Should I give my baby vitamins?

It’s known as ‘liquid gold’, and with good reason. Breast milk is the perfect blend of nutrients a baby needs, says Taryn Bortz, a Johannesburg-based dietician with a special interest in paediatric nutrition. 

“Breast milk is considered the gold standard of infant feeding. It contains all the nutrients needed for the baby’s growth and development and has the perfect composition of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals," she says. "It is easily digestible, helps maintain the infant’s gut system, and contains components that help regulate immunity and fight off bacteria or viruses.”

Taking extra care

There are, however, certain instances where you should consider giving your baby supplements, says Bortz. 

- In South Africa, vitamin A deficiency is common in infants because of poor maternal nutrition. Breast-fed babies should receive a single dose of 100 000 IU vitamin A between 6 and twelve months of age, a single dose of 200 000 IU at 12 months, and single doses of 200 000 IU every six months thereafter – up to age five.
- Vitamin D deficiency is also common. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends giving your baby 400 IU of vitamin D per day, starting in the first few weeks of life, until they start eating solid foods.
- Premature babies (born before 37 weeks gestation) will usually be given additional iron, vitamin D, folate and a multivitamin in hospital.

As baby grows

The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of baby’s life, followed by the gradual introduction of soft foods from six months of age. Even when your baby has started eating solid foods, breastmilk will still account for most of their nutrition for some time. The WHO recommends continuing to breastfeed until the age of two years or longer.

The WHO also recommends iron supplementation from around four months of age – 1mg per kg of baby’s weight, in the form of drops. Once baby starts eating foods these supplements can be stopped.

The first two years of life are critical in childhood development. “During this window, the developing brain is most vulnerable to poor nutrition,” Bortz explains. 

Your child’s plate should always contain a balance of nutrients as follows, she says:

- Protein: Sources include chicken, eggs, fish, meat, dairy, beans, lentils, soya and peas.
- Starch: Sources include porridges, grains, breads, pasta and starchy vegetables like butternut or sweet potato.
- Vegetables: Feed your child as many different varieties and colours of vegetables as possible.
- Fat: Healthy sources include fatty fish such as tuna, sardines or pilchards, nuts, seeds, avocado and oils.
- From one year of age, your child should also have two cups of full cream milk daily to maintain strong and healthy bones.

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