Vitamins for children under one year of age: indications and contraindications for use. Vitamins for newborns in drops: which ones should be given, how to take them correctly What vitamins should be given to newborns
The natural source of all nutrients and vitamins for newborns is breast milk. Unfortunately, this is not always enough for the full development of the baby. In this case, doctors prescribe support in the form of multivitamin complexes. Let's look at what vitamins are vital for newborns and how to replenish them artificially.
Indications for prescribing vitamins to newborns and infants
Newborn babies do not need additional complementary feeding, because their main food is breast milk. Mother's milk contains the entire necessary complex of vitamins, minerals and trace elements that are needed for the full development and rapid growth of the baby. The components are easily digestible and cause allergies only in rare cases of individual intolerance.
What to do if a woman in labor does not have enough milk and the baby has to be given formula? There is a risk that he will not receive the substances necessary for his growing body. Their shortage will have to be filled from outside.
Pediatricians prescribe additional vitamin complexes for children under one year of age if:
It is not recommended to independently purchase vitamin complexes for children under 1 year of age. The younger the child, the more sensitive his body is to taking various medications. Vitamins for infants should be prescribed by a doctor who will select the right multivitamin complex depending on the purpose of the intake: recovery or prevention.
What vitamins do children under one year old need?
In the first year of life, the baby actively gains weight and grows quickly. To do this, he needs a constant supply of vitamins and minerals in a balanced amount. An overdose is just as harmful as a deficiency.
Each substance performs its own function in the development of organs and systems of the newborn. If there is a deficiency of at least one component, this can cause developmental disorders or disease.
The table provides information on the role of vitamins for children under one year of age:
No. | Substance | Indications for use | Contents in products |
1 | A (retinol) | Improves the immune system, is needed for the development of the visual apparatus, and prevents skin diseases. | Milk, eggs, citrus fruits, green vegetables, carrots, apricots, peaches. |
2 | Thiamine (B1) | Needed for the development of the nervous system and carbohydrate metabolism. | Pork, beef, kidneys, brain, beans, soy, spinach, beans. |
3 | Riboflavin (B2) | Needed for hematopoiesis and development of the endocrine system. If there is a shortage, the mucous membranes are affected and vision deteriorates. | Liver, eggs, mushrooms, cottage cheese, broccoli, cabbage, buckwheat, milk, rice, vegetables, pasta. |
4 | Nicotinamide (B3, PP) | Participates in metabolism. Deficiency leads to gastrointestinal diseases and endocrine disorders. | Liver, nuts, eggs, meat, fish, poultry, beans. |
5 | Pantothenic acid (B5) | Participates in metabolism. With a deficiency, gastrointestinal ulcers, fatigue, nervousness, dysfunction of the heart, liver, and kidneys are observed. | Peas, buckwheat, oatmeal, carrots, green vegetables, eggs, milk, poultry, kidneys. |
6 | Pyridoxine (B6) | Necessary for hematopoiesis. Deficiency leads to decreased red blood cell levels, increased fatigue, muscle weakness, arthritis, and behavioral changes. | Nuts, hazelnuts, potatoes, tomatoes, strawberries, cherries, citrus fruits, meat, milk, fish, eggs. |
7 | Folic acid (B9) | Needed for hematopoiesis, growth and development of the immune system. Deficiency causes anemia and indigestion. | Citrus fruits, honey, beans, liver, flour products. |
8 | Ascorbic acid (C) | One of the most important substances for the full growth and development of a child. Deficiency causes weakness of the immune system, hair loss, hemorrhages, and slows growth. | Cherry, rose hips, currants, sea buckthorn, sweet peppers, kiwi, citruses, apples, pine needles. |
9 | Calciferol (D) | Another essential component for children's health. Deficiency leads to rickets, growth retardation, cardiac and vascular dysfunction, and deterioration of cognitive functions. | Fish, dairy products, cheeses, eggs, mushrooms. Synthesized under the influence of sunlight. |
10 | Tocopherol (E) | Improves immunity and metabolism. | Sunflower, corn, soybean oil, almonds, vegetables. |
In addition to vitamins, infants require minerals. Calcium is required for the growth of the musculoskeletal system. Iron is involved in the process of hematopoiesis and prevents the development of anemia. Iodine is needed for the development of cognitive abilities, brain function, and the endocrine system. Magnesium ensures smooth functioning of the heart.
