From the first year of a baby's life, caring parents begin to think about introducing vitamins into his diet. Usually, up to a year, children are breastfed and receive all the necessary substances from the mother's milk. The only exception is "sunny" vitamin D, which is necessary for the prevention of rickets.
Vitamins for a child - a whim or a necessity?
After the first birthday, the baby gradually switches to adult food and uses less and less mother's milk and baby food, enriched with all the necessary substances and microelements. The child grows and develops, his skeleton, internal organs and brain are formed. His physical, intellectual and mental development depends on how well the baby eats.
A growing baby's body needs vitamins much more than an adult, since an adult has already fully formed bone tissues, internal organs and the nervous system. Only by the age of 11 the child's need for vitamins will practically not differ from the needs of adults. Until this age, parents should take care of a balanced and varied diet of the baby and the use of additional vitamin complexes.
Vitamins important for a one-year-old child
A baby at this age needs all vitamins, but vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, D and niacin are especially important.
Vitamin A helps to strengthen the immune system, muscle tissue, promotes the development of the skeleton, prevents the development of diseases of the organs of vision, improves the functioning of the liver and respiratory tract. The body can get vitamin A from green and yellow vegetables, chicken yolk, milk, fish oil, liver, as well as those loved by children, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries.
B vitamins have a general positive effect on the body as a whole. Their use promotes the production of red blood cells, improves liver function, strengthens the nervous system and improves appetite. Buckwheat and oat groats, eggs, dairy products, fish, fish roe, apples and potatoes are rich in vitamins of this group.
Ascorbic acid is an essential element for the proper development of bones, teeth, blood vessels, as well as the nervous system and the body's defenses. Lack of vitamin C usually leads to frequent colds, depression and scurvy. Eating citrus fruits, rosehip broth, as well as green onions and sauerkraut helps to replenish its lack in the body.
Vitamin D, which is very important for a growing organism, is vitamin D. The "solar" vitamin promotes the absorption of phosphorus and calcium, which are vital for the growth and formation of a child's teeth and bones. This is perhaps the only vitamin that is prescribed to children from the first days of life to prevent rickets. Vitamin D is found in small amounts in dairy products and egg yolk. In much larger quantities, this vitamin is produced by the body when the skin comes into contact with the rays of the sun.
Vitamin PP helps to improve the skin, intestinal mucous membranes and oral cavity. Lack of niacin in the body is manifested by indigestion, skin irritation and weight loss. Vitamin PP is found in lean meats, fish, cheeses, liver and brewer's yeast.
Starting from the first year of a baby's life, you should carefully consider his nutrition. It is necessary to diversify the diet, including foods rich in vitamins and minerals. In this case, one should not give up the use of vitamin complexes. Vitamins should be chosen on the recommendation of a pediatrician who has assessed the general condition of your baby.
