in mind the small amounts babies eat.