Are Vegan Diets OK for Babies and Toddlers? (2024)

FAQs

Are Vegan Diets OK for Babies and Toddlers? ›

Safety of veganism for babies

Vegan diets for babies and toddlers

While a vegan diet limits some common sources of protein, calcium, and other nutrients, there are still plenty of options to make sure your baby has a well-rounded diet. Here are some great vegan foods for babies: Tofu, beans, and smooth nut butters are great sources of protein.

As long as a child's diet includes the necessary nutrition like protein and vitamins, a plant-based diet — whether vegetarian or vegan — can be healthy for all ages.

According to pediatric dietitian Katie Nowacki, RD, a vegan diet can be healthy for children too, but you may need to make a few modifications. “You want to make sure your children are getting all the vitamins and nutrients their growing bodies require,” she says.

For vegans who are expecting, careful meal planning is essential. Although a well-planned vegan diet can support a healthy pregnancy, some nutrients, such as calcium, protein, iron, aomega-3 fatty, and Vitamin D, acids, may require extra care and supplementation to guarantee enough intakes.

Just as vegetarian diets can be low in energy, iron and calcium and Vitamin B12, a vegan diet may not meet a growing baby's needs. It's recommended that babies who are fed a vegan diet be breastfed for the first 2 years or more.

' A study last year led by University College London, including 187 vegan, vegetarian and meat and dairy-eating children aged five to 10 years old, found children on vegan diets were on average three centimetres (1.2 inches) shorter, suggesting they were growing more slowly, or potentially could be smaller as adults.

Vegan infants

For those children who do not have diagnosed allergies and are not on hypoallergenic formula, unsweetened calcium-fortified milk alternatives, such as soya, almond and oat drinks can be offered from one year of age as part of a healthy, balanced diet which contains plenty of calcium, protein and energy.

Vegan infants should start supplementing B12 with the beginning of complementary feeding, at around 6 months of age since, with the introduction of solid foods, the amount of vitamin B12 provided by breast or formula milk decreases. The amount of B12 to supplement daily varies with age and is shown in Table 2 [6].

UK surveys show that younger adults are more likely to be vegan; the demographic group in Britain most commonly adhering to a vegan diet is women aged 18 to 34.

Can children live on a vegan diet? ›

If you're bringing up your baby or child on a vegan diet, you need to ensure they get a wide variety of foods to provide the energy and vitamins they need for growth.

Animal proteins, like meat proteins, are the best to provide children with all the essential amino acids they need. Like lysine, that is essential for growth. A portion of 80 grams of meat can provide about 16 grams of easily digestible and assimilated protein, helping the coverage of needs simply and efficiently.

Both diets share many of the same benefits, though vegan diets might be a little healthier. Also, you may miss out on some nutrients, like vitamin B12, when eating plant-based diets. Talk to a registered dietitian about trying these diets and to ensure you are eating a well-rounded, balanced diet.

United States. Here in the U.S., it is not illegal for children to be raised on vegan diets, nor has it been formally opposed by American Academy of Pediatrics. However, malnutrition is still a criminal offense and the role of vegan diets in a number of these cases is considerable and concerning.

It's possible for a baby to get all the nutrients they need from a good, varied vegan diet and breast milk, but it is also important to take any supplements recommended by your health visitor.

Some people are lucky enough to have never eaten an animal product. I was raised vegan from birth and have often been under the impression that there aren't many others like me.

As long as you make sure that the product your little one ingests is contaminant-free and their daily meal plan includes all the necessary nutrients, a raw vegan diet would be completely safe for your baby.