Vitamin complexes for infants
If a child is deficient in a specific substance, such as retinol or vitamin D, the pediatrician will prescribe a drug that replenishes this particular component. Most often, if the baby is bottle-fed or has undergone antibiotic treatment, he needs comprehensive vitamin support. For such purposes, there are multivitamin complexes for infants, the characteristics of which are presented in the table:
As a rule, vitamin complexes for children under one year of age are available in drops or in the form of gels. Drops can be added to juices, water or dripped onto the baby’s tongue. They are sweet, the child will take them with pleasure. Gels are usually given to children from 6 months. A child can eat it from a spoon, or you can spread the drug on cookies. Some babies are sure that they are not eating medicine, but sweets.
Symptoms of vitamin overdose
You should not buy vitamin-mineral complexes for newborns on your own, although they are sold freely in pharmacies, without a prescription. The child's body is very sensitive to substances coming from outside, and an excess of vitamins is as harmful as vitamin deficiency. When choosing a medicinal complex on your own, it is easy to make a mistake and buy a drug containing those components that the baby does not need.
It is very dangerous to violate the dosage indicated in the instructions or the treatment regimen drawn up by the doctor. If the dose is reduced, the treatment simply will not give the desired effect, and exceeding it will lead to the emergence of new health problems.
Hypervitaminosis can lead to the following consequences:
- excess retinol – loss of appetite, hair loss, seborrhea;
- excess B vitamins – headache, sleep disturbance, increased excitability, rash, dehydration, liver dysfunction;
- excess ascorbic acid – impaired vision, kidney and pancreas function, capillary permeability, metabolic failure;
- excess vitamin D – calcium deposits in the body, kidney failure, digestive problems, muscle and vascular spasms.
If your baby is used to taking vitamin complexes in the form of gels or candies, you should hide the packaging away from him. A one-year-old child can independently take a plate from the table and eat several tablets.
In case of overdose, you should immediately stop taking the drug. In case of a severe reaction, you must call an ambulance. As a rule, discontinuation of the drug quickly brings the body back to normal, but if vitamins accumulate systematically in the organs, long-term treatment may be required.
When a baby is born, he needs to replenish his body with the necessary amount of vitamins. This is necessary to ensure its full growth and formation. But it’s important not to overdo it here. A huge mistake made by most mothers today is the use of special vitamin complexes. The child’s body requires natural ingredients, not synthetic ones. By taking breast milk or formula, they have a balanced diet. Therefore, additional fortification is not needed here. Beneficial for the body are vitamins D for newborns, AND WEIGHT.
Vitamin A
The presence of vitamin A in infants indicates that the functioning of all organs will continue as usual. It is this component that takes part in the work of all organs. It has a beneficial effect on vision and immunity. At birth, a child contains this element in reserve. The newborn’s body is also replenished with it through mother’s milk.
But not everything is so simple here. According to many experts, as well as Komarovsky, vitamin A tends to accumulate in the body as quickly as it leaves it.
It will be interesting to know that in the liver of rodent children this element is contained in minimal quantities. It accumulates in other organs of individuals. If you take tests, you will find that most of the present components are missing in the liver.
Komarovsky and many other experts advise periodically using a variety of vitamin A supplements for babies living in developing countries. Thanks to these activities, it is possible to reduce the mortality rate of children from 6 months to 5 years.
