Vitamin D also boosts cell growth, neuromuscular function and immune function.īut you can overdo it. It's important to make sure that your little one gets enough vitamin D because (and it bears repeating), it's needed to help the body absorb calcium. Trusted Source American Academy of Pediatrics Where We Stand: Vitamin D & Iron Supplements for Babies See All Sources How much vitamin D do babies need?īoth newborns and older babies need 400 IUs of vitamin D a day until they're 1, after which they'll need 600 IU daily, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Talk to your pediatrician about when exactly to transition off the vitamin D supplements. That's why your pediatrician will normally prescribe a supplement in droplet form.īreastfed babies need vitamin D drops the entire time they're breastfeeding, even if they're supplementing with formula, until they start getting enough vitamin D from solids. Plus, building strong bones early on helps protect them later in life.īreastfed babies are at higher risk of deficiency than formula-fed infants because while breast milk is the ideal food for a baby, it doesn't contain enough vitamin D to meet your little one's daily needs. Why do babies need vitamin D?īabies need vitamin D because it's necessary for bone development, helping a baby's body absorb calcium and build strong bones.īabies with extremely low levels of vitamin D are at risk of having weak bones, which can lead to issues like rickets (a childhood disorder in which the bones soften, making them vulnerable to fractures).
The challenge is that vitamin D isn't found naturally in very many foods, and while it may seem counterintuitive, breast milk doesn't contain enough to meet your baby's needs.
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