Most full-term infants obtain enough vitamin D from breast or bottle-feeding or through exposure to the sun. Your infant might need a supplement if you are breastfeeding and your own levels of vitamin D are too low, as the amount of vitamin D in your breast milk is directly related to how much of the vitamin you have in your body. She may also require vitamin D drops if she eats a formula without vitamin D or consumes less than 32 oz. of formula daily and spends less than 30 minutes of time in the sun each week wearing only a diaper. Read the instructions on the vitamin D drops packaging. If you have any questions, consult your pharmacist or pediatrician before administering the drops to your baby. Open the supplement and fill the enclosed dropper to the 1 mL line to administer 400 IU of vitamin D, which is the standard dosage. Hold your infant so that she is slightly reclined to prevent the drops from running out of her mouth. She does not need to be fully reclined. Place the end of the dropper to the side of your baby's mouth so that it points at her cheek.
Squeeze the end of the dropper until all the liquid is expelled. Aiming the liquid at the side of her mouth will help prevent gagging. Administer half the dose of vitamin D drops and give your baby time to swallow and recover if she has trouble taking the full dose at once. Once her mouth is clear, give her the rest of the dose. Drop the vitamin dose into formula, expressed breast milk, applesauce, cereal or another food if your baby refuses to swallow the drops. Give your baby a missed dose as soon as possible after you remember it. If more than 12 hours have passed since the scheduled dose time, skip the missed dose. Do not administer two doses on the same day. Store vitamin D drops in a closed container and away from light, heat and moisture. Make certain the vitamin is stored out of the reach of children and pets. Each drop contains 400 IU of pure vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). The vitamin D3 in Ddrops® products is naturally sourced from lanolin. Although lanolin comes from sheep’s wool, the animal is not harmed.
All Ddrops® are classified as vegetarian products, suitable for ‘lacto-ovo’ vegetarian use. Fractionated coconut oil with no other chemicals or additives. This makes Ddrops® tasteless, odorless and free from most common allergens.The lactation consultant, your new mom friends, the latest health-news flash you read online — each one probably has a different take on vitamins and babies. So how can you make sense of all that conflicting advice? And, bottom line — does your baby really need a vitamin supplement? Well, the answer depends on whether you're breastfeeding or not.If you’re breastfeeding your baby: Maybe you assumed that breast milk is the “perfect” food complete with every vitamin your newborn could need. And while breast milk is the ideal food for newborns, it doesn’t contain enough of two crucial nutrients: vitamin D and iron. Vitamin D is essential for building strong bones, among other things, while iron is necessary for healthy blood cells and brain development;
babies also need the mineral to prevent iron deficiency (a problem for many little kids) and iron deficiency anemia.Because breastmilk lacks these two essential nutrients, doctors recommend all breastfed babies get 400 IU a day of vitamin D in the form of a supplement, starting in the first few days of life. Breastfed and partially breastfed babies should take 1 mg/kg oral iron supplements a day starting at four months until iron-rich solids (like cereals, meat, and green vegetables) can be introduced. But babies need a whopping 11 mg of iron a day, so your doctor may even recommend that your little one continue to take the supplement until he gets the iron he needs from food.The pediatrician will probably suggest an over-the-counter (OTC) liquid vitamin D supplement for your baby (many of them contain vitamins A and C too, which is fine for your little one to have — adequate vitamin C intake actually improves iron absorption). Worried that your little one won’t cooperate and swallow?
Most infant vitamin drops are tasty, so your baby won't have a problem gulping the supplement down. Feel free to give it to him whenever it’s most convenient for the two of you. Some moms get into the habit of giving their babies the vitamins before their morning nursing session, while other moms top off the day with vitamin “dessert.” If you’re pumping and bottle feeding, you can also add the vitamins to a bottle of breast milk.What about getting vitamin D through sunlight instead? While it’s true that people of any age can absorb vitamin D through exposure to the sun’s rays, tanning isn’t exactly a recommended pastime for infants. So the safest way to ensure your breastfed baby gets his quota of vitamin D is to give him a supplement daily.If you’re formula feeding your baby: When it comes to vitamins and babies who are on formula, it’s a different story. Formula is already fortified with vitamin D, iron, and many other super nutrients, so as long as your infant is getting about 32 ounces of formula each day, he’s getting all the nutrients he needs at this point in his young life.
But once he starts solids — especially when he’s eating them regularly and drinking less formula — it’ll be a whole new nutritional ball game. He’ll start to get less of his nutrition from formula and more of his nutrition from foods, so at that point, you’ll want to have a conversation with your pediatrician about supplementing both vitamin D and iron (and possibly other vitamins), especially if you have a picky eater on your hands.Other vitamin variables to consider: There are a few more caveats to consider when it comes to vitamins and babies. Talk with your pediatrician if these conditions apply to you or your baby:See all baby feeding tips.What you need to know Whether you choose to breastfeed or formula feed your baby you should give your baby 5 micrograms (5µg) of vitamin D3 every day. What is Vitamin D?Vitamin D is important because it helps our bodies use calcium to build and maintain strong bones and teeth. Children (and adults) in Ireland have low levels of vitamin D which can lead to weak bones.
