If you’re here, then you probably Google’d: vitamin d for infants.
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Er From Jay L. Hoecker, M.D. Consider these guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics for vitamin D for babies:
If you’re breast-feeding or partially breast-feeding your baby, give your baby 400 international units (IU) of liquid vitamin D a day — starting soon after birth. Continue giving your baby vitamin D until you wean your baby and he or she drinks 32 ounces (about 1 liter) a day of vitamin D-fortified formula or, after age 12 months, whole cow’s milk.
Give your baby 400 international units (IU) of liquid vitamin D a day — starting soon after birth. Continue giving your baby vitamin D until you wean your baby and he or she drinks 32 ounces (about 1 liter) a day of vitamin D-fortified formula or, after age 12 months, whole cow’s milk. Continue giving your baby vitamin D until he or she drinks at least 32 ounces (about 1 liter) a day.
While breast milk is the best source of nutrients for babies, it likely won’t provide enough vitamin D. Your baby needs vitamin D to absorb calcium and phosphorus. Too little vitamin D can cause rickets, a softening and weakening of bones. Since sun exposure — an important source of vitamin D — isn’t recommended for babies, supplements are the best way to prevent vitamin D deficiency.
As your baby gets older and you add solid foods to his or her diet, you can help your baby meet the daily vitamin D requirement by providing foods that contain vitamin D — such as salmon, egg yolks and fortified foods.
Do Infants Get Enough Vitamin D From Breast Milk?
Why Are Infants At Risk For Vitamin D Deficiency?
The risk for vitamin D deficiency is increased when there is limited exposure to sunlight or when an infant is not consuming an adequate amount of vitamin D. Although reducing sun exposure is important for preventing cancer, it also decreases the amount of vitamin D that a person can make from sunlight.
Vitamin Supplements
Babies who are having more than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day should not be given vitamin supplements.