I'm wondering because Zoe hates the taste of polyvisol so much that it seems to make her eat less on days when I give it to her, and it often makes her gag and throw up a bit. I understood giving her vitamin supplements during the first six months because she had not had a chance to store them in utero. Now that she's a year, though, it seems like she should be getting her vitamins from food. Not only is Zoe a pretty good eater, but her baby oatmeal is fortified. Our pediatrician is still adamant that Zoe needs extra supplements though (and she is not anemic). I just wish there was some better tasting product out there! If they can make preschoolers' gummi vitamins taste good, why can't they make baby vitamins taste good? I feel guilty because lately I haven't been giving the vitamins every day, especially when she eats well.
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Does everyone with older babies still give vitamins?
- By Bklynmom
- Posted October 24, 2009 at 12:35 pm · 16 replies
- In Going home/family
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- By mstig
- Posted October 24, 2009 at 1:42 pm
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Can you mix it in with her food or in a drink to mask the taste?
Play around with the amount u add to meal, she may notice a full dose in her cereal but might not notice a drop.
- By stephca
- Posted October 24, 2009 at 5:52 pm
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Yes, in theory more than practice I have to admit. My understanding is that it is more for vitamin D, which is really hard to get. I am thinking about asking for a vitamin D supplement we can give instead. First we need to get his blood work. . .
- By NancyDrew
- Posted October 24, 2009 at 5:55 pm
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We stopped after their 6 month appt. They did a CBC on both boys and everything came out fine, so Dr. said to stop the vitamins. It was a relief. The boys always drank it, but it smelled so bad I felt horrible giving it to them!
- By NancyDrew
- Posted October 24, 2009 at 5:55 pm
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We stopped after their 6 month appt. They did a CBC on both boys and everything came out fine, so Dr. said to stop the vitamins. It was a relief. The boys always drank it, but it smelled so bad I felt horrible giving it to them!
- By mygirlsmom
- Posted October 24, 2009 at 5:56 pm
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Like NancyDrew, we stopped around that age (6-9 months), after they did the testing.
- By katek
- Posted October 24, 2009 at 7:20 pm
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Our vitamin giving was a bit sporadic after 8 months adjusted or so. Part of it had to do with the fact that the extra iron seemed to constipate and around that time, our son's taste buds seemed to be developing more and more.
We still gave them from time to time. And we made sure that he had a little flax seed oil in his diet for Omega-3s.
At our 2 year appointment, his ped said that he'd still like him to get a daily vitamin but that we could switch to the gummy vitamins. Those were a bust at first. But he would eat the Flintstones. As our foster daughter LOVES gummy vitamins and gummy fiber (gets made when we only give her the recommended dose), Henry has decided that maybe they aren't that bad after all.
RE: "If they can make preschoolers' gummi vitamins taste good, why can't they make baby vitamins taste good?"
Excellent question.
- By Mama_Cyndi
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 12:57 am
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stephca..the BEST way for anyone to get vitamin D is to go out in the sun for around 15 minutes a day. It's easy and it's free. I found this out after my elderly mother (who never goes outside, was diagnosed with ricketts) Vitamin D started being added to milk back during the war when children couldn't go outside to play in the sun, due to enemy planes flying over, etc.
The regular vitamin subject: We were told that Casey didn't need any additional supplements as long as he got plenty of fruits/veggies and meats in his diet.
- By 24WeekMiracle
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 2:29 am
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Hey,
I just mix it in my daughters formula but I split it up into two feeds so she cant taste it. I give her 30 mls before two feeds, with it .5 mls mixed in to each make sure she gets it down. It worked for her, the stuff is nasty, taste it, it would make you gag too. Its very sweet and pungent and VERY overwhelming. You would think they would make it taste better...
- By brneyedgrl827
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 4:59 am
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My daughter is almost two-and-a-half and we still do vitamins to fill the holes in her sporadic diet. The one that she takes is called My Kidz Iron FL and is available by prescription only. It doesn't have the same metallic taste as Poly-Vi-Sol. I've tasted it myself and it's actually not bad for a liquid vitamin! When she was younger I had to mix it into her bottles because the thicker consistency made her gag, but that isn't a problem anymore now that she's older. We'll probably switch to a gummy or chewable at three.
- By SUPERMOM416
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 9:05 am
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We use Tropical Oasis childrens vitamins. It's liquid, so I just mix it in a bottle. I give it to him every other day. He's a great eater and like you said the cereal has tons of vitamins, but I still like to give it to him. This one has vitamins and minerals. I am sorry I don't have time to look up the link, but google it!
- By Brayden123
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 9:06 am
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27149764/from/ET/
Hope it helps!!
- By iamavasmom
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 10:11 am
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Almost 2 1/2 and we still give her vitamins in mlk. I do iron about every other day to avoid constipation.
- By BrandonsMummy
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 11:54 am
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Try the chewables. DS was the same way with the polyvisol, and where he was breastfed I couldnt just add it to his bottle. He hated them and refused to take them. At about 10 months old we switched to chewables. Make sure you get the chewables with iron. DS has to be on iron and he is 25 months old or his hemaglobin drops fast. Good luck, HTH!
- By EvinsMom
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 1:01 pm
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We had trouble w/ the polyvisol from day 1. When we finally came home, I took him off immediately. As well as the vit D suppliment.
I gave him plant sourced liquid vitamins and minerals, and took him outside nekkid for at least 15 min of sun.
I was honest with his doctors, who said they'd be okay if his blood work came back good after 2 months. (He was recovering from rickets.)
It did and we continued adding a fish oil substitute.
Today, at 22 months (18.5 adjusted) he gets the same liquids pureed in mango and still sun exposure. We had blood work done again with a recent surgery, and all was good.
I try hard to make sure he gets loads of iron in his food (walnuts, liver, etc.) But w/ the reflux, I am happy to have suppliments that bolster his health.
Recently traveling, he and I both got the sniffles for the first time. He took the suppliments - I did not- and he faired much better with the cold than I did.
I think everyone is different and it's about figuring out what works for your family.
But I haven't met a child yet that liked the icky polyvisol!
- By Bklynmom
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 8:11 pm
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Thanks for your replies. Like BrandonsMummy, I breastfeed Zoe, so I can't put the vitamins in her bottle since she doesn't take one. Also she picks up on even the slightest off taste to her food, so I can't hide it in a purée. I'm interested in trying the gummy vitamin- Zoe is big on finger food. Maybe if I squished it and softened it up a bit or cut it up it would not be a choking hazard. Now that I know others have stopped giving vitamins I don't feel so guilty for having slacked off a bit!
- By Joshuasmommy
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 9:52 pm
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my son is on trivosol. its like polyvisol but it has 3 kinds of vitamins. it is said to be easier on their tummies. i just mix it in with his milk.
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