You were very careful about your nutrition during pregnancy.
Now you’re wondering if your baby needs any supplements for continued good health and development.
Here’s the latest thinking about some common supplements.
- Water: Babies under the age of 6 get all the liquid they need from mom’s breast milk, or from the formula they drink. Giving baby water can make her less hungry for the valuable nutrition she gets from breast milk or formula. So unless your baby’s pediatrician specifically prescribes water for some reason, do not supplement baby’s diet with water.
- Essential Fatty Acids: These fatty acids are called essential because our bodies cannot manufacture them. If you are breastfeeding your baby, supplement your diet with these healthy fatty acids, and baby will receive them in your breast milk. Many formulas now come with DHA and ARA already mixed in, so additional supplementation is not necessary.
- Fluoride: Fluoride in our water supply helps prevent cavities. Chances are your local water supply already contains the necessary 0.3 parts per million of fluoride that are recommended. If not, you can use fluoride supplements when your baby is old enough to start drinking water, at about age 6 months. If you use bottled or filtered water that does not contain fluoride to make your baby’s formula, you may also want to add a fluoride supplement at about age 6 months.
