Professor Olugbenga Mokuolu, a professor of paediatrics in the Department of Paediatrics at the College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, and a consultant paediatrician at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, says that babies do not need routine nutrition supplements or multivitamins to improve their appetite. In an exclusive interview with HealthWise, he warned that giving infants excessive multivitamins can cause problems. He emphasized that parents should understand that children have their own behaviours and preferences, which can be respected and gently guided. “Hunger is a great appetiser,” he noted, adding that multivitamins are not generally harmful but should be used for appropriate reasons, not merely to stimulate appetite.
According to Prof. Mokuolu, if a child is ill, treatment should focus on the illness; once the child recovers, appetite will naturally return. For an active child who refuses a particular food, multivitamins cannot force a preference. He stressed that drugs should be used for the right indications: “A baby is not a disease. Humans survive on nutrients, cleanliness, fresh air, and healthy activities, not on drugs.” While some infants—such as pre‑term babies—may require vitamin supplements, the primary need for growth and thriving is good, appropriate nutrition rather than dietary supplements.
The child‑health expert advised parents to view children as human beings, not disease entities, and reiterated that routine nutrition supplements are unnecessary unless a specific deficiency is identified. He explained that vitamins are generally safe and useful for controlling abnormal bodily reactions and supporting growth, but they constitute a class of drugs with varied effects. “There are many types—vitamin A, the vitamin B complex, vitamin C, D, E, and K—each with different consequences. For example, excess vitamin A can affect the brain and cause convulsions,” he cautioned.
When supplements are given for the wrong reasons, their usefulness is undermined. Most vitamin products on the market are B‑complex, which are relatively safe, but excessive intake of any vitamin can cause problems. “Babies are human beings, not diseases. They need proper feeding, not unnecessary supplements,” he said. He recommended a balanced homemade diet that includes a variety of foods—green, white, red, and healthy oils—unless a specific deficiency warrants supplementation.
WebMD supports this view, noting that babies may refuse food for many reasons: they may be full, tired, distracted, or unwell, or their feeding schedule may not match the caregiver’s. The portal advises trusting a baby’s innate ability to regulate intake, avoiding force‑feeding, and ensuring that healthy foods are offered rather than junk foods that may fill them up prematurely. If a child’s refusal to eat is concerning, parents should consult a paediatrician.
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