health
D
uring the first year, a baby
grows more quickly than
at any other time in his or
her life. This rapid period
of growth means that babies need a
lot of energy and nutrients to ensure
that they can grow well. Well-planned
vegan and vegetarian diets can meet
the nutritional needs of your baby, and
complementary feeding (weaning) is
an opportunity to introduce babies to a
wide variety of plant and/or dairy foods.
When should I introduce
complementary foods?
The Department of Health (DH)
recommends exclusive breastfeeding
or suitable formula milk until six months
of age, and to then introduce smooth,
mashed and finger foods to your baby’s
diet. (Please consult first food guidelines
in links below). Offering a variety of
foods will help make sure they get all
the nutrients they need. Every infant is
an individual, so if you are thinking of
introducing food to your baby between
four and six months, please speak to
a health professional. Food should not
be introduced before your baby is four
months old as generally the digestive
system is not sufficiently developed to
cope with solid foods.
Smooth or mashed foods can be fed
to your baby using a spoon. Baby-led
weaning is a different approach, which
initially involves offering soft finger foods
that your baby can hold in their fist,
explore and chew. You may wish to use
a combination of these two approaches.
Is it safe to wean onto a
vegetarian or vegan diet?
Children can grow and develop
normally on a vegetarian or vegan diet,
although more attention needs to be
given to ensure that nutritional needs
are met. Vegetarian and vegan diets
can be high in fibre, and this can lead
to lower energy (calorie) intake, and
reduced absorption of some important
minerals, such as iron and zinc. Speak
to your health visitor or a paediatric
dietitian for advice on a vegetarian or
vegan diet for your baby.
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What type of first foods should
I offer my vegan or vegetarian
baby?
Due to the reduction in, or lack of,
animal based food sources, particular
attention should be paid to iron and
calcium in vegetarian and vegan
baby’s first foods. In addition to fruit,
vegetables and baby rice, first foods
from six months should include iron-
rich options such as beans, chickpeas,
lentils and tofu. Iron can also be
found in fortified cereals, dark green
vegetables and whole-grains. Offer
with vitamin-C rich foods to increase
iron absorption. Dried fruits high in iron
include apricots, figs and prunes. To
help prevent tooth decay, try to offer
these with meals.
Children can grow
and develop normally
on a vegetarian or
vegan diet, although
more attention needs
to be given to ensure
that nutritional needs
are met.
Calcium rich foods should be
offered with each meal. Plain fortified
soya yoghurt and calcium-set tofu
are suitable for vegan baby weaning,
as is cooking food with unsweetened
fortified soya milk. Whole cow’s milk
can be used in cooking from six
months for vegetarian babies, and
offered as a drink from one year.
Vitamin B12 is found in animal foods
including cheese, eggs and milk. If
your baby has a vegan diet they will
need fortified foods or supplements.
Omega-3 fatty acids are mainly
found in oily fish such as salmon and
mackerel. Alternative good vegan and
vegetarian sources include ground
nuts, seeds or nut butters which can
be offered daily.
Does my baby need
supplements?
The UK Health Department
recommends that all babies aged
six months onwards be given a
supplement containing vitamins A and
C unless they are drinking 500ml of
infant formula a day. Additionally, it
is also recommended that all babies
under one year old are given a daily
supplement containing 8.5-10mcg
of vitamin D, unless they are drinking
500ml of infant formula daily. Vitamin
D2 is suitable for babies who have
a vegan diet, and supplements
containing vitamin D3 derived from
lichen are also available.
Is my child getting enough
calories?
Young children need lots of energy
to grow and develop. Vegetarian and
vegan foods can be higher in fibre
and lower in calories than a diet that
includes meat.
When it comes to starchy foods, in
addition to wholegrain and wholemeal
versions, your child needs some lower-
fibre foods, such as white bread and
rice until they are five years old.
This is because whole-grains are
high in fibre and can fill your child up
before they have taken in enough
calories and nutrients. If you are
concerned your child is not getting
enough energy, offer them higher-
calorie foods, such as hummus,
bananas, and smooth nut and
seed butters, and consult energy
requirement information detailed in the
links below.
What are suitable drinks?
The only drinks that are recommended
for infants in the first year are breast
milk, or an appropriate infant formula,
with the addition of water from 6
months.
Unsweetened calcium-fortified soya
milk alternative can be used in cooking
for vegan children from six months, and
cow’s milk can be used in cooking for
vegetarian babies. However, neither
should be used as the main milk drink