Vitamins and Minerals for Babies
Vitamins for the baby’s needs is often a confusing topic. If you are wondering whether your baby need vitamin or not, of course the answer is yes. Your baby may need vitamins to grow well and healthy. He needs it in order to have strong bones, healthy teeth and also to “build” the blood, so to avoid anemia.
Well, almost all babies get all the necessary vitamins and minerals (like vitamin A, calcium, iron, etc.) through the intake of foods they consume. So, even if your baby really need the vitamins and minerals, but they do not really need the supplement every day, except when he was born premature or have certain health problems.
Overview of Vitamins and Minerals
Many parents think that the vitamins will be met in full only by consuming vegetables and fruits. This opinion is not right. Actually, vegetables and fruits contain only some kinds of vitamins, like vitamin C, E, K and some types of vitamin B.
For vitamin A, B6, B12 and D, can usually be obtained through animal sources such as liver, milk, and various processed products.
While the minerals needed by the body can be obtained from foods such as salt, fish, shrimp, squid, and milk and other dairy products.
Conclusion
Basically, until the age of 6 months, babies who receive exclusive breast feeding does not require supplements. To note precisely the mother’s diet. Ensure that breastfeeding mothers consume enough foods containing vitamin B12 (to prevent anemia in children), iron (also associated with anemia), zinc, and calcium. If any is required, then the mother may consume a multivitamin-mineral supplements. Of course with a doctor referral.
After age 6 months if your baby is not having difficulty eating different kinds of food with sufficient quantity for his age, then vitamin supplements are not necessary. New supplements to be an alternative when your child really hard to eat or have a chronic health problem. Please consult with your pediatrician.
Be careful, do not consume a multivitamin-mineral supplements without a physician referral, because it could be your baby receives the excess of vitamin A and zinc (zinc).
