Speak to your Medical Doctor or Public Health Nurse or Dietitian for more information.

Breast-fed babies

• Both the Canadian Pediatric Society and Health Canada recommend a daily vitamin D supplement of 400 IU daily for breast-fed babies; this is recommended until baby is drinking whole milk (after 9 months).
  
• At 6 months, an iron-fortified infant cereal should be introduced to maintain adequate iron stores for baby.

Babies breast-fed by vegetarian moms

• both mom and baby should take a vitamin B12 supplement (in addition to vitamin D for baby) if mom eats a strict vegetarian (vegan) diet with no animal products.
• The Pharmaceutical Association recommends 0.3 mcg of vitamin B12 daily when baby is 2 weeks of age until about 2 years old. Health Canada recommends vegetarian mothers who are breast-feeding to take a daily vitamin B12 supplement of 1. 5 mcg per day themselves.

Formula-fed babies

• Vitamin D is added to infant formulas; additional supplements are not needed.
  
• Choosing an iron-fortified infant formula (if not breast feeding) is recommended from birth; extra supplements are not necessary if using an iron-fortified formula.