I would keep it vegan at home, but stay open minded when your child wants to do things like eat pizza at a friends birthday or whatever. But that’s just me.
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I remember a news report where a family that was vegan had their child pass due to malnutrition. Let the kid decide when old enough. Kids need a lot of iron ,protein, and calcium growing so fast. I would let my child decide what he or she wants to eat or drink. Definitely dont toss the poor kid on almond milk or something just bc dont want him or her drinking goat milk or milk based formula,etc. They need lots of nutrients growing so fast. A vegan diet is not one for a baby or child to be on.
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A baby should not be vegan !
Let the child grow up and decide on there own !
Also a baby needs proper nutrition.
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Your mil can not take your baby away from you. Lol she has no say in how you raise your child. You’ve already spoken to your Dr. So as long as she’s getting the nutrition she needs she’ll be fine. My daughter didn’t eat meat for the majority of her life after her brother told her where meat came from.
I would most definitely not be asking a group of hormonal men/women on fb with absolutely no credentials…
Find a Dr or Ped or Nutritionist and get some actual answers.
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That’s where the baby will get a majority of the protein is in meats.
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Yes. It is more work to prepare meals but yes they can be and it’s 100% guaranteed health
I’d work very closely with either your Health Visitor or paediatrician about going down this route. Babies need a wide varied diet including most food sources to grow and thrive. Maybe you might have to compromise some of your thinking for the good of your baby. Then when she’s older she can decide on what lifestyle choices she wants to follow.
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I 100% agree with the mother in law. It’s ridiculous to force that lifestyle on a baby. Unless its for medical reasons it is crazy to even think it would be ok to do that to a baby.
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Whether your child is vegan or not, baby should be getting the right nutrition and vitamins so just make sure they are gaining weight and growing as they should. This is also a question for your pediatrician not a group on fb
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Consult your the pediatrician on needs. As well live how you wish but don’t impose on the baby. So much damage in soooo many ways. The mil is correct.
In my personal experience most babies don’t eat meat at 6 months old…
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You can get the same nutrients that meat gives, from fruits and veggies. I’m a meat eater but they’ve debunked the idea already that meat has to be part of your diet. That and dairy products.
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The issues is that babies don’t eat enough quantities or variety to be vegan. They need large amount of proteins and carbs in the early stages of development. You could work with a nutritionist but most small children just won’t eat the things you do to be able to live that life style.
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No a child should not be vegan…they will be losing out on the nutritional stuff their body’s need
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Sadly, doctors have very little training in nutrition. As a mom who was a lacto-ovo vegetarian and raised my 3 children the same I’d suggest meeting with a nutritionist.
The general population is focused on protein requirements as a concern however in a balanced vegan diet that is not an issue.
I wouldn’t let my kids be excluded from school lunches or birthday party foods. Don’t be very strict with it.
First off you are the parents and should choose what is right for your child! If the baby is thriving and making milestones be happy. A fed baby is a healthy baby. Imo I would look into a pediatrics nutritionist to make sure she is getting all the nutrients needed. I have a friend that has been vegan all his life and so are his kids they are all good and healthy. Good luck
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I don’t think a particular lifestyle should be forced upon anyone. Same thing with religion. It isn’t fair to not let kids experience things as they grow up. I think that’s where she’s coming from, however this is kind of an extreme decision to be made for another human being. (I do not think she should be threatening to take your child away, that is cuckoo)
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I would never force my child to be vegan.
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I don’t think baby would be getting enough of the right nutrients but that said your ma in law’s argument works the other way too; baby can’t choose NOT to be vegan either! I would seek professional advice
Let the baby choose. Also… ask a pediatrician.
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Just work with your dr and a nutritionist closely in the first few years to make sure she’s getting everything nutritionally and fats that she needs and you’re good! I’d be open to her making some of her own choices as she gets older, but nothing wrong with teaching her the healthiest ways to eat as long as her needs are being met.
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You need to find a nutrition or dietician who will advise you properly
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Also, be careful with too much soy for a girl and try to find mostly alternatives without it. Lots of evidence that soy is not great for women.
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I mean, do we really have to force our children to follow such strict diets before they’re even old enough to choose for themselves? It’s just weird that our ancestors ate so much meat that our brains grew big enough to see eating meat as a moral matter instead of survival, especially as a vegan diet is the height privilege and doesn’t lend itself well to emergency situations, like the potential global food shortages we’re all facing. Your MIL is way out of her lane, but I wonder if you’re making the best decisions for your child from your own. _("/)_/
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I agree with the mother in law for nutritional and vitamins sake! You and your husband are adults and old enough to make that decision. Your child is not. He/she deserves to have a healthy body.
