Philosophical Vegan Forum

I have a baby on the way, due in January, and I just need to know how to feed him/her properly. I just wanna be sure I'm feeding my child properly so they don't die of malnourishment.

I'm with the consensus that feeding babies vegan is possible and it's nutritionally adequate, and I'm not going to bother with that stupid 'Let the child choose/You're forcing it on your child!" nonsense, since I'll let them decide if they want to eat meat when they reach the age where they can understand.

We're likely going to feed them breastmilk, but we're not against any vegan formula, though AFAIK there isn't any 100% vegan formula.

I've looked around the internet, and most of what I could find is just people saying feeding babies vegan is bad or Vegans giving very bad advice like feeding them just tofu and fruit.

Any advice would be great, I just want to be sure I'm not going to kill my child.

Formula is best, soy formula is fine. Those have everything in them. It's a great example of how well we understand nutrition today. They're not 100% vegan because of the D3 as I understand it, but I suggest not worrying about that.

Breast milk is fine if the mother is taking all of the appropriate supplements, and you're supplementing iron as well (talk to your doctor) because breast milk is lacking. Interesting fact, and a blow against appeal to nature fallacies in nutrition.

Once starting on foods keep up the formula or breast milk for a couple years. No reason to ever give your kids meat, but when they grow up if they want to buy it with their own money opposing that will more likely result in rebellion. Fine to be disappointed of course.

I'm guessing you're in North America?

Check out Else Nutrition's baby formula, it's a new fully vegan formula (might be the only one fully vegan for all I know).
https://elsenutrition.com/

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 2:02 am Formula is best, soy formula is fine. Those have everything in them. It's a great example of how well we understand nutrition today. They're not 100% vegan because of the D3 as I understand it, but I suggest not worrying about that.

Would you say it's a big contributor to animal cruelty, or is it one of those byproduct things that don't mean much?

Also, I think some breads I buy are supplemented with D3, is that something I should worry about or is it just splitting hairs?

Breast milk is fine if the mother is taking all of the appropriate supplements, and you're supplementing iron as well (talk to your doctor) because breast milk is lacking. Interesting fact, and a blow against appeal to nature fallacies in nutrition.

Oh, is iron from food not enough?

That's weird that breast milk doesn't have much iron, I guess we'll stick more with formula then to be on the safe side.

Once starting on foods keep up the formula or breast milk for a couple years. No reason to ever give your kids meat, but when they grow up if they want to buy it with their own money opposing that will more likely result in rebellion. Fine to be disappointed of course.

Hopefully it won't come to that, I'll try to discourage them from doing it. But that's about 13-14 or so years away so we'll worry about it when it happens.

thebestofenergy wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 8:40 am I'm guessing you're in North America?

Check out Else Nutrition's baby formula, it's a new fully vegan formula (might be the only one fully vegan for all I know).
https://elsenutrition.com/

Oh, that seems good, we'll check that out.

mikeminima256 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 1:33 pm

thebestofenergy wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 8:40 am I'm guessing you're in North America?

Check out Else Nutrition's baby formula, it's a new fully vegan formula (might be the only one fully vegan for all I know).
https://elsenutrition.com/

Oh, that seems good, we'll check that out.

No, that's a toddler drink, like pediasure, not an infant formula.
It is of course fine to supplement for a toddler, but infants should only receive formula and breast milk.

EDIT: It is fine for them to have a little, like it's fine for them to have a tiny sip of juice or anything, but don't trust it for nutrition unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Trying to think of anything else that might be important, I should add in case you don't hear it elsewhere, remember to expose your baby to allergens like peanut regularly to prevent development of allergies. Some doctors and nurses are still behind on the science there and may mistakenly tell you the opposite and suggest avoiding peanut. You can look up pediatric consensus on this point, as it has shifted based on research.

mikeminima256 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 1:33 pm Would you say it's a big contributor to animal cruelty, or is it one of those byproduct things that don't mean much?

I would guess it's not very big. It's from lanolin, which is a coproduct of wool. I'm not clear on how much lanolin makes how much D3, but it's something like enough vitamin D3 to supplement a thousand people over a year with one sheep sheering.

Here's one site with some guesses: https://vitamindwiki.com/How+vitamin+D+ ... -+Feb+2011
@thebestofenergy this could be one of those things that would be good to add to the wiki. Maybe in the section on D and a page on animal products that cause marginal harm vs. benefit.

mikeminima256 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 1:33 pmAlso, I think some breads I buy are supplemented with D3, is that something I should worry about or is it just splitting hairs?

I would avoid it if viable, but otherwise don't worry about it if you can't afford it. It's not realistic to avoid it with formula.

mikeminima256 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 1:33 pmOh, is iron from food not enough?

I mean literally you have to add iron drops to the breast milk because milk doesn't contain adequate iron period. They're prescription drops, your doctor will prescribe them. Be very careful about dosing because too much iron can be very harmful. Read the label and directions meticulously.

mikeminima256 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 1:33 pmThat's weird that breast milk doesn't have much iron, I guess we'll stick more with formula then to be on the safe side.

Not too weird. Limiting iron is a good way to prevent bacterial contamination and sepsis.

The disadvantages of formula are few, and mostly involve people who don't have access to clean water to prepare it (which I assume is not you) or ability to wash bottles.
Breast milk advantages are immunological and mostly disappear after the first few weeks.

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 11:50 pm

mikeminima256 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 1:33 pmOh, is iron from food not enough?

I mean literally you have to add iron drops to the breast milk because milk doesn't contain adequate iron period. They're prescription drops, your doctor will prescribe them. Be very careful about dosing because too much iron can be very harmful. Read the label and directions meticulously.

I think Mike was asking if it's possible for the mother to get enough iron from food, which is why they have to supplement if that's not the case?

Red wrote: ↑Sat Apr 24, 2021 12:30 am

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 11:50 pm

mikeminima256 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 1:33 pmOh, is iron from food not enough?

I mean literally you have to add iron drops to the breast milk because milk doesn't contain adequate iron period. They're prescription drops, your doctor will prescribe them. Be very careful about dosing because too much iron can be very harmful. Read the label and directions meticulously.

I think Mike was asking if it's possible for the mother to get enough iron from food, which is why they have to supplement if that's not the case?

The iron is not for the mother, it's for the infant.
A good prenatal is likely to contain some iron, if the baby isn't born yet, which will help ensure against any risk of deficiency.

This may help clarify:

Breast milk is fine if the mother is taking all of the appropriate supplements, and you're supplementing [the infant directly with] iron as well (talk to your doctor) because breast milk is lacking [in iron even if the mother is getting plenty of iron]. Interesting fact, and a blow against appeal to nature fallacies in nutrition.