Infant Liquid Vitamins

We used Tri-Vi-Sol - NOT Poly, and NOT "with iron." Both of those tasted bad. My son adored the TVS, and he'd still be taking them if the pediatrician hadn't said it's no longer necessary (he's 2 and a really good eater). He loved it so much we made the drops part of his bedtime routine - he had to get into his crib to have them, and he couldn't wait!

Good luck - I have no experience masking med flavors.

My kids always took to the vitamins very well,but just wanted to add that if they are fluoride vitamins not to give them with milk based formula or milk when he's a year. My pediatrician told us that milk deactivates the fluoride because I had mentioned that my son got his vitamins with his breakfast- when he always drank his milk.

Hi A.!

I prefer to use high nutrition or liquid "superfoods" (food with unusually high nutrition/high phytonutrient content) foods for my kids, because our bodies were made for food, not synthetic extractions and therefore most is absorbed. (You probably know all of this since you run a vegetable stand!!) The one previous poster talked about the lack of iron absorption--very common since iron is a picky element that needs a set amount and quality of vitamin c and other trace minerals to be fully absorbed. There are many good opportunities you can use for an infant (7 mos. is great because of the developed swallowing reflex).

Here are superfoods I use on my kids:

* You can use flax seed meal, 1/2 tsp. mixed in cereal. I use the organic Hodgson's Mill, but there are other great brands. Purists will argue you will maximize nutrition if you get flax fresh and grind it yourself, which is true, but 2 small children and your own business probably keeps you crazy busy. At least this way you get most of it!
* Pureed carrots that I have cooked just until I can stick the fork almost all the way through. (I then stick them in the blender with filtered water on the highest speed until smooth.) Heating a carrot actually activates a vitamin compound that makes the nutrition stronger! BUT, use whole carrots scrubbed well, with the peel on and only cook until the fork almost goes through--not until its mushy.
* Blueberries. I put then in with the carrot in the blender. Really make sure the peel is finely pureed.
* Seaweed! Do you have an asian store near you? Follow instruction with the carrot.
* I do sell an organic multivamin that I use most of all. I am hesitant to tell you this because sometimes it seems posters are simply looking to further their business. You can click on my profile if you are interested in knowing more about it. Your 7 mo. old would only need a tsp., and 2-1/2 yr. old a 1/2 oz.

Hope this helps, and I wish you only the very best as you maintain your daily life and give to your kids!

C.

Why does your son need vitamins? If you're breastfeeding, eating an excellent diet, and (if necessary) taking vitamins yourself, your son doesn't need anything more. Let your body do the filtering of all the needless junk that is added to vitamin supplements - preservatives, bonding agents, sugars or artificial sweeteners, and let your son just get the necessary nutrients directly from your milk. Work on developing a great, varied diet in your son now, while he's learning new tastes, so that vitamin supplementation is unnecessary.

we use Tri-Vi as well and they are awesome!! They have a peach flavor and my son loves them. I tried them too to make sure and they don't even leave an aftertaste. We were using the other ones and he spit it out all the time. I told the doc I was going to stop giving them to my son because it was a waste and she switched. Haven't had a problem since. Mention it to your pedi and I'm sure they'll write you a new script

I have been giving my children Shaklee vitamins for almost two years now. I started my son when he was six months old on the infant mix. It is powder and I would put it in applesauce for him. He really never gave me any problems taking it. I would also crush one of their chewable Vitamin C's and add that in as well. My children are rarely sick. I have not had to take them in for a sick visit in well over a year now. Since their vitamins are from whole food and biovailable I think they are the best on the market. My older daughter told me during this past winter when she was in the car with her friends and all of them were coughing and sneezing they asked her how come she is never sick. If you'd like to check them out go to http://www.shaklee.net/dudinyak/product/20073. Now that my son is 2 and not eating as well as I'd like I also give him Shaklee's mealshakes and it makes me feel like he is getting what he needs and he loves them.

