Should babies be given vitamin supplements?


Prescription vitamins can be useful but over-the-counter ones are debatable. However breastfed babies and babies consuming less than 500ml of milk are often prescribed multivitamin (A, C, D) supplement from 6 months. Once baby is off his mother's milk, and onto solid foods doctors may prescribe vitamins tailored for poor eaters. But vitamins on their own do not provide the necessary nutrients or calories and so all the more children should be encouraged to eat well. Sometimes fluoride drops are prescribed along with the multivitamin to provide protection against tooth decay. Always check with your doctor before starting on any OTC vitamins since overdosing can be harmful to your child.