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Home › Expert Q&A › Breastfeeding Basics › Benefits of Breastfeeding › Is it necessary to give multi-vitamin supplements to a breastfed baby? Doesn't Mother's milk provide all the nutrients a baby needs?

Expert Q&A

 

By Ann Calandro
BSN, RNC, IBCLC Lactation Consultant

Is it necessary to give multi-vitamin supplements to a breast fed baby? Doesn't mother's milk provide all the nutrients a baby needs?

For the full-term baby, breast milk provides everything the baby could ever need, and vitamin supplements are unnecessary. Iron supplements are also unnecessary.

There are a couple of instances when supplementation of Mother's milk may be necessary, but these are special cases. Occasionally very small premature babies may need extra vitamins and minerals. In countries where babies are never in the sun, Vitamin D supplements may be necessary. If the baby is in the sun for a couple minutes a day, this is not necessary. Babies whose mothers are on strict vegetarian diets without milk, meat or fish may need vitamin B12, although this is very rare.

For most breastfed babies, "just Mama" is plenty!

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