Vitamin B
The baby's body does not receive vitamin B as a separate component. It represents a whole group, which is the largest among those available. Each component has its own effect on the child’s body. As a rule, this influences growth, the creation and proper functioning of the nervous system, and the creation of conditions for hematopoietic work.
The presented elements contain all of a specific product. It is extremely rare that a component is missing.
Certain vitamins for children over one year old obtained artificially. If there is a lack of this element in the baby’s body, it has a negative effect on the growth, development and health of the baby. Although the body lacks a whole group of vitamins, symptoms of deficiency begin to occur when there is a lack of one of them.
Most of all, the nervous system, skin, mucous membranes, heart, and stomach are negatively affected. Komarovsky claims that a child may experience the following signs:
- Insomnia.
- Excitation.
- Constipation.
- Swelling of the face.
- Redness in the eyelid area.
- Changes on the skin.
- Delayed growth and development.
Naturally, parents are strictly prohibited from making a diagnosis on their own. But if you detect any unusual manifestations, you should consult a doctor. Adverse events can be prevented by eating a varied diet.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C plays a unique role in child development. It takes part in most processes of growth and formation of organs, cells and systems. Its role is indispensable in the development of bones, blood vessels, red blood cells; it enhances the body's protective functions and takes part in the neutralization of certain toxins.
The child’s need for this component varies. As a rule, it enters the body with food. Komarovsky claims that excessive vitamin C does not pose any danger. This excess leaves the body without any problems.
The content of this component in breast milk depends on the mother's diet. Cow's milk contains it in smaller quantities. The percentage of its content in milk is determined not only by the cow’s nutrition, but also by the method of storing and processing the products. When milk is stored in air or boiled, vitamin C does not disappear. Most of this component is found in:
- lemons;
- oranges;
- strawberries;
- raspberries;
- blackberries;
- cabbage;
- parsley;
- savoy cabbage;
- peppers, tomatoes.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D plays a fundamental role in child development. It is involved in the formation of teeth and bones, supports the necessary exchange of calcium and phosphorus, and protects bones from rickets.
Vitamins for children from one year old Groups D contain many components, two of which are most important. One can be found in fish oil, and the second is obtained artificially. The usual diet of a newborn does not involve a large amount of this element. But it can be produced in the body from its provitamin if the child is exposed to the sun's rays. Natural sources of this component include:
- fish fat;
- yolks;
- liver;
- milk.
An unborn child does not receive the required amount of vitamin D from the food he eats. For this reason, Komarovsky believes that it is necessary to add this vitamin to food. But this should only be done under the supervision of an experienced pediatrician, since this may involve an overdose.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 is often used by children. It is produced in the form of an oil or aqueous solution. Preference is given to water, as there is better absorption of the vitamin. An excess of the element in a child’s body is very undesirable. This is fraught with complications such as impaired phosphorus-calcium metabolism, allergies, sleep disturbances and nervous excitability.
Very often, doctors prescribe vitamin D3 to almost all non-born children. This is not true, since an individual approach is important. You can understand the importance of replenishing the body with vitamin D3 if you focus on the following factors:
- Baby's skin color. If the skin has a light shade, then there is little melamine in it. In this case, vitamin D3 is needed in smaller quantities.
- Season. It is advisable to take this element during the period October-March. At this time, the amount of sun rays decreases.
- Time of birth. When the baby was born in the cold season, vitamin D3 should be given as a preventive measure.
- Place of residence. The shortage of this component in the body is especially acute in children living in the Arctic Circle. The sun rarely shines there.
Iron
You can replenish your baby’s body with iron through food. But at the same time, observe the principle of a balanced diet, which would contain all the necessary and beneficial substances.
When a child has iron deficiency anemia and is fed breast milk, the first thing to do is review his mother’s diet. As Komarovsky advises, for such children the first complementary feeding is prescribed a little earlier. Products containing iron are discussed with a specialist individually here.
