Vegetarian Infant

You may have heard the question asked, is it safe to raise a child as a vegetarian infant?

Bringing Up Children As Vegetarian Infants

It may be that for ethical or dietary reasons, you want to bring up your child as a vegetarian infant. However, you should be professionally advised concerning such matters as formulas and solid food for your child. Fortunately there are infant care programs and centers to augment your own knowledge.

Vegetarian Infants and Breast Feeding

Those who plan to breastfeed an infant and who are also a vegetarian will probably be advised to supplement breast milk with additional sources of nutrition, depending on the mother's dietary restrictions. Vegan, or ovo-vegetarian mothers should add sources of vitamin B-12 to their child’s diet.

In addition to B-12 supplements, infants should be able to obtain necessary micro and macronutrients from breastfeeding, even from vegan mothers.

Vegetarian Infants - Formula Feeding

Those who intend to use formula rather than breast milk, are recommended to choose commercial formulas, which contain the correct amounts of nutrients. Parents, who decide on soymilk or a homemade formula over a commercial product, could introduce developmental problems through a lack of suitable nutrition.

Parents who want to bring up their children on a vegan diet may select a soy commercial formula, but it must satisfy nutritional requirements.

After a year or so, you could begin to supplement breast milk or formula with other sources of nutrition, such as soymilk, yogurt, homemade formulas, and cow's milk for non-vegans.

Nutritionists recommend that your vegetarian infant stays on a full-fat, high protein diet after the age of one, with vegetarian-friendly foods, like soymilk, nutrient-fortified tofu, mashed and pureed avocados, and yogurt.

Vegetarian Infants - Solid Vegetarian Foods

When the time comes to switch a vegetarian infant to solid vegetarian foods, eggs, cheese, solid tofu, and cut up vegetarian burgers, may be introduced.

Infants and Professional Assistance

If you supplement anything that is considered missing from a vegetarian diet, and ensure that your vegetarian infant receives a full fat diet and the recommended amount of protein you should be on the right track. But, for vegetarians and non-vegetarians parents alike, infant care is as vital a subject as they will ever need to consider. There are plenty of resources available, and professional advice must always be sought, if parents are in any doubt about any aspect of infant and childcare.