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No. They need more calories & protein. Please wait until their older
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Consult pediatrician
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I don’t think it’s fair to force it
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She’s crazy you can choose for your child. You child cannot choose for herself because she is a baby and there is no reason to take her away from you it’s your child not hers
Personally I wouldn’t think a vegan diet would be healthy for a baby… however… I don’t really know enough about it to comment, possibly your mother in law needs educating? Ask a health professional to help you prove the pros to it & throw it in her face x
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Yes, a vegan diet for your child is as fully nutritious as eating meat or animal products. Do your own research and listen to your own intuition.
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I use to babysit for a couple that was vegan and that had both their kids vegan two a newborn and a 1 year old
Ofcourse the baby can be vegan but you need to very carefully watch that he/she gets all the nutrients needed. No neglect there, just hysteria from your mother in law. Understandable though, as media tells about the worst cases when parent really haven’t been watching the babys needs too well.
I would discuss her diet with the pediatrician to ease your mind, and be able to tell her with confidence what your Dr recommended.
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Ask the pediatrician.
Did someone choose or force it for you?
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You should let the child decide either way just saying
You are suppose to raise your children
Not control them 
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Sounds like abuse to me
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Get a referral or self refer to a pediatric dietician as soon as possible. They can go over all nutritional needs
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I work at a day care and we have a few babies and kids who are raised in a vegan home if you want to message me you are more than welcome to and I can explain some things. And I would definitely suggest what previous people have stated talk to a nutritionist. On your next Dr’s appointment visit just ask for one when you have the baby to come talk to you and explain everything they will need.
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Babies need fat and calories. Your mother in law is right
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All three of my kids are vegetarian and they are just fine. I hate how people say we should just let our children decide. Meat is not good for you.
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Your mother law is right, you’re a lunatic
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Discuss with doctor and get specific diet that meets babies needs and nutrients. If pediatrician approved then no issue
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Agreed. This is insane.
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my nephew is vegan, multiple health issues he has. Vegan is not for everyone.
You need to speak to an actual nutritionist (not one on the internet but one through a doctor’s office) to find out if it can be safely done while also getting baby all their nutrients and if that’s something that is feasible for you
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Mine is plant based and thriving just fine, never sick and her levels are always outstanding when we do our visits. You do you boo, you’re the parents no one else.
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Its not illegal for a child to be vegan. As long as you work with your pediatrician to ensure you feed them the right variety of vegan foods to ensure your child’s healthy growth and development your MIL can’t take the child from you. The baby is not being neglected or starved.
My son was vegan by his own choice until he was nearly 5. Not that he knew what vegan was or anything. We were in no way remotely vegan. He just refused to eat anything other than select vegetables and all fruits and nuts. Even in the baby food mush stage he only liked the fruit and vegetable stuff. I was constantly worried he wasn’t getting enough nutrients and making the pediatrician triple check his blood work to be sure he wasn’t malnourished even a little. Now he’s a 14yr old meat lover and vegetables have to be minced up and hidden in the food for him to eat it 
Tell your MIL to mind her business
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If you don’t give the baby certain things, they will end up with an intolerance to some foods. I have celiac disease and was told to still feed my child gluten until she can be tested for celiac disease because if she goes gf from the start, and she really doesn’t have to eat gf, she’ll have an intolerance from never having it.
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You should probably talk to her doctor about this. Babies have different nutritional needs than adults.
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I know people who are vegan and their babies are vegan to. I don’t think it’s illegal
This is how I see it. She’s your baby and grandma can’t take the baby away just because you choose the way your baby will live. I do however believe in choice. When your daughter gets older and says she doesn’t wonna be a vegan this is something that should be respected. Your child has no voice so it’s your job to choose her best possible life. Talk to her doctor and make sure she’ll be safe and healthy. There’s plenty of vegan meat substitutes put there to replace meat and milk they’re just more expensive. If your MIL can’t respect your choice as a parent do yourself a favor and block her now trust me she’ll only get worse
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Alot of people need to do se research. Those saying oh its just meat. No actually a vegan is someone who consumes no animal products at all. A vegetarian just doesn’t eat meat. I would think raising a baby vegetarian would be better compared to a vegan. That being said I do not agree. Babies and you children need vitamin rich high fats for brain development and if they aren’t supplemented properly when eating a vegan diet it could cause alot of damage. I would talk to a doctor or a pediatrician even a nutritionist about it.