Older children should supplement their body with heme iron. It can be found in large quantities in meat dishes. When taking vegetables and fruits, the content of this component is absorbed much worse. Saturation of the body with iron should be combined with a normal amount of protein. If there is a shortage of this element, you need to increase the daily protein intake. Carbohydrates should remain in their original positions.
Vitamins play one of the most important roles for a child’s body. They contribute to its proper development and growth. If there is a lack of any element, the child may develop various pathologies. Therefore, parents need to carefully monitor the health of their child and the amount of vitamins they receive.
Every mother wants to see her child happy and healthy from the first days of his life. In modern conditions, factors beyond our control (ecology, low biological value of products) can interfere with the proper development of the baby. Therefore, it is important to know how to choose the right vitamin complex for infants.
When are vitamins needed?
When choosing vitamins for a child under 1 year of age, you must consult a doctor. Only a doctor can determine the real need for vitamins and select the appropriate drug. Even if the child was born and completely healthy, the need for vitamins is influenced by many factors. The main one is nutrition. Are you breastfeeding your baby? If you ate properly during pregnancy and continue to do so, spend a lot of time in the sun, and do not experience stress, then your baby may not need vitamin supplements until six months. It is better to add them to the mother’s diet so that they enter the baby’s body through milk. From six months of age, the child’s need for nutrients increases. At this moment, it becomes necessary to consult with a doctor who will tell you which drug to choose, taking into account the mother’s diet, complementary feeding, as well as the time of year, the epidemic situation, and the region in which you live. Heredity also plays a role.
If the child cannot receive breast milk and is bottle-fed, then the introduction of vitamin supplements is advisable from 3-4 weeks of life, and their amount is higher than that prescribed for breastfeeding.
Vitamins should be taken:
– to increase the immunity of frequently ill children. The dosage can be increased during the cold season - the period from late autumn to spring, when the threat of colds increases.
– for the prevention of rickets. In the early stages, this disease is accompanied by increased sweating, irritability of the child, poor sleep and nutrition, and hair loss on the back of the head. Subsequently, irreversible changes in the bones occur, the skeleton becomes bent, and children lag behind in physical and mental development. To prevent the development of this serious disease, the child must receive a sufficient amount of vitamin D. During the period of active growth (up to approximately 3 years), a child’s need for vitamin D is several times greater than that of an adult. It does not come from food, but is produced when the sun's rays come into contact with the skin. That's why it's so important to walk more in the sun. But in our latitudes there are not many sunny days a year, so from September to April it is especially recommended that children be given vitamin D either separately or in combination with other vitamins.
The likelihood of developing rickets increases when it comes to premature babies or twins. Both receive less nutrition during pregnancy; the amount of vitamins in their body can be replenished through additional consumption.
How to take vitamins
Vitamins for children under one year of age are available in the form of drops, gels and powders. When choosing a vitamin complex, choose the form that is easiest for you to give to your child. In case of specific hypovitaminosis conditions, intramuscular injections may be prescribed, but both a specialist must prescribe and carry out these procedures.
When choosing vitamins for your baby, you should pay attention not only to the active ingredients included in the multivitamins, but also to the auxiliary ones, especially when it comes to flavors and dyes. It is known that even in healthy children they can provoke allergic reactions, so carefully monitor the child, and if any signs appear, be it itching, flaking of the skin, dry skin, poor appetite over several feedings, stop the drug and consult a doctor. Sometimes taking the same vitamin from a different brand can eliminate allergic reactions.
It is recommended to give vitamins to babies in the first half of the day during or immediately after meals. As for doses, follow strictly either the doses indicated in the annotation, or the doctor’s instructions, which he gave during the consultation.
