We are not feeding our baby any meat. How can we be sure he is getting all of the B vitamin complex that he needs? He is in the 25th percentile for growth. He has never drunk the amounts of formula that were recommended for different months. The most he has ever drunk has been 708 grams (24 ounces) a day. He is developmentally two months ahead of his age. Is this a good sign that he has received all that he needs or is this not an indicator? He is seven months old now. Just how important is taurine in a baby’s diet?

answer

Dear Linda,

I will try to answer your several questions as best as I can.

How can we be sure he is getting all the B vitamins that he needs?

B vitamins are prevalent in many foods besides meat, and vegetarians generally have no problem meeting their vitamin B requirements. Vitamin B12 (found only in animal products) is also found in dairy products and eggs. As long as your son is eating a diet that includes some dairy products and eggs, along with a wide variety of fruit, veggies, grains, seeds, nuts and legumes, he will have no problem getting the B vitamins that he needs.

Is his developmental stage a good indication that he is getting all he needs?

Absolutely! A baby who is thriving in all areas is a sign of a well-nourished baby. So long as he is growing well and steadily then he is probably getting enough of the right things to eat. 'Failure to thrive' is a term used to identify babies who are not doing well in many areas of development due to improper nutrition.

Just how important is taurine in an infant's diet?

Taurine is an important component of many metabolic functions. It is not considered an essential nutrient for humans under normal conditions because it can be synthesised from other dietary components. Concern about taurine arose when it was discovered that formula-fed babies might be at greater risk of taurine insufficiency than breast-fed babies, because formulas based on cow's milk contain much lower levels of taurine than does human milk. However, even in a premature baby, taurine supplements do not produce changes in growth or general metabolism. Because it has not been fully established how essential dietary taurine is for a baby, no RDA can be established.

Thank you for writing.

ivillage uk

B vitamins: developmental stages