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Vitamin
Supplements
Before
Weaning
If
you eat a balanced diet and are healthy, breast milk will give your
baby all the vitamins needed, but if you feel you have not, for
whatever reason, been eating well, or have been ill, your health
clinic can give you the right vitamin supplements in the form of
drops for your baby. Vitamin drops may be recommended from six months.
If you are bottle-feeding then the milks recommended by the hospital
or community midwife do contain vitamins, but in addition most professionals
advise the use of the children’s vitamin A, D and C drops if your
baby is taking less than 500 ml infant formula daily. These, used
in conjunction with modified milk or breastfeeds, provide a safe
dose of vitamins, but never give two different vitamin preparations
at any stage as this could be harmful.
After
Weaning
Once
you change from formula or breast milk to cow’s milk and mixed feeding
it is recommended that you give vitamin A, D and C drops up to the
age of five, unless your child’s diet is sufficiently varied to
obtain all the necessary vitamins from food sources. Again use drops
that are supplied by the health clinic rather than over-the-counter
brands.
Sunlight
on the skin provides vitamin D, so in good weather give your child
lots of opportunity to play outside, taking care to protect a baby’s
sensitive skin with a sunscreen and hat in summer.
After
you begin mixed feeding make sure sometimes to include iron-containing
foods such as kidney, liver, red meats, pulses and iron-fortified
cereals.
Fluoride
tablets or drops help to protect teeth if you live in an area where
fluoride is not already added to your water.
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