[Resi]

Who plans or is giving their baby supplements like fluoride & vitamin D? Oliver's doctor told me to start him on fluoride at his 6 month appointment and told me to give him vitamin D soon after he was born. I personally don't buy into giving these "extras".

I think that fluoride is bad and I won't buy toothpaste for myself let alone give it to my child. I also read that babies rarely need vitamin D supplements.

kellymom.com :: Does my baby need vitamin D supplements?

I was wondering what everyone else thought.

[misfitinmn]

Interesting you should post this, Resi! I just got back from a work conference, and we listened to a speaker who I have seen multiple times before, who is an expert in vitamin D studies. She gave a really interesting speech about how pretty much EVERYONE should supplement with vitamin D and the RDI (recommended daily intake) is FAR below what it should be, but that it takes forever for the feds to change the recommendation. She said 10,000 IUs would be considered the upper limit for vit D intake (and that's not even dangerous at that level, it's just borderline), and that most adults should be getting closer to 2,000 IUs per day - I believe the RDI is 800 IUs for adults? Or maybe even as low as 400?
People in the northern climates are quite often vit D deficient, because not only do we not get outside as much (especially during the winter), but the sun is just at the wrong angle for our bodies to be able to produce vit D. And we'd have to drink like 10 glasses of milk a day to even get the minimum vit D requirement.
She also recommended that babies get vit D supplements, because vit D deficiency is linked to a whole HOST of medical conditions and newer studies are showing that having adequate vit D stores may help prevent some diseases (I can't think of which ones at the moment, but I will link you to some of her articles, she's really fascinating!). She talked about how breastfed babies especially should get vit D supplements because breastmilk doesn't have D. She explained that breastmilk IS the perfect food for babies, but because of the way our society has evolved, we have developed a need for supplementation, because (in her words) our babies aren't crawling around in the buff on the equator. (Basically, breastmilk is perfect when babies are able to be in sunlight a lot and at the right angle of sunlight to have their bodies produce vit D.)

Sorry, this is super long, but basically, I do plan on supplementing Ben with a multivitamin. I'd just rather KNOW he is getting the vitamins he needs, and anything he gets from his solid foods and breastmilk is just icing on the cake!
Here's some articles from the lady I was talking about...she's really on the cutting edge of nutrition research!
Handouts from Cathy Breedon | MeritCare Health System

[greeneyes]

I personally don't supplement. I eat nutritious and well-balanced meals and have always felt this is the best way to get what my body needs. I especially watch what I eat when breastfeeding and my girls are healthy and growing well.

I've not heard of anyone over here (UK) supplementing these things. I agree with Kate though, we should get it through our food? I was never given these as a baby/child and I'm ok so I don't think I'd be giving them to Kirsty.

[~*Bethy*~]

Vitamin D I never supplemented with. They didnt get it till they first got sippy cups. Thats the only Vitamin D they got.

Fluoride should NOT be used in children, I dont buy it for us, and they dont get it either. I wont allow ANYONE to brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste.

I do now, however, give them an organic children's chewable multi vitamin only because there are days where all they want are peanut butter sandwiches. It has practially no sugar in it, and the kids love to take them!

~Beth

[SandKmommy]

I was told to give fluoride drops to Seamus at around 6mo but it never worked and was too frustrating because he'd spit it out so we stopped doing it.

[misfitinmn]

oh! I just wanted to add that I don't and won't supplement flouride.

[~Jess~]

No, we get plenty of sunshine so I haven't felt a need to supplement with Vit. D. No flouride for us either.

[Adriana's Mommy]

Since I'll be having a Fall/Winter baby, I will be giving my baby Vitamin D drops.. I live in Northern Idaho and we don't get that much sunshine in the cold months.. Even if it is sunny, it's usually way to cold to go outside.. I'm talking in the singe digits..

I did this with Adriana as well.. Adriana was a Fall baby.. If I was to have a Spring or Summer baby, I wouldn't supplement.

As for fluoride.. I will be supplementing probably around 6 months.. We don't have fluoride in our water.. I want my kids to have nice teeth and not icky teeth like you see some people who live in the back woods of Idaho.. lol

[Angelaosaurus-rex]

I had to give Vit. D. to Landen all winter. Their is no sun at all in Germany in the winter and also he was jaundice. I will not give him fluoride we have it in our water.

[soImarriedAnerd]

Depends on where we live and during what season for the Vit D (while breastfeeding at least-then depends on childs diet what we supplement hopefully not much). The fluoride I haven't looked much into-I know overseas its not in the water though....DH and I (while not pregnant) used fluoride toothpaste since my teeth showed a lack of it since traveling.

[**Jenn**]

I don't supplement them as babies. Starting close to 2 they get a multivitamin. I just started Loch recently. The two boys split a flintstone's chewable. Liam has a HORRIBLE diet--it's like pulling teeth getting that kid to eat anything but peanut butter crackers. If it wasn't for the multi vitamin and the V8 Fusion (the only juice I let them drink) I'd be really afraid for his health.

Oh, and I don't and won't supplement with flouride.