Why should I give my baby vitamin D? How much vitamin D does my baby need? How long should I give my baby vitamin D supplements? Three ways to offer your older baby vitamin D Is it dangerous to offer my baby more than the recommended amount of vitamin D? How can I be sure she's getting enough? Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin because sunlight is our main source of it. Given Canada's long winters, northern latitude and the recommendations for keeping your baby out of the sun, your baby may not get enough vitamin D in her first year. She needs vitamin D to reduce her risk of rickets, and to help her fight off childhood and possibly adult illnesses. Rickets is a disease which causes softened and weakened bones, which can result in fractures. Children from black African, Caribbean or Asian families, or from cultures who cover up their skin, are particularly at risk. The amount of vitamin D you should offer your baby depends on several factors including what you feed your baby, where you live in Canada, the time of year, and the colour of your baby's skin.
According to Health Canada, a healthy full term breastfeeding baby should have a daily vitamin D supplement of 400 IU (international units). A formula-fed baby who lives at the level of, or south of, Edmonton has enough vitamin D from her formula and does not need a vitamin D supplement. The Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) recommends offering a baby living at the latitude of Edmonton or further north 800 IUs of vitamin D a day from October to April. CPS also recommends 800 IUs of vitamin D from October to April for babies with darker skin. A formula-fed baby living at the latitude of, or north of, Edmonton should have 400 IUs of vitamin D each day between October and April. Health Canada says that you should give your baby vitamin D from her birth until she is a year old or until she has 400 IU of vitamin D from the food she eats. Let her drink vitamin D fortified cow's milk once she's at least nine months old. Cow's milk is fortified with vitamin D in Canada and after your baby is nine months old you can offer her that.
Feed her vitamin D-rich food. Salmon and tuna are good sources of vitamin D. Let her get some sun. 15 minutes of sun on her face and hands without sunscreen would give your baby a decent dose of vitamin D. However, putting your baby in the sun without sunscreen is not recommended. Read our article on how to keep your baby safe in the sun.Be sure to use the dropper that comes with your vitamin D drops and only give your baby the recommended amount. As your baby begins solids, you may need to adjust the amount of vitamin D you offer your baby. Speak to your doctor if you are concerned. If you are offering your baby the correct amount of vitamin D supplements then she is probably getting enough. Be sure to offer her cow's milk once she is nine months old and other vitamin D-rich foods like salmon and tuna. If you are concerned that your baby may not be getting the vitamin D that she needs, speak to your family doctor or your baby's pediatrician. Find out which kinds of store bought milk are best for your baby.
Track your baby’s development Join now to receive free weekly newsletters tracking your baby’s development and yours throughout your pregnancy. Enter your due date or child's birthday Privacy policy & terms Support for your parenting journey. Delivered to your inbox. My Baby This Week NewsletterKeep up with your baby’s development with personalized weekly newsletters. The BabyCenter BulletinGet the latest parenting news, plus expert advice and real-world wisdom. Special Offers from Our PartnersReceive discounts, deals and parenting information from BabyCenter’s partners. You can unsubscribe from BabyCenter emails at any time. Log in or sign up to post a comment! Infant Overdose Risk With Liquid Vitamin D Get Consumer Updates by E-mail Consumer Updates RSS Feed Download PDF (295 K) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning of the potential risk of overdosing infants with liquid vitamin D. Some liquid vitamin D supplement products on the market come with droppers that could allow parents and caregivers to accidentally give harmful amounts of the vitamin to an infant.
These droppers can hold a greater amount of liquid vitamin D than an infant should receive. "It is important that infants not get more than the recommended daily amount of vitamin D," says Linda M. Katz, M.D., M.P.H., interim chief medical officer in FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. "Parents and caregivers should only use the dropper that comes with the vitamin D supplement purchased." Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the gut and plays a key role in the development of strong bones. Vitamin D supplements are recommended for some infants—especially those that are breast-fed—because deficiency of this vitamin can lead to bone problems such as thinning, soft, and misshaped bones, as is seen with the condition known as rickets. However, excessive vitamin D can cause nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, excessive thirst, frequent urination, constipation, abdominal pain, muscle weakness, muscle and joint aches, confusion, and fatigue, as well as more serious consequences like kidney damage.back to top FDA's Recommendations Ensure that your infant does not receive more than 400 international units (IUs) of vitamin D a day, which is the daily dose of vitamin D supplement that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends for breast-fed and partially breast-fed
Keep the vitamin D supplement product with its original package so that you and other caregivers can follow the instructions. Follow these instructions carefully so that you use the dropper correctly and give the right dose. Use only the dropper that comes with the product; it is manufactured specifically for that product. Do not use a dropper from another product. Ensure the dropper is marked so that the units of measure are clear and easy to understand. Also make sure that the units of measure correspond to those mentioned in the instructions. If you cannot clearly determine the dose of vitamin D delivered by the dropper, talk to a health care professional before giving the supplement to the infant. If your infant is being fully or partially fed with infant formula, check with your pediatrician or other health care professional before giving the child vitamin D supplements. Remember: any type of medication or dietary supplement can have adverse effects and must be taken according to the manufacturer's directions.