Does my baby need to have blood tests to check if the weaning is going to plan?
Absolutely not! Their paediatrician generally assesses your baby’s growth and development during all the regular check-ups before the age of 12 months. If your baby’s growth is normal, blood tests are not required (this is true for all children, regardless of their diet).
If the mother was following a plant-based diet but didn’t take the correct vitamin B12 supplements during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or hasn’t taken any vitamin B12 recently, then she should have blood tests to check her levels.
If their vitamin B12 levels are low, the paediatrician (in addition to correcting the mother’s levels) will prescribe a slightly higher dose of vitamin B12 for the baby to start with.
If the mother was following a plant-based diet but didn’t take the correct vitamin B12 supplements during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or hasn’t taken any vitamin B12 recently, then she should have blood tests to check her levels.
If their vitamin B12 levels are low, the paediatrician (in addition to correcting the mother’s levels) will prescribe a slightly higher dose of vitamin B12 for the baby to start with.
Updated on: 25/03/2024