A.:
Are you exclusively breastfeeding? If so, you definately need to give a supplement with Vitamin D. Nature intended for babies and Mommies to be out in the sun (to get the vitamin D), but because the sun is too strong and we must slather on sunscreen, we are deficient.
I looked up the Shaklee vitamins as I was excited to see that there was an alternative to the nasty stuff. Unfortunately, I compared the labels and found the following: Trivitamin drops (yucky liquid) Vitamin A 1500 I.U (100% Daily value) Vitamin D 400 IU (100% DV) Vitamin C 35mg (100% DV)
Shaklee Vitamins Vitamin A 1250 IU (83% DV) Vitamin D 100 IU (only 25% DV)Vitamin C 20 mg (57% DV)
Cnclusion: the yucky stuff is still superior. I put it in prunes to hide it

We gave my first born those horrible liquid drops for a while, but they stunk and stained! So I found one that is powdered. I ran them by my pediatrician first (she thinks they're great and now gives them to her son!). Its natural and tastes decent. We mix it in yogurt/applesauce and he still has it every night. They are Rainbow Light Nutristart Vitamins: http://www.rainbowlight.com/Categories~Category~a0de950b-...
I buy them at Whole Foods, but you can probably special order them at the Co-op or a Natural Foods store or buy them online. Hope this helps!

have your pharmacy flavor them - genuardis will do it

We used to mix them in my daughter's nap-time or bed-time bottle or sippy cup of milk and this worked until she was 2 and started taking the gummy vitamins.

Hi A.,
I would try mixing them with food or juice.
But why does he need these vitamins? I wouldn't go through the hassle if it's not absolutely necessary for some reason. When he's a little older he can take the chewables. My son is 5 and I was never told he needed vitamins at that young age. I always thought it wasn't needed.

Hi A.,
We also mix the vitamins in with our son's cereal in the morning. He is over a year now though and has started just taking them by mouth on the mornings when he has something other then cereal. I know in the beginning it is hard b/c they do taste terrible. Once he got used to them in the cereal though, it went fine. Good Luck!

A.,

I am not sure about the liquid vitamins, I was not aware that you needed to give infants vitamins. When you get some responses about your question, could you please private message me and let me know what kind to give and at what age to start giving them.

thank you

A.
I gave my daughter the liquid vitamins at 8 months old and yes they were disgustingly gross and after about 3 months I stopped. Her bowel movements were off and constipation set in because she was getting too much iron. I talked with my Ped and he suggested to stop and wanted her to get the vitamins from regular food once she started eating solids. Now at 2 and 1/2 she is a picky eater and I am considering going back but havent made up my mind yet.After our first experience with it,I probably wont but will talk to the Ped again to see what he says. I suggest you do the same!

Hi A.,

If you are breastfeeding, you likely don't need to give your baby vitamin supplements just yet. I didn't actually give them to my son until he was almost 2 years old and then he could chew tablets. Unless there is some reason why your baby needs vitamins, I would recommend holding off until you can give him/her something chewable.

J.

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I have used the shaklee infant vitamin powder and highly recommend it. I was told to cut the dose in half though so instead of the can lasting one month it would last two. Never had a problem with my son taking it as mixes in with food, juice and so on just not so well with milk. Give it a try and you will love it.

I always mixed them with breastmilk, formula, or cereal. It masked it enough that she didn't even notice.

Both of my daughters are taking the liquid vitamin. The doctor told me to mix it with orange juice. They don't even know that it is in there. The orange juice also helps the body absorb it better. Hope this helps.

A.

A.,
We have a powdered vitamin for infants. Made by Shaklee, the #1 natural nutrition company in the US, it provides 23 vitamins and minerals and is a pleasant tasting powder. Just mix in juice, water or food. Go to http://www.shaklee.net/giftsfromnature/product/20073 to find out more, or to place an order.
This and all our products are guaranteed to please, or your money is refunded.
E.

For my son, we mix the liquid vitamins with apple juice. Very small amount will mask the flavor. Also, when he was a little bit older we would mix the vitamins with one tablespoon of yogurt. Whatever you mix it with make sure it is a small amount so you know it is all consumed.

I too use the liquid vitamins, and you're right, they are very strong and taste horrible. I mix them with my daughter's oatmeal in the morning. She has never made a fuss! The first dose went really bad, trying to squirt them in her mouth... the next day I mixed them with her oatmeal and never looked back!

Good luck!

Anette,
My ped also prescribed Vitamins for my baby and you are right-they're disgusting. She nearly vomits when I give them to her so I have to make sure that I don't give them to her right after a meal. Anyway, I don't have any answers for you - sorry! The only thing I do is not give them to her daily, I give it to her about twice a week. I've heard from other moms that unless a baby is undernurished (which mine is definitely not- she's 25lbs at 14 months), they do not need vitamins. Also, she eats healthy, homecooked food so I feel that she's probably getting enough nutrients. Sorry I couldn't be more help.