What Vitamins Are Needed for a Baby's Brain Development?
Vitamins are a vital asset in the development of a baby's brain. Infants absorb all intake of their mother while forming, including the toxicity of their environment and the nutritional value of their dietary choices. Strengthening memory, comprehension, speech development and overall brain function, vitamins such as folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin C are crucial in early stages of brain development. (As always, talk with your doctor or baby's pediatrician before supplementing or changing your diet or your baby's diet.)
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What is a Multi-Vitamin?
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By the time a baby is born, over one hundred billion brain cells have formed. Nutritional choices in the first stages of life will have a drastic impact on health, vitamins providing fuel as their brain begins to shape. A multi-vitamin may be all that is needed for healthy brain development, but watch out, many multi-vitamins do not provide 100 percent of the FDA's recommended daily vitamin intake. They serve as an overall net, partially and fully covering essential nutrients. A multi-vitamin will still need to be supported by a healthy diet to promote a baby's full brain development.
Folic Acid Basics
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Folic acid is a crucial vitamin needed for a baby's brain development. One of eight B vitamins, folic acid has a vital impact on the development of the brain and spinal cord. If malnourished, deficiencies such as spina bifida, hydrocephalus and anencephaly are common. Its strength comes from vegetables like spinach, mustard greens and cauliflower, and fruits such as oranges, cantaloupe and strawberries, and liver, peas and nuts. FDA has also fortified yeast and grains with folic acid, giving things like cereal, bread, pasta and rice a daily dose of folate.
Can Vitamin C Help My Baby?
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L-ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, creates neurotransmitters, allowing the brain to transmit information "from one neuron to another." In doing so, comprehension is increased and a baby can actively respond by laughing, learning and communicating. The oxidized form of vitamin C, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), has also proven to be valuable in infant brain development. Found in breast milk, it can enhance intelligence, cognition and eyesight. Even better, its effects last long after childbirth, aiding in both teen and adult behavioral problems. Citrus fruits and juices, brussels sprouts, tomatoes, broccoli, raw peppers, strawberries and kiwis are primary sources of vitamin C.
Vitamins for Vegans
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Water-soluble, vitamin B12 is needed to ensure functioning of an infant's brain and nervous system and to aid in the production of their blood. Found in animal products such as eggs, milk, fish, poultry and meat, vitamin B12 will protect and keep myelin tissue healthy. Insulating and surrounding nerve tissue, myelin sheaths speed the transmission of electrical signals to the brain, enabling quick comprehension and response. Vegetarians often need to add a B12 supplement to their diet during pregnancy to strengthen breast milk. If no animal products or B12 supplements are consumed, a baby is at high risk for severe and/or permanent neurological damage.
Don't Forget Vitamin D
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Last, but not least, is vitamin D. Derived primarily from UV rays, vitamin D can affect a baby's memory, motor control and learning capabilities. Also found in fortified milk and fatty fish, vitamin D is necessary for the development of the cerebrum. Located on top of the brain stem, the cerebrum is the largest and most detailed portion of the brain, playing a dominant role in learning, memory and social capabilities. Studies have shown that prenatal deficiencies in vitamin D can lead to a softening in a newborn's skull and rickets.
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