What is DHA?
DHA is a type of Omega-3 fat that helps nourish your baby's brain.
How do babies get DHA?
Your baby gets DHA from the foods you eat while pregnant—as well as from your breast milk if you breastfeed. But the amount of DHA your baby gets depends on how much is in your diet.
DHA amount for babies
To increase the amount of DHA your baby gets from your diet, try adding more fatty fish—such as salmon or Atlantic mackerel—or eating foods like DHA-enriched eggs. You might also want to talk to your doctor about a DHA supplement.
DHA benefits for babies
By age three, your baby's brain growth will be 85% complete. A baby's brain contains Omega-3 fat and most of that fat is DHA, a brain-nourishing nutrient. Their brain will never grow this fast again—that's why DHA is important for your child early in life.
DHA and formula for babies
If you’re using formula, consider DHA-enriched nutrition. DHA is an important building block of your baby's rapidly developing brain—and DHA-enriched infant formulas are an easy way to give your baby DHA. In fact, 9 out of 10 doctors who would feed infant formula to their own children would use a DHA-enriched formula.
DHA benefits
If a mother is breastfeeding and chooses to use, in addition, an infant formula, I would recommend that she choose an infant formula containing DHA
DR BRUCE HOLUB
University professor emeritus and founder of the DHA/EPA Omega-3 Institute
Does my baby need DHA?
Talk to your doctor about DHA-enriched infant formula. For a list of other questions to ask your doctor at baby’s first well visit enfamil.ca/firstdoctorvisit.
