Making sure your baby receives sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals is essential for optimal physical and mental development. Baby formulas often contain the essential nutrients your baby requires; breastfed babies may require additional supplementation. The Institute of Medicine has established Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs), which include adequate intakes (AIs) for babies.
Vitamins 0 to 6 Months
The vitamin AIs for babies ages 0 to 6 months old include 400 micrograms of vitamin A, 40 mg of vitamin C, 10 mcg of vitamin D, 4 mg vitamin E, 2 micrograms of vitamin K, .2 mg of thiamin, .3 mg of riboflavin, 2 mg of niacin, .1 mg of vitamin B6, 65 micrograms of folate, .4 micrograms of vitamin B12, 1.7 mg of pantothenic acid, 5 micrograms of biotin and 125 mg of choline per day.
Minerals 0 to 6 Months
The mineral AIs for babies ages 0 to 6 months old include 200 mg of calcium, .2 mcg of chromium, 200 micrograms of copper, .01 mg of fluoride, 110 micrograms of iodine, .27 mg of iron, 30 mg of magnesium, .003 mg of manganese, 2 micrograms of molybdenum, 100 mg of phosphorous, 15 micrograms of selenium, 2 mg of zinc, .4 g of potassium, .12 g of sodium and .18 g of chloride per day.
Vitamins 6 to 12 Months
The vitamin AIs for babies ages 6 to 12 months old include 500 micrograms of vitamin A, 50 mg of vitamin C, 10 mcg of vitamin D, 5 mg vitamin E, 2.5 micrograms of vitamin K, .3 mg of thiamin, .4 mg of riboflavin, 4 mg of niacin, .3 mg of vitamin B6, 80 micrograms of folate, .5 micrograms of vitamin B12, 1.8 mg of pantothenic acid, 6 micrograms of biotin and 150 mg of choline per day.
Minerals 6 to 12 Months
The mineral AIs for babies ages 6 to 12 months old include 260 mg of calcium, .5 mcg of chromium, 220 micrograms of copper, .5 mg of fluoride, 130 micrograms of iodine, 11 mg of iron, 75 mg of magnesium, .6 mg of manganese, 3 micrograms of molybdenum, 275 mg of phosphorous, 20 micrograms of selenium, 3 mg of zinc, .7 g of potassium, .37 g of sodium and .57 g of chloride per day.
Considerations for Breastfeeding
The American Dietetic Association encourages women to breastfeed exclusively the first six months of an infant's life and breastfeed with complimentary foods from 6 to 12 months of life. Health care providers typically recommend breastfeeding women consume a healthy diet and take a prenatal multivitamin supplement. Note that not all prenatal vitamins provide iodine, an important nutrient during breastfeeding. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend exclusively breastfed infants be given a vitamin D supplement containing 400 IU of vitamin D per day. Some pediatricians also recommend iron supplementation for exclusively breastfed infants.
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