If, for dietary or ethical reasons, you have decided

that you want to put your infant on a vegetarian diet,

you should be very careful in choosing formulas and solid

food for your child.



If you plan to breastfeed the infant and you

are also a vegetarian, you may need to supplement

breastmilk with additional sources of nutrition, depending

on your dietary restrictions. If you are a vegan, or an

ovo-vegetarian, you should add sources of vitamin B-12 to

your child’s diet.



Other than the B-12 supplements, your infant should be

able to receive all micro and macronutrients through

breastfeeding, even if you are on a strictly vegan

diet.



If you plan to use formula rather than breastmilk, you

should stick to commercial formulas, which contain the

proper amounts and ratios of nutrients. If you opt for

a homemade formula or soymilk over a commercial product,

your child could experience developmental problems from

a lack of proper nutrition.



If you want to keep your infant on a vegan diet, you can

select a soy commercial formula, as long as it is

nutritionally-adequate.



After about a year, you can begin to supplement formula

or breastmilk with other sources of nutrition, such as

homemade formulas, soymilk, yogurt, and cow’s milk (if you

are not a vegan).



Nutritionists suggest that you keep your infant on a

full-fat, high protein diet after age one, which includes

vegetarian-friendly foods, such as mashed and pureed

avocados, soy milk, nutrient-fortified tofu, and yogurt.



When you are ready to switch your infant to solid

vegetarian foods, you can introduce solid tofu, pieces of

vegetarian burgers, eggs, and cheese.



If you supplement what a nonvegetarian diet lacks, maintain

a full-fat diet, and increase your infant’s sources of

protein, you should have no problem maintaining a healthful

vegetarian diet during your child’s crucial developmental

stages.













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