Vitamins and minerals are an important part of immune support for kids, but your infant can benefit from supplements as well. While you should always consult with your pediatrician and get their advice before you give your baby any supplements, here are a few essentials that your infant needs.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is often low in breastfeeding infants, so it’s especially important to consider a supplement. If you’re breastfeeding your baby, it’s very likely that they’ll become deficient in vitamin D. This vitamin is important for the growth of your baby’s bones and also aids in disease prevention. If you put sunscreen on your baby, you might increase the risk of deficiency, as most of our vitamin D intake comes from sunlight.
Iron
This is another supplement that your infant might not be getting enough of if they are breastfeeding. An iron deficiency can lead to anemia, which can negatively affect your infant’s development. If your baby was premature, the risk of developing this condition is even greater.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is also important in preventing anemia; however, this is one supplement you might not need to worry about unless you are starting your baby on a plant-based diet. B12 is also essential for nervous system health, circulatory health, and energy. If you are vegan or vegetarian and are breastfeeding your baby, you might want to ask your doctor about whether or not you should take a B12 supplement yourself to ensure that your infant is getting enough from your breastmilk.
Once your baby begins to eat solids, make sure that you introduce them to a wide range of foods so that they can get all of their essential vitamins and nutrients from what they eat. Even then, considering added supplements or multivitamins will give a boost to development and immune support for kids.
