[QueenSheba'sMom]

My babe is 6 months old. She has been curious about food from the beginning, when she would sit in my lap while I ate and watch the food go from the plate to my mouth with her big eyes.

She is a big, active & healthy baby. I work during the day, and she barely eats while I'm not there. I only pump once a day at work, but I still add to the freezer stash every week. So she just doesn't seem to need solid foods yet.

I do let her taste things- fruits and veggies, mostly, but I've never really fed her yet. Didn't seem to be a problem or an issue or anything until yesterday, when dh took her in for her 6 mos. well-baby, and the dr. suggested putting her on some prescription vitamins if we're going to delay solids any further.

My initial reaction is 'what a load of hooey', but, of course, I don't want to endanger baby's health (or give her rx vitamins). I've heard of iron needs not being met by breastmilk before (not sure if I believe it, but....), but dh (and he could have gotten this wrong) said she had suggested the baby wasn't getting enough calcium? wha-

Anyone heard of that before?
And advice, wisdom, knowledge on the situation?

 

[ekblad9]

I believe many ped. offices get money from the vitamin companies to recommend vitamins to their patiants. I never gave them to my kids and they didn't eat solids until they were at least 9 months old. Some were as old as 14 months! I wouldn't worry about it. Even my mainstream friends that don't delay solids were told to use vitamins and didn't.

 

[marisa724]

Although I have heard the same as you, that the iron in BM goes down after 6 months, what's there is still more bioavailable than the iron in vitamins (meaning, it's easier for her body to break down and use).

There's also that magical thing that happens when the baby's saliva comes in contact with your nipple/glands. It tells your body about the baby's needs and the composition of your milk changes depending on which nutrient she needs more of.

I wouldn't worry about vitamins at this stage either.