The Supplements My 11-Month-Old Takes
It is wild to think that my youngest, Otto, will be one a month from today… where does the time go?!
For those who don’t know my story, Otto was my accidental free birth baby, meaning he made his debut before my midwife could arrive. He’s been keeping us on our toes since day one, but somehow he is also literally the easiest baby I could ask for.
The third time around, I’m really trying to enjoy every little phase. And right now is one of my favorites. His personality is coming in full force, he is talking up a storm, and he is the happiest little guy. He also loves food, which makes this stage so fun. Every time I give him his supplements, he asks for “mo mo” — more — which is honestly very on brand for him.
I get asked all the time what supplements my kids take, so I thought I’d start with what Otto is currently taking at 11 months. I’ll do another post soon on supplements for bigger kids because that routine looks a little different.
Before we get into it, a quick note: Otto has no known allergies or health concerns. This is simply what we are doing for him right now based on his needs, our pediatrician visits, his diet, and what I personally prioritize. Always run supplements by your child’s pediatrician or healthcare provider, especially for babies. This is for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice.
Food First, Always
I am very much a food-first person, especially with babies.
Supplements can be helpful, but they are not meant to replace nutrient-dense food. Otto loves food, so we focus on offering him a variety of real, nutrient-rich options daily. Things like grass-fed beef, liver, salmon, eggs, avocado, fruit, vegetables, bone broth, and whatever we’re eating that makes sense for him.
That said, babies have big nutrient needs during this stage, and there are a few things I personally pay attention to: iron, vitamin D, DHA, and gut support.
Here’s what Otto is taking right now.
MaryRuth’s Infant Liquid Multivitamin With Iron
I started this after Otto’s 9-month checkup showed borderline anemia. As always, I’m leading with food first and offering iron-rich foods regularly, including grass-fed beef, liver, salmon, and other nutrient-dense foods. He recently ate and loved my Ancestral Bolognese and Vietnamese Lettuce Wraps which are both made with organ meat!
This is not a high-dose iron supplement, which is important to note. It’s more of an infant multivitamin that includes a small amount of iron — 0.2 mg per serving as ferrous bisglycinate chelate. Because iron status can vary so much from baby to baby, I would definitely work with your pediatrician if your baby has low or borderline iron.
I like that this formula includes several key nutrients for babies, including vitamins A, C, D3, E, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6, B12, choline, iron, and zinc.
A few things I personally like seeing:
It contains vitamin D3 as cholecalciferol, with 200 IU per serving.
It uses methylcobalamin for B12, which is the methylated form that is going to be more bioavailable.
The iron is ferrous bisglycinate chelate, a form that is often used because it tends to be gentle.
It’s liquid, which makes it easy to give to a baby.
This one is orange-vanilla flavored and sweetened with organic vegetable glycerin and organic rebaudioside A, which is basically stevia leaf extract. It is impossible to find kids’ vitamins that aren’t sweetened in some way, especially liquid ones, but I always like to know exactly what’s in there.
Overall, I use this as a gentle multivitamin for Otto while still focusing heavily on real, iron-rich foods.
You can use the code BECKIYOO to save 15% on your order here.
Nordic Naturals Baby DHA
DHA is another nutrient I prioritize during the baby stage because it supports healthy brain, eye, and nervous system development. We do offer fatty fish like salmon, but I still like using a high-quality DHA supplement for Otto.
I use Nordic Naturals Baby’s DHA, which is made from purified Arctic cod liver oil and comes with a clearly marked dropper so you can dose it based on your baby’s weight.
According to the dosing chart, the daily amount is:
| Baby’s Weight | Daily Dose |
|---|---|
| 5–10 lbs | 1.0 mL |
| 11–20 lbs | 2.0 mL |
| 21–25 lbs | 3.0 mL |
| 26–30 lbs | 4.0 mL |
| 31–35 lbs | 5.0 mL |
The full serving provides 1050 mg total omega-3s, including 485 mg DHA and 350 mg EPA, along with 300 IU of vitamin D3.
Because this product does contain vitamin D, I would definitely factor that in if your baby is also taking a separate D3/K2 supplement.
It can be added to food, breast milk, or formula once daily, or used as directed by your pediatrician. Just make sure to clean the dropper thoroughly between uses, especially if it touches baby’s mouth, and store the bottle in the refrigerator with the original cap.
You can purchase Nordic Naturals DHA through my Fullscript here.
Seeking Health Optimal Vitamin D3/K2 Liquid
I’ve been using a D3/K2 with Otto from about 6 months on, though vitamin D can actually be started earlier if desired or recommended by your provider.
I like this one because it is extremely concentrated and is dosed by drop instead of having to give small babies a large volume of liquid. Each drop provides 500 IU of vitamin D3 as cholecalciferol and 50 mcg of vitamin K2 as menaquinone-4.
Vitamin D is important for babies because it supports healthy growth and development, immune health, and bone health. K2 is often paired with D3 because it helps support healthy bone metabolism and calcium utilization.
I also like that this one is super clean and in an olive oil base. It’s easy to give, and because the dose is just one drop, it lasts forever.
One important note: since both the Mary Ruth's Liquid Multivitamin and Nordic Naturals Baby’s DHA contain vitamin D, I do pay attention to total vitamin D intake. More is not always better, especially with fat-soluble vitamins, so this is something to discuss with your pediatrician based on your baby’s diet, formula or breast milk intake, supplements, and labs if applicable.
You can purchase Seeking Health Optimal Vitamin D3/K2 on Fullscript here.
Smidge Infant Probiotic
The probiotic Otto takes is Smidge Infant Probiotic, which is a 7-strain probiotic formulated specifically for babies and their developing digestive systems.
I like that it contains strains naturally found in a healthy infant digestive tract, including Bifidobacterium infantis, which makes up 50% of the formula. This is a strain I really like seeing in an infant probiotic because it plays an important role in a baby’s gut, especially during the breastfed baby stage.
Each serving is one Smidge spoonful, which is 20 mg and provides 1.45 billion CFU.
The probiotic blend includes:
Bifidobacterium infantis
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium longum
Lactobacillus salivarius
Bifidobacterium breve
Bifidobacterium lactis
Lactobacillus gasseri
Another thing I appreciate is that there are no other ingredients — no common allergens, fillers, or synthetic ingredients. It’s just the probiotic blend.
As with anything for babies, I would definitely start low and slow. You only need the tiniest bit, and it can be mixed into food, breast milk, or formula. For younger babies, you can even sprinkle a little directly on the breast.
Otto tolerates this one really well, and it’s such an easy thing to add in when I want to support his gut health, especially during new food introductions, after illness, or anytime his digestion seems like it could use a little extra support.
This one is a little $$$ but trust me when I say the bottle lasts FOREVER, you'll understand when you see the size of the teeny tiny spoon!
You can purchase Smidge Infant Probiotic on Fullscript here.
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