Currently, the most popular vitamins for children under one year of age are monovitamin Aquadetrim (contains only vitamin D) and a complex of vitamins (contains three vitamins - A, D, E). Vitamin A (retinol acetate) – regulates the normal growth of cells in a child’s developing body, and is also responsible for the formation of normal visual function. Vitamin D (colecalciferol) is necessary for the proper development of the baby’s bone skeleton and teeth; its intake is the most important factor in the prevention of rickets. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has antioxidant properties, promotes tissue formation and hematopoiesis, improves immunity, participates in metabolic processes, and its intake can prevent the development of anemia.
Release form Multi-tabs Baby – drops. The bottle is equipped with a pipette with a dispenser, which is convenient for accurately determining the amount of the drug. Multi-Tabs Baby is taken with or immediately after food. This complex does not contain preservatives, fragrances, or dyes, which significantly reduces the likelihood of allergic reactions in infants.
Vitamins for children under one year of age are the foundation on which the baby’s future health is built:
- proper development of organs;
- strong immunity;
- mental capacity;
- puberty;
- normal skeletal and muscle growth.
But this does not mean that a toddler who has not yet grown out of diapers needs to be stuffed with pharmacy vitamins. Ideally, the baby should receive the substances necessary for growth and development with mother's milk, and from 6 months - along with complementary foods.
Has your baby been switched to artificial feeding? Do not rush to the pharmacy if he drinks about 500 ml of ready-made milk formula per day and there are no signs of vitamin deficiency. Manufacturers of ready-made baby food add to their products all the nutrients necessary for a child up to one year of age.
With a lack of one or another vitamin, a child develops various abnormalities.
- A. Deficiency leads to growth retardation, diseases of the skin and mucous membranes, and night blindness develops (poor vision in the dark). Sources: eggs, milk, yellow and orange vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and zucchini.
- D. Deficiency causes rickets in children. An excess provokes headaches and drowsiness. : dairy products, fish oil, pharmaceutical supplements. Sunlight is also needed.
- E. Lack of this compound leads to various developmental disorders, weakness, and muscles atrophy.
- C. Participates in the process of saturating bone tissue with calcium, iron absorption and collagen synthesis. Deficiency causes scurvy. Sources: Tomatoes, kiwis and strawberries, citrus fruits, and green vegetables such as broccoli.
- B1. Required by the body for the normal development of the nervous system and carbohydrate metabolism.
- B2. If there is a deficiency, the child’s growth rate slows down, foci of inflammation appear on the lips and in the oral cavity, seborrhea, and skin elasticity is lost.
- B3 (PP). With its deficiency, the condition of the skin worsens and the activity of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted.
- AT 5. A deficiency provokes sleep disturbances, increases nervous excitability, causes digestive problems, and inhibits growth processes.
- B6. The lack of this substance leads to disruption of protein metabolism, decreased production of lymphocytes, and increases the likelihood of developing abnormalities in the activity of the nervous system.
- B9. Deficiency leads to anemia, hair loss, the formation of necrotic lesions in the muscles, and slow development and growth.
The best sources of B vitamins for a baby over 6 months of age are: meat, including chicken, fish, eggs and milk. It’s too early to talk about nuts and cheese.
We select for the little ones
Given modern environmental realities and the constant employment of parents, children often suffer from vitamin deficiencies. In what cases is it necessary to take vitamin supplements for up to a year? Pediatricians attribute pharmaceutical supplements to:
- children who eat irregularly or have limited food intake, for example due to lactose intolerance;
- picky eating toddlers who don’t eat well;
- children with chronic diseases such as asthma or digestive disorders, especially those taking medications for medical reasons;
- children with symptoms of vitamin deficiency;
- frequently ill infants.
The modern pharmaceutical industry offers three main categories of such drugs:
- monovitamins;
- multivitamins;
- vitamin and mineral.
The assortment is so large that sometimes when purchasing it is difficult to understand which of the drugs is really needed.
Consider the following factors:
- pediatrician’s recommendations on vitamins needed in the child’s diet;
- baby's age;
- release form (lozenges, pills, suspension);
- brand reputation;
- place of sale: exclude unfamiliar pharmacies.
