Is it Healthy to Raise a Vegetarian Baby? (video)

Are you a vegetarian? Are you planning to raise your baby as a vegetarian too? Sometimes parents are pummeled with criticism and questions like “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” or “How will the baby get enough protein?” and “Have you checked with your doctor?”

Here are some clear answers from the noted baby book author and pediatrician, Dr. Bob Sears. Watch the video yourself and share it with confused in-laws, babysitters, and friends to calm nerves and deflect any concern. This video shows an actual check-up – the patient is a healthy and adorable vegetarian baby, accompanied by his mom. Watch it and celebrate World Vegetarian Awareness Month!

Dr. Bob Sears’ advice:

It can be very healthy to raise a vegetarian baby
Some vegetarian babies don’t get enough B12, so once your baby reaches one year of age, Dr. Sears recommends a multi-vitamin with B12
It is easy to get vegetable proteins into a child’s diet – lentils, beans, yogurt, cheese, and egg yolks. After baby is one year old nut butters are another good choice (**but wait til after age two to introduce peanut butter**)
There is some controversy over soy — right now Dr. Sears recommends that parents limit soy to one serving per day
Listen to your baby and give them food when they seem interested
Try to feed your baby organic whenever you can

Stay tuned: there are five more videos in this series about babies, kids and healthy eating featuring Dr. Bob Sears.

This video was made by Parent Earth with sponsorship from Happy Baby and Stonyfield Farms. See more videos on food for families, find recipes, and have fun at parentearth.com.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Danuta W.

12:12AM PDT on May 2, 2012

Thanks for the great post.

send a green star

Winn A.

11:02AM PDT on May 1, 2012

Thanks

Jennifer C.

6:21PM PDT on Apr 1, 2012

Worth watching video. Thanks for the great post.

Michele W.

1:57AM PST on Feb 9, 2012

Thank you

Ida J.

2:08AM PDT on Sep 27, 2011

thanks

Carole R.

6:41PM PDT on Sep 26, 2011

I think it is a parent's choice. I'm sure it is safe with a B vitamin.

Tim C.

8:10AM PDT on Aug 24, 2011

Malti R.

6:58AM PDT on Jul 20, 2011

The topic sounds quite funny to me being an Indian! Well, If there is a country in the world with maximum, born and raised vegetarian, be it becoz of the religious background or family tradition- it is India. even if you say 50% of India is vegetarian-its 1/2 of 1 billion+. ! My personal experience: my maternal uncle was a body builder..he is almost 5'11 - he is born vegetarian.

colleen p.

8:31AM PDT on Jul 14, 2011

i got to keep track of where I post. I am so forgetfull

>_