Infant Vitamins?

My children had vitamin drops and I thought (if I remember right) that because they were exclusively breast fed they weren't getting the flouride in the water for their teeth.
But, here's a website I found that might be helpful. http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/vitamins.html

My ped recommended a tri vitamin drop for my exclusively breastfed baby at 6 mo. The 3 vitamins were A, D, and flouride. They need the flouride (to strengthen the teeth that are coming in) if your city does not have flouride in the water. If they do not have formula, then they need the other two vitamins. I was never great at giving it to him every day but he had it 3-4 times a week. He is 11 months now and is just taking the flouride drop because he drinks formula now.

Did he say why he is recommending vitamins? I don't think they are necesary but... the do make infant vitamins that are totally safe. The ones I had were stinky, and I don't think they tasted very good because my baby didn't like them. They were also very messy, dark in color, and stained his clothes. My son was on multi vitamins because he was taking Lasix, and once he was off the Lasix I quit giving him the vitamins because they were a pain in the butt. I told my doctor we weren't doing the vitamins any more and he was totally ok with that. Based on what you have said they don't sound necesary, you might want to get a better explanation from your doctor.

Vitamin drops are very common. My son (who was breastfed) had them as an infant. In fact,I think they gave him with flouride. If your doctor is suggesting the kind with flouride and you don't want your son to have flouride, just tell your doctor that you are willing to give him vitamins, but do not want him to have the flouride. They make them both with and without flouride. I wonder if they pump extra vitamins into formula that breastmilk does not contain. I did not look into formula at all when my son was an infant because to me, that is just not an option. Besides....after a few months of being breastfed, my son told me off the first (and only) time I tried to give him formula away from home (I was at the dentist and he threw the cup across the room! ...pretty strong for a 4 or 5 month old).

L.,

I had the same thing with my son. Part of our thing though was that he weaned himself at 8 months. I think part of it was the lack of flouride too.

Hope this helps,
Melisssa

does your little man have many teeth? my sons dr told me before he had all his teeth and wouldnt take the drops to let him munch on a bowl full of the total cereal. that its got all the vitamins needed for babies of that age. maybe you could give that a try.

good luck

My dr advised us to use Trivisol until my son was drinking 8 oz of formula a day (because then it would already be included) I would make sure to not use the Polyvisol though because that tends to make kids constipated.

Yes, the fluoride is important and also at some point they stop getting enough of certain vitamins in breast milk (your son will soon be eating more and more solid food and less and less breast milk). IMO, and in the opinion of my ped, they are not yet ESSENTIAL but it's a good habit to get into at least a few times a week. Child won't be able to eat chewables until close to 3yo and believe me, at some point after you wean, your child will NOT seem to be eating enough and will need vitamins, and it is good to get them used to the drops.

And, again, the fluoride is important if you live in Portland.

Lori is right , the reason for the drops is because Portland is the only city w/o flouride in the water. He needs the drops for his teeth. My son recieved his drops at his 6 month checkup also. It threw my husband and I off a little too. He is in both 85% for ht and wt. My ped. explained the flouride thing otherwise I would be a little leary of it too. Not to worry, I would suggest continuing witht the vitamins. It can't hurt