Depending upon the diet you've selected to feed your infant, and the stage of your infant's development, you may or may not need to supplement your baby with vitamins. Generally speaking, formula-fed infants need less vitamin supplementation than breastfed infants, though it depends upon the circumstances, and many babies benefit from supplements if they are picky eaters upon transitioning to solids.
Healthy Infant Diet
The healthiest diet for your infant is exclusively breast milk for up to six months, and continued breast milk for at least the first year of life, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. As an alternative, you can provide exclusive formula for the first four to six months, with continued formula as the primary source of nutrition through up to a year of age. Either way, you can start introducing solids at around 6 months of age.
Vitamin D
While breast milk provides ideal nutrition to your baby as long as you're properly nourished yourself, many women in today's society are vitamin D deficient because of low vitamin D in the diet and reduced time in the sun. As a result, most human breast milk is low in this critical vitamin, which your baby needs to take up calcium. Your breastfed baby will likely need vitamin D supplement drops from birth until you are no longer breastfeeding. This isn't necessary with formula-fed babies, as formula contains vitamin D supplements.
Iron
Many formulas are iron-rich, but breast milk may not contain enough iron to support all the needs of an older baby, depending upon your diet. Your pediatrician may recommend either iron-rich foods once your baby begins eating solids, or an iron supplement for babies around six months of age. Many cereals that serve as first foods for babies have added iron, which fulfills this requirement neatly.
Transitioning to Solids
Around a year of age, your baby will likely move away from breast milk or formula as the primary source of calories and start consuming mostly solid foods. If you have a picky eater, you may need to talk to your pediatrician about vitamin supplements during these early months of exclusive solid food. Remember, however, that babies don't need to eat all food groups -- or all vitamins -- every day, and that as long as your baby eats a balanced diet over time, he probably doesn't need vitamins.
References
- "Eat, Sleep, Poop"; Scott Cohen, M.D.; 2010
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Breast Milk
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