My 10 month old gets half of his daily milk from breastmilk, the other half from formula (I don't produce enough milk to exclusively breastfeed). Do I need to supplement his diet with Vitamin D or zinc? He is on solids but doesn't like rice cereal, so he's not getting much fortified stuff and I'm worried that he may not be getting adequate levels of Vit D or zinc. (I try to give him a nutritionally sound balanced diet, but some days he just prefers milk, and I want to be sure he's getting enough of what he needs.) I plan to keep breastfeeding until he turns one -- is there any reason at 1 year to switch to cow's milk (other than cost) since he likes formula? I have a case of the stuff and am happy to keep giving it to him, especially because I think it might offer greater nutrition than plain cow's milk and is probably more digestable. Any thoughts?
L.,
Go with the Shakleebaby supplement Patty recommended. There is nothing safer or more effective.
Victoria
Well my daughter quit doing the cereal thing around 8-9 months she hated it wanted real food. Wouldn't eat baby food had to have what we ate (still does). she was formula fed but we quit formula at 10 months and went straight to cows milk and she is beyond healthy and a totally normal 2 yr old.
I would look at his growth charts because so long as they are staying normal he obviously is getting exactly what he needs. Formula is over rated. Plus past a year it can actually give to much of certain vitamins is what i was told.
Personally I think it would be better to give him an all around supplementation. I am a Shaklee Independent Distributor and this is what I would recommend:
http://healinghappens.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sk...
Does your pedi have him on any kind of multivitamin?
We had a liquid one (with iron and fluoride after he turned 1). I wouldn't do a Vit D sup if he's spending time in the sun this summer. Never really even heard of a zinc supplement.
My son is now 2 and he still doesn't drink cows milk. Water and occasionally juice. The only reason cows milk is so popular is that it really is an easy source of calcium. Primarily though, it's for baby cows. :)
My son never ate rice cereal. I used it occasionally if I pureed things finer than he liked (made my own baby food very briefly until he decided that he'd rather grown up food).
It's probably not a bad idea to keep giving him formula though, if for no other reason than to use it up. If you do want him to drink cows milk eventually though, I suggest introducing it around a year. They just get more disagreeable the older they get, lol!
Good luck!
no need to give him vitimin D if you bring him out side for 20 minutes a day. The sun provides all the vitimin D anyone will need. In the winter, I buy liquid vitimin D from Sams club and add a little bit in with either milk or juice (it's way too sweet on it's own). Not sure about zinc.
My daughter wasn't crazy about the cereal either but I would mix it in with her yogurt and she would eat it that way. It allowed her to get a different texture and was great food practice.
I would discuss the supplements with his doctor. I exclusively breastfed and gave my kids the liquid vitamins on their doctor's advice but because he's getting formula he may not need the extra. Also discuss the use of the infant formula past age 1 with the doc.
I know zinc is great to keep imune system up but not sure what suppliment is out there for a baby.
I have been giving my 13 month old Carlsons liquid Vit D drops since birth per pediatrician advice 400 iu a day . And I now give more - about 1,200.
Studies are comming out that we are not taking enough Vit D. Myself I take 5,000 - 8000 ...and when I had my Vit D levels tested last year they great! Not too high. Whole foods sells allliquid Vit D.
I dont give my son milk as he has a dairy allergy at the moment. so rice milk has calcium and you can make sure your baby gets protein from foods that would get from milk. also i am not a big believer in health benifits of milk
Breast milk is the best as long as you're eating healthy and drinking enough water. Formula is next best. I would keep going with either or both until you run out, at least for the full first year. After that its up to you. theres no need to switch off at any particular date or time. Your baby will start eating more solid foods and wean off naturally. Its O.K. to stop nursing when you start to feel uncomfortable or tired of it, just be patient with the baby making the transition. If he's growing, eating, pooping,playing,sleeping normally, and gets outside regularly he's healthy and you are doing a great job.
Keep enjoying your baby, they grow so fast!
S.
