Do Infants Need Vitamin D Drops?

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During your baby’s first well visit, your doctor will probably suggest vitamin D drops, especially if you’re breastfeeding. But you’ve heard that breastmilk provides all the nutrients your baby needs. So why do doctors recommend vitamin D drops for infants?

Here’s why vitamin D for kids is so important — and how to ensure they get enough of this essential vitamin.

The Role of Vitamin D in Your Baby’s Development

All babies need a certain amount of vitamin D to develop a strong skeletal system and teeth. Vitamin D also helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus, minerals that help regulate the function of blood pressure, nerves, and muscles. Vitamin D also supports the immune system and may even help reduce the risk of certain diseases.

People sometimes call vitamin D “the sunshine vitamin.” That’s because it gets produced in the skin during sun exposure. You can also get it through supplements or by consuming certain foods, such as whole milk, tuna, and egg yolks.

However, babies don’t always get enough of this essential nutrient through breast milk alone — often because their mothers are vitamin D deficient.

Exclusively formula-fed babies take in more vitamin D because most commercial formula gets fortified with vitamins. But newborns often don’t drink enough formula to get the right amount of vitamin D.

If you feed your baby a mix of formula and breast milk, they may not get enough vitamin D.

Do Infants Need Vitamin D Drops?

Most of the time, yes.

In a perfect world, babies could get enough vitamin D from sunlight. But to reduce the risk of skin cancer later, pediatricians recommend that babies wear sunscreen, protective clothing, and hats when outdoors. Therefore, their ability to produce vitamin D from the sun becomes diminished.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that most babies receive a vitamin D supplement. The exception: if your baby is consuming more than 27 ounces of formula with added vitamin D daily.

You can start giving your baby vitamin D drops as soon as you come home from the hospital or birthing center. They’re available over the counter at most drug stores.

Children continue to need more vitamin D as they grow. According to StatPearls, 50% of children ages 1 to 5 in the U.S. are deficient in vitamin D, and 70% of children ages 6 to 11 don’t get enough.

Breastfeeding and Vitamin D

Breastfed babies need extra vitamin D. One reason is that many mothers are deficient in vitamin D. If you don’t have enough vitamin D and you’re breastfeeding, your milk won’t have enough vitamin D to nourish your baby.

If you’re nursing and your vitamin D levels are low, you should take supplements for your health and your baby’s. Your baby should still get vitamin D drops.

There are many reasons why adults may not get enough vitamin D. They include:

A lack of sunlight

Sunlight triggers the human body to produce vitamin D. In people with lighter skin, it takes about 15 to 20 minutes of direct sun daily to provide enough vitamin D. In people with darker skin, it takes about 45 to 60 minutes.

But the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays can also cause skin cancer. In recent years, more people have heeded warnings about sun danger and covered up with sunscreen before going outside. The result is a lower risk of skin cancer and lower levels of vitamin D for many adults.

Certain health conditions

People who are obese are often deficient in vitamin D. That’s because vitamin D binds to body fat, which prevents it from getting into the bloodstream.

If you’ve had gastric bypass surgery, you might have a vitamin D deficiency. The surgery bypasses part of the small intestine, which absorbs vitamin D.

Chronic kidney or liver disease and digestive problems like Crohn’s or celiac disease can also affect vitamin D absorption. These conditions affect the body’s ability to change vitamin D into a usable form.

Taking medicine that affects vitamin D levels

Some prescription medicines affect how much vitamin D your body absorbs. These include some steroids, cholesterol, anti-seizure drugs, and weight-loss drugs.

What Happens if Your Baby Doesn’t Get Enough Vitamin D?

Without enough vitamin D, your baby’s bones don’t grow as strong as they should. Other potential symptoms include:

• Bone fractures.
• Cavities and other problems with teeth.
• Growth delays.
• Heart problems.
• Lack of energy.
• Muscle pain and weakness.
• Seizures from low calcium levels (brought on by vitamin D deficiency).
• A weak immune system, leading to frequent respiratory infections.

In severe cases, your baby could develop a disease called rickets. This rare disease causes soft and weak bones and deformed joints.

Your child could develop other health problems later in life from a lack of vitamin D. Low levels of vitamin D may contribute to chronic infections, recurring illness, and poor sleep quality.

How Much Vitamin D per Day Does Your Baby Need?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily for babies under 12 months.

For babies who are 12 to 24 months old, doctors recommend 600 IU of vitamin D daily.

You can give your baby vitamin D drops directly in the mouth with a dropper or mix the drops with formula or breast milk.

Good Sources of Vitamin D as Your Baby Gets Older

Although sunlight is a good source of vitamin D, the risk of developing skin cancer later in life outweighs the immediate benefits. Babies under 6 months old should avoid exposure to direct sunlight. Older babies should wear sunscreen that protects them from harmful rays.

When your baby is over 12 months old, they may get vitamin D from certain foods, including vitamin-D-fortified cow’s milk. Babies younger than 12 months shouldn’t have cow’s milk in their diet.

Foods high in vitamin D include:

• Certain fatty fish (salmon, trout, canned tuna).
• Egg yolks.
• Vitamin D-fortified products (milk, yogurt, cereals, and juice).

Talk to your baby’s doctor about their diet, sun exposure, and whether they need vitamin D supplements.