Vegan Guide
VEGAN GUIDE

Health

Can children follow a vegan diet?

Short answer

Yes, but it takes solid knowledge, regular follow-up with a paediatrician and a dietitian, and supplements (always B12, plus vitamin D, usually iodine and DHA, sometimes iron). The European society ESPGHAN (2025) considers the evidence insufficient to say whether a strict vegan diet supports normal growth and development in children. Poorly managed in an infant, it can cause lasting harm.

The Polish Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (2021) accepts a vegan diet in infants only under a dietitian’s supervision, with proper supplements, and with parents fully aware that neglecting it can have serious consequences. ESPGHAN (2025) recommends regular monitoring of growth, diet and nutritional status. The German DGE (2024) makes no recommendation for or against a vegan diet in children.

Key rules: until 12 months, breast milk or an infant formula chosen with the paediatrician is the base – plant drinks do not replace them. Rice drinks are not given to children under 5 (arsenic). From age 1, unsweetened calcium-fortified plant drinks can be given, ideally soy.

A breastfeeding mother on a vegan diet must take B12 – in infants, deficiency develops quickly (lethargy, poor weight gain, developmental regression) and can be irreversible. Children need energy-dense meals (nut butters, tofu, oils, pulses), regular checks of height and weight, and blood tests agreed with the doctor.

Sources

  1. Vegetarian Dietary Patterns for Adults: Position Paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2025)
  2. Vegetarian and vegan dietary patterns to support pediatric nutrition — AAP
  3. Vegetarian, vegan and plant-based diet — British Dietetic Association
  4. ESPGHAN position paper on vegan diets in infants and children (JPGN, 2025)
  5. Zasady żywienia zdrowych niemowląt — stanowisko PTGHiŻD (2021)
  6. FAQs vegane Ernährung — Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung
  7. Drinks and cups for babies and young children — NHS
  8. What every vegan should know about vitamin B12 — The Vegan Society

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