Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients that are essential for a child’s development. For healthy, fully breastfed babies still need to supplement some vitamins and keys
Full-term, healthy babies get most of the vitamins and minerals they need from breast milk or formula.
If a nursing mother has a complete, varied diet that will ensure all the essential nutrients her baby needs. However, there are some vitamins and minerals that are recommended to supplement for babies to help them develop comprehensively.
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1. Vitamin K.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations, all infants receive 1 injection of vitamin K shortly after birth to reduce the risk of hemorrhagic disease. Vitamin K is required by our body for certain blood clotting molecules to function.
Vitamin D allows the body to absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus, both of which are important for healthy bones. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets and usually occurs in the first 2 years of life
Because breast milk does not provide enough vitamin D, all breastfed infants should receive vitamin D supplements.
For babies who drink formula, it is not necessary to supplement with vitamin D because formula already contains vitamin D. If the infant drinks about 1000ml of formula per day, there will be no need to provide additional vitamin D.
An additional dose of 400 IU/day for newborns is recommended from birth until the child is 1 year old.
2. Vitamin B12.
Vitamin B12 keeps the body’s nerves and blood cells healthy, helps to regenerate DNA, and synthesizes genetic material for all cells. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause an anemia called megaloblastic anemia, which causes fatigue and weakness in the body.
Vitamin B12 is not usually found in plant foods, so nursing mothers who follow a strict vegetarian diet (i.e., don’t eat any animal foods) will need vitamin B12 in their diet. their own diet to ensure that both mother and baby are getting the amounts they need.
Signs and symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency in infants include vomiting, lethargy, anemia, poor growth, decreased muscle tone, and more.
Breastfed infants may have vitamin B12 deficiency at 2-6 months, but symptoms may not be apparent until 6-12 months.
And breastfed infants may develop clinical signs of vitamin B12 deficiency before their mothers.
Mothers, please talk to your doctor or nutritionist for guidance and ensure an adequate diet for both mother and baby.
3. Iron.
Breast milk is low in iron, but most term infants have enough of their mother’s iron stores to protect them from anemia, at least until the baby is 4-6 months old.
If the mother has poorly controlled gestational diabetes or the baby is born prematurely, or is less than 2.7kg, the baby may not get enough iron during pregnancy.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants who are exclusively breastfed and partially breastfed receive a liquid iron supplement of 1mg/kg/day starting at 4-6 months and continuing until the infant is able to eat. solid food – solid at about 6 months of age. When you start introducing solid foods, choose foods that contain iron such as fortified cereals, meat, fish, beans, vegetables.
For premature babies, they may need a higher iron supplement of 2mg/kg/day, starting in the first month after birth. Talk to your doctor about iron supplements for your child.