A child up to one year of age can only be given liquid vitamins. Chewable lozenges and pills are a big risk. You don't want your baby to choke.
Signs of vitamin deficiency
Signs of a lack of vitamins in a child’s diet:
- the baby is lethargic, constantly capricious, moves little;
- colds become more frequent, and the recovery process is delayed;
- The baby's skin becomes dry, small pimples appear on it, nails peel, and hair grows poorly.
Doctors divide vitamin deficiency into three main forms:
- vitamin deficiency (severe),
- hypovitaminosis (moderate),
- subnormal security (mild).
Most often, children experience mild vitamin deficiency, but this is not a reason to let the situation take its course and not take any measures. Seek help from a doctor and act solely according to his instructions.
Be careful when introducing vitamin preparations into the diet of children under one year of age. Monitor your body's reaction. If side effects occur: allergic reactions, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, then use should be stopped immediately.
There probably isn’t a single parent in the world who wouldn’t ask themselves and those around them the question: does my child have enough vitamins? And this is natural, especially for loving mothers and fathers, because they want their baby to grow healthy and strong, and for this, all the necessary substances must be present in the child’s body.
Sometimes adults, seeing a pale face or noticing the slight lethargy of their child, immediately grab vitamins for newborns and literally begin to feed him with them. Is it correct? Let's consider.
What are vitamins and when should you take them?
This is a special substance that we obtain from the food we consume and which cannot appear in our body in any other way. You definitely need to eat it. If the food we eat is poor in vitamins, then over time a deficiency of some substance may occur, and along with this, diseases will arise. Then the doctor prescribes artificially created drugs, rich in vitamins and minerals, designed to compensate for the lack of these same substances in the body.
Means of treatment and prevention
Vitamins are a means intended for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, which are used to treat specific diseases or to prevent them. This is a very important point, since many people confuse vitamin preparations with dietary supplements. So dietary supplements are not MEDICAL. These are food supplements designed to replenish some missing substances, enzymes or minerals in the body of a HEALTHY person.
Vitamins are taken only as prescribed by a doctor after the appearance of certain symptoms or in attempts to avoid a potential disease. For example, almost all vegetarians lack vitamin B12, so they often take it in pill form. Vitamin C is taken to prevent scurvy by those who travel to areas poor in plant foods, etc. That is, the drugs are taken for a specific purpose, and not just like that.
Vitamin deficiency is rare!
For your information, not many pediatricians deal with the problem of vitamin deficiency in newborns. Much more often they deal with an overdose of vitamins. This suggests that in prosperous families with a healthy diet, vitamin deficiency rarely occurs. Babies fed with breast milk or formula receive the full range of nutrients and minerals.
Homemade nutrition is not a guarantee that your child will receive the full range of necessary substances. It is better to feed children under one year old with factory-made baby food, additionally rich in vitamins.
Homemade food or factory food?
A lot of parents think that if they give their child dishes that they make themselves, then there will be more vitamins in them.
The question of whether beneficial substances are retained in the food that we prepare at home and heat-process is answered by Professor, Doctor of Biological Sciences Vera Mitrofanovna Kodentsova, who heads the department of vitamins and minerals at the Research Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. “To some extent they are preserved, but in fact vitamins are very labile (not stable), they are afraid of light, heat treatment, air, and are greatly destroyed during cooking.”
Vitamin C is destroyed within the first 5 minutes from the start of cooking any vegetables and fruits rich in this vitamin. Further, vitamins A and B are destroyed. Therefore, do not have any illusions: everything you cook yourself eventually turns into carbohydrates and proteins.
But if we talk about how to properly feed babies so that they contain useful substances, then all pediatricians and doctors are in favor of buying factory-made baby food - it is specially saturated with doses of vitamins and minerals.
What vitamins do children under one year old need?
