Vitamin D For Babies

It is very unlikely that babies can get enough Vitamin D safely from sunlight alone. Vitamin D is important for their bone strength, growth and plays a part in boosting the immune system too.

Breastfed Babies

It is recommended that all breastfed babies have a Vitamin D supplement from birth. This is advised because babies cannot get enough from sunlight and the ‘dose' in breastmilk is not high enough. Breastfeeding provides enough of all the other vitamins.

• Your local pharmacist can advise you on a suitable supplement for your baby.
• You may be eligible for Healthy Start vitamins which include Vitamin D.

Formula Fed Babies

Your baby does not need a supplement if they are having more than 500mls of formula in 24 hrs. Formula has added Vitamin D. Most fully bottle fed babies will be having this much after the very early days (4 or more 4oz bottles in 24 hrs).

You may need to give a supplement if:

• Your baby is having a mixture of breast and bottle feeds so having less than 500mls of formula in 24hrs.
• They are older than 6 months and having more solid foods so reducing their formula milk intake.

Read more about Vitamin D doses

Diet

Sunshine is where most of your Vitamin D comes from. Even a healthy diet that provides all the other vitamins and goodness you need, is unlikely to provide enough Vitamin D. There are some foods that contain it, which you could add to you own and your families diet to boost their levels of Vitamin D.

Vitamin D can be found in:

• Oily fish – like salmon or sardines
• Red meats
• Egg yolks
• Fortified foods (added to foods during production) including some fat spreads and breakfast cereals
• Baby formula milk (more than 500mls a day needed to get daily Vitamin D).

Even though the amounts of Vitamin D we need are very small it is still not easy to get Vitamin D from diet alone.

The Sun

In the UK we get most of our Vitamin D from sunlight from around late March/early April to the end of September. Try and get outside as much as possible if the weather is good as this can be really beneficial to you and your family.

You would need around 10 and 25 minutes (depending on skin type/colouring) in direct sunlight. However using sunscreen and / or being in the shade is a barrier to absorbing Vitamin D.

We know that sunscreen and shade are important ways to protects us from skin damage and cancers.

Find out more about getting Vitamin D from the sun

Supplements

Some groups of people may be more at risk from Vitamin D deficiency. It is recommended that the groups below take a supplement:

• All breastfeeding babies for first year
• Formula fed babies having less than 500ml formula per day
• Children aged 1-4
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