Thoughts on vitamin supplementation?

[OperaDiva]

My pedi, who is great about no vax, very BFing supportive, and overall great about informing her patients about everything, mentioned at Hunter's 2 month appointment that she wants me to consider a vitamin supplement (trivisol I think?) since I am EBFing.

Do you ladies give your babies vitamin supplements? Is it really necessary or a good idea? I kind of understand the need for vitamin D, so I am considering either taking a supplement myself or using the drops that are pure vitamin d and nothing else, but I'm not sure about the TriViSol.

[PatioGardener]

I can't imagine a reason to supplement a healthy EBF 2 month old with vitamin C and A unless mom was severely malnourished. The vitamin D I do understand depending your baby's skin tone and where you live - but as you said in your post above, why not supplement your self or give only vitamin D to baby?

Maybe the Enfamil representative had stopped by your ped's office recently? Brand name drug sugestions are often 'planted' by the drug reps...

[velcromom]

I have never supplemented any of my three bf babies and would not do so unless there were exceptional circumstances. I do continue to take a prenatal while bfing, and this year I have added D3 supplements along with eating a primarily whole foods diet with TF style probiotic foods.

[odoole]

Vitamin D would be a good idea unless you're out in the sun a lot with your baby. People just don't get as much sunlight as we should these days. I don't think much Vit D ends up getting transmitted via breastmilk, so you supplementing wouldn't do much for your baby. Your body will just eliminate the amount it doesn't need -- not pass it to the milk.

My son didn't take well to Tri-vi-sol -- I think it hurt his tummy and he always spat it up. Baby D drops have worked fine for him. Just put a little on the pacifier or nipple. They don't seem to notice.

[PatioGardener]

Actually there has been good research that shows breastfeeding mothers who take enough vitamin D supplement themselves do pass on enough through their milk to their baby. Breastmilk contains enough vit D for baby as long as mom has high enough vit D levels. Unfortunately estimates now say that up to 2/3 of Canadians (not sure about Europeans or Americans) are low on vit D.

[OperaDiva]

I just read what kellymom.com had to say, and it pretty much said not to supplement with anything but vitamin D, and you only need to do that if Mom is deficient, if you are darker skinned, or spend almost no time outside/use high SPF sunscreen when out. Babies only need 2 hours total per week (clothed, no hat) outside to get enough vitamin D. So a little less outside time than that (winter in Texas isn't bad enough to completely exclude outdoor activities) and me supplementing should be fine. Plus we are very fair skinned, so we absorb vitamin D better than those with darker skin.

Reading that, I realized the other items my pedi mentioned were flouride and iron, and I am definitely not doing either of those.

[PatioGardener]

For fluoride, the AAp says:

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released an interim policy statement on fluoride supplementation: "Fluoride Supplementation for Children: Interim Policy Recommendations". Their stance is this:

Fluoride should not be administered to infants during the first 6 months after birth, whether they are breast- or formula-fed."
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vi....html#Fluoride