When asked whether vitamins are needed for children under one year old, all experts answer that they are. But which ones? We are not talking about the vitamins that we get from food, but which are required additionally to make up for the deficiency that has arisen.
Vitamin D is very important for babies for the development of their skeletal system. It can be obtained naturally by sunbathing. The baby also receives D3 from breast milk and formulas
One-part vitamins
Single-component ones, such as A, E, C, D, are prescribed to children if there is a clear deficiency in their body. This may be due to the individual characteristics of the baby’s body, as well as due to a lack of nutrients in the water and food of a certain area of residence.
Vitamin D
Children need it primarily in order for the skeletal system to develop and for the child to grow normally. Figuratively speaking, it “builds” calcium into children’s bones. It is also responsible for the absorption of phosphorus. Therefore, most doctors recommend that parents give it to their children to prevent rickets and problems with the skeletal system. This is especially true for those parts of Russia where there is little sun (as you know, the sun is its source).
Note: Sunbathing promotes the natural production of vitamin D, that is, it is produced under the influence of ultraviolet rays.
If you regularly go for a walk with your baby, where he can spend at least 10 minutes in the sun, you do not need to take it additionally.
It is worth keeping in mind the fact that an overdose of vitamin D can lead to disastrous results, so this substance is prescribed only by a doctor after conducting the necessary examinations.
The daily requirement of a child of the first year of life for vitamin D is 500 IU. If the baby eats dry formulas for newborns, then he receives this dose from them. However, to prevent rickets, doctors often prescribe an additional dose of drops ─ 1 drop per day. This dose will not harm the baby and will not be excessive.
Multi-component mixtures
Multi-component mixtures are multivitamins. In addition to vitamins, they usually contain some minerals. Some multivitamins are allocated to a special group and are enriched with micro- and macroelements, squeezes and extracts of medicinal plants, and various enzymes. In Russia it is impossible to find multi-ingredient formulas for children under one year old. But you can find multivitamins registered as a "cure" for ages 1 year and older.
It is important to remember that vitamin preparations should be taken only after consultation with a doctor, preferably after passing the necessary tests that will reveal a lack of certain substances in the body
Indications for use
There are not many indications for taking vitamins. They are approved and proven by medical science.
- During pregnancy, gynecologists prescribe vitamin complexes to expectant mothers in the first 12 weeks. Although it is recommended to take care of your body even before conception - during planning. Vitamin support is also prescribed to a pregnant woman if she cannot eat properly (for example, due to toxicosis).
- An infant is prescribed D3 to prevent rickets. Let us remind you that this medicine must be prescribed by a doctor. You should not drink anything without his recommendation! Newborn babies receive all useful substances, including D3, from mother’s milk or dry formula, as well as from walks on a sunny day.
- When newborns are actively growing, pediatricians advise taking calcium supplements.
- After an illness, the baby is given medications containing vitamin C to strengthen the immune system.
- For allergies in newborns and older children, a strict diet is recommended. Often they cannot eat many types of fruits and vegetables, which contain substances vital for their bodies. In this case, children are advised to take multivitamins at least 2 times a year.
- If a baby is underweight at a very early age, the pediatrician can prescribe vitamin E in combination with A and C. This is especially true for premature babies weighing less than 1500 g.
But the only real and serious reason for taking vitamins and multivitamins is clinically or laboratory proven vitamin deficiency (hypovitaminosis). A tired appearance, capricious mood, lethargy, poor sleep and appetite are not always reasons to go to the pharmacy and buy a bag of vitamin preparations. Vitamin deficiency has very precise symptoms, which can be determined by an experienced pediatrician.
Summarizing all of the above, I would like to remind you once again that you should not prescribe any medications to your child on your own, even vitamins. These are, first of all, therapeutic and prophylactic drugs, and they should be prescribed by a doctor.
Remember: vitamins should not be overdosed, so they should not be in a place accessible to children, and they must be given in a strictly defined dosage.