In severe cases low levels of vitamin D can cause rickets(1) in children. There has been an increase in the number of cases of rickets in Ireland in recent years. Vitamin D is known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’ because our bodies can make vitamin D from the sun. When sunlight hits our skin, the ultra-violet B (UVB) sun rays are used to make vitamin D. However, it is not possible for babies to safely get the vitamin D they need from the sun. Read Information for Health Professional on Vitamin D supplementation. Why does my baby need Vitamin D? Your baby needs vitamin D because: Babies with African, Afro-Caribbean, Middle- Eastern or Indian ethnic backgrounds are at even higher risk of having low levels of vitamin D. Their stores of vitamin D may be particularly low when born as their mothers’ skin may not be as efficient at making vitamin D from the amount and type of sunlight in Ireland. I am pregnant and taking Vitamin D – will my baby still need to take Vitamin D after birth?
All babies need vitamin D because they do not get enough from their food. This includes babies of mothers who took vitamin D while pregnant. Like all babies they will need to take vitamin D everyday to make up for the low level in their food. What type of Vitamin D should I give my baby?Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is the preferred form of vitamin D for infants. The vitamin D3 product you use should be in a liquid form suitable for infants and contain only vitamin D3. Products that contain other vitamins as well as vitamin D (such as multivitamin products) should not be used. Why are we being asked to give our babies Vitamin D now?The evidence is that children and mothers in Ireland have low levels of vitamin D. Low levels of vitamin D leads to weak bones. In severe cases low levels of vitamin D can cause rickets in children and osteomalacia(2) in adults. There have been a growing number of cases of rickets diagnosed in Ireland in recent years. Research is also showing that vitamin D plays an important role in helping the immune system.
It may also help prevent illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis as well as some forms of cancer. Recommendation: To ensure that ALL babies get enough vitamin D they should be given 5 micrograms (5μg) of vitamin D3 every day from birth to 12months, whether breastfed or formula fed or taking solid foods. The vitamin D product used should contain only Vitamin D3and be in a liquid form suitable for infants.If your doctor has already prescribed vitamins for your baby you should ask their advice before giving your baby any additional vitamin products. What dosage should I give my baby?The current recommendation is 5 micrograms (5μg) once a day – from birth to 12 months. There are a number of suitable infant vitamin D3 products available to buy in Ireland. These provide the correct kind of vitamin D3. Important: The number of drops or amount of liquid required to give your baby the recommended 5 micrograms (5μg) daily is different for each product.
Read the product instructions carefully and ask your pharmacist, doctor, dietitian or nurse for advice if needed. Very large doses of vitamin D3 may make your baby ill. Only one dose per day should be given. How do I give my baby the Vitamin D?Check the product label for the number of drops or amount of liquid you need to give your baby. The correct amount is 5 micrograms (5μg). Give your baby the correct dose directly into their mouth. Are there any risks if I give my baby too much Vitamin D3?Very high amounts of vitamin D are harmful. The recommended 5 micrograms (5μg) vitamin D a day is very safe for babies. Harmful effects only begin at levels that are five times higher than this recommended dose. You need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and give the correct dose. If the vitamin D3 product is given in the correct amount (according to the manufacturer’s instructions) there are no risks to babies. Giving the correct amount is very important. If you forget to give your baby their daily Vitamin D3, then start again the next day but do not give more than one dose per day.
Where can I get Vitamin D3?Vitamin D3 products suitable for babies are food supplements so you don’t need a prescription to buy them. These products are not available on the medical card or any other state drug scheme. You can buy vitamin D3 products for babies in pharmacies, some supermarkets and other outlets. It is important that you buy products that are suitable for babies, and contain Vitamin D3 only. What is the cost of Vitamin D3?The cost of vitamin D3 will vary depending on the product. To compare products ask your pharmacist: Depending on the product, you will need to buy more than one bottle in the year. Do I need to give my baby other vitamins?No. The only vitamin we recommend to give all babies is vitamin D3. Premature infants or infants who are under on-going medical care may require other vitamins or a higher dose of Vitamin D3. Multivitamin products or higher doses of vitamin D3 should only be given to your baby on the advice of your baby’s doctor, nurse or dietitian.
Where can I get further information?Ask your pharmacist, doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional for more information. Order a leaflet on www.healthpromotion.ie or download the information leaflet here. Medical terms explained(1)Rickets: soft bones in children, causes severe bone deformities such as bowed legs and spine curves.Osteomalacia: A softening of the bones due to a lack of vitamin D or a problem with the body's ability to break down and use this vitamin. It causes soft bones in adults, causes frequent bone fractures from minor injuries, muscle weakness and bone pain. HSE Policy on Vitamin D Supplementation Information for Health Professionals on Vitamin D Supplementation Policy List of vitamin D supplements suitable for infants (HSE notified by Food Safety Authority of Ireland) Vitamin D public information poster Vitamin D public information leaflet Copies of the leaflet and poster can be ordered on www.healthpromotion.ie or by contacting your local Health Promotion Department.