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I know someone who done that to their kid. Ended up being charged with neglect. Humans need meat need iron in their bodies. Wtf is grass ?
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I would recommend you read the Trim Healthy Mama eating plan…
Ask your pediatrician.
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It’s not recommended but it’s possible but you will need to work VERY CLOSELY with your child’s doctor and a pediatric dietician
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She is absolutely right . There was a case here in Alberta for THIS EXACT REASON . Their child DIED . Why ? Because he didn’t get the NUTRIENTS he desperately needed !
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Your child could end up with malnutrition. Talk to your pediatrician.
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The same way a child growing a family that eats meat can express that they want to be a vegetarian/vegan so can your child. You raise a child the way that you feel is best for them. Not for everyone else and their opinions. Ultimately it is your choice until you child can express want they would like to be.
Ask your babies Dr they would have a yes or no
This would be highly unadvisable as it would involve not breastfeeding. Babies brains grow more neurons and make more connections in the first two years of their lives. They NEED raw animal based cholesterol to do this. Breast milk has the highest amount of cholesterol of any food. Also their bodies do not make the enzymes to break anything other than raw human milk properly for a long time. Cereals are so bed for babies.
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If you are going vegan just make sure you have the vitamin and nutrient drops because up until a certain age they do need certain things for growth
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Go follow mama vegan on ig and fb! She is vegan and has 2 vegan babies:heart: she’s a licensed nutritionist too by 
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At 6 months it is totally okay for babies to eating vegan based. There main source of food until 1 will be breast milk/formula anyway. After one is when you should consult with a nutritionist to make sure your baby is getting everything needed in there diet.
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I would consult a doctor about your childs nutrition needs personally. They would know based on age what is appropriate for their diet to make sure they are developing properly.
My daughter and son in law, are raising their baby vegan!! She is now 2 years old and a very healthy and happy little girl!! She is still nursing, a couple times a day!!
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Ask her doctor not Facebook
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No, baby’s and young childre need to have varieties of foods in every food category, otherwise he/she will end up being malnourished. It’s a terrible idea to make your baby be vegan, there’s tons of issues that have happened when parents have done this. They develop tons of food allergies, so unless you want to put your child through a life time of that, then please don’t. When he’s old enough to have his own opinion about it then revisit it.
You will get all sorts of options in every direction here. You need to talk to your babies pediatrician. Take your mother in law with you if you want to so she can hear right from a professional on what’s best. They will be the best person to ask on what your baby needs to thrive.
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Sooo you all straight up giving your babies chicken legs and steak? Most of the baby food your babies eat are veggies and fruits and so many vegan based milks out there.
The part that gets tricky is when they hit 2 years old and decide they only want to eat 4 things. Then it becomes a game of trying to make sure they get all the right nutrients and enough of them. Not saying animal products are necessary or the answer, only pointing out that getting a toddler to eat can be challenging.
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Talk to your pediatrician because for the most part babies are breastfed until 6 months and even then they are mainly starting off with fruits and veggies. Babies have died from it but I read the article it’s because the mother refused to give formula and didn’t breastfeed, gave her baby applesauce. Regardless speak to your pediatrician, babies have been allergic to meats and such it’s not bad just go with a pediatrician or pediatric nutritionist and make sure you give baby everything they need.
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Talk to a dietician and her pediatrician but it’s not your mother in laws business. Your baby probably needs a infants liquid multivitamin.
It’s not illegal. You don’t need to eat actual meat to get proteins into your body. There are other sources. I recommend talking it over with your pediatrician first but it’s not illegal. I have a vegan friend and both of her children are vegan as well.
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Talk to your gp or health visit mor ask for a dietitian, if your vegan then you have every right to bring your child up vegan (till they can choose there self) there is plenty of alternatives for nutritions, if a parent is vegan they won’t want to then buy meat etc and cook it unless the child wants it, tell everyone you plan on doing vegan , but if and when baby asked for non vegan then that’s fine, if they ask at there houses you need to be contacted first.
If a non vegan eats meat they feed there child meat that child could decide to be vegan so it’s same the other way round.
I’ve worked with many children in the nursery settings I’ve worked who are vegan and are healthier than the non vegans, just valence it right.
But I do highly recommend a dietitian and as soon as there old enough let them choose x
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I think it’s crazy but it’s not my baby. It’s also not your mother in laws baby. You do as you wish with your child right after you ask your Doctor about it.
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As long as she getting proper nutrients then it’s perfectly fine. I’d tell her to back off and learn her place.
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I can see her concern, and I really agree with letting the child choose. Being vegan or not is a super personal choice that’s rooted in your beliefs. Your child may not share those beliefs though. Raise them with a little bit of everything, then once they’re old enough to have an opinion you go with that. We see it too often how forced eating habits and choices poorly impact children’s relationship with food well into adulthood, even causing eating disorders. So I definitely side with giving the child no set dietary restrictions (within a healthy guideline of course) until they’re old enough to voice what they like and think. Teach them your ways and why’s, but also don’t be biased about teaching how and why other people eat the way they do. We’re supposed to teach them how to make their own decisions, and within reason I don’t think food is an exception.
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Yes…all through out my pregnancy with my last child, all I could tolerate was fruit and veggies…after babe was born, she still only eats fruit and veggies 
her choice too not mine
Wether vegan or not isn’t the issue. The fact this woman thinks she can threaten to take YOUR baby is
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Yep my now 5 year old has always been vegan because I am, I was obviously vegan through my pregnancy with her too xx
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Sounds like granny needs to butt out!!
Ask for a consult to a nutritionist, just to be sure you are meeting the baby’s nutritional needs. Everyone saying let the baby get older and decide…y’all didn’t let your kid pick either if you gave them cows milk and chicken McNuggets before they were old enough to know what you were feeding them💁🏽♀️ A proper vegan diet can cover all nutritional needs, don’t listen to these fools who say you must shove dead flesh in your kids mouth.
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Your vegan so obviously you know how to get the proteins needed and what not, the baby will be fine. Tell her to kick rocks
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I think it also stems down to being uneducated about vegan food. Because vegan food also has proteins and nutrients and whatever else in it. So what is her point?
It’s the same as non vegans (me included) having our kids eat meat. They may also want to turn vegan etc.
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The hard part about being vegan is just making sure they have what they need that they aren’t getting. We aren’t just carnivores, we are supposed to eat fruits and veggies and all that… do you, you know what’s best for your family. Noone else
Talk to you pediatrician and if they are not familiar with vegan/vegetarian nutrition, get a referral for a pediatric nutritionist who is. If you work alongside a knowledgeable professional, your baby will be just fine.
And don’t listen to any of the naysayers. They are just not as educated or willing to learn as you are.
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Talk to your doctor first off…some babies have thrived off vegan diets but there are many also that do not thrive and need more so it’s down to you, your child and your husband and doctor! Be cautious…don’t go in expecting your child to thrive 100%…your doctor will most likely want to see you more often from 1 to 3 years old to make sure height, weight and head is on the growth curve. If it is, great if not, be open to needing to change child’s diet. First 12 months, food is purely for fun so having them vegan now isn’t a problem at all…they can’t even absorb cows milk until 1 yr old and can’t eat any meat until 9 months old.
This is all coming from a 100% meat eater…I love my steak…a lot! And I think vegans are a little crazy! Lol! It’s your child, as long as they are thriving, do what you want…period! Noone but the child, parents and doctor should have a say!
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My sons 1 and has yet to touch meat. Vegetarian I know but he doesn’t drink regular milk and no one can take your child for your food health choices as long as little one is healthy all is fine. You can also speak with a vegan nutritionist. 
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Or let uour child choose?
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As your pediatrician
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I would remind her that the child SHE raised decided her eating choices are shit and that my baby is none of her business.
I think you should give the baby a little of everything… when it comes for him/her to choose… he/she won’t get sick … if you give her vegetarian food from baby to 18 ,when he or she choose to try meat ,she or he will get sick… so you should give a little of everything until he or she is old enough to choose.
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Yes they can! For everyone saying “let the child choose…” how about, they can choose whether or not to eat meat when they’re old enough to know what it is and how it’s done?
Veganism is 100% okay for kiddos as long as they’re getting enough nutrients.
(I’m not a vegan, I was at one point for several years. I’m giving my kids the choice to eat meat when they’re old enough to decide, and to this day my son still chooses not to for the most part.)
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Give you child food. If you limit what they eat this young they will be super picky eaters. Also the getting everything they need aspect
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Ask your pediatrician. Most will say no. I worked in a daycare where a child was vegan. She was always skinny and wanted our food. And I always felt bad for her, her mom would pack her fruit veggies and nuts. Barely a handful. She was 3 and she was always hungry.
I think it should be child’s choice on the food they eat. If they’re not eating candy all day. Meat is good for them.
Veggies alone cannot give a growing child the amount of protein red meat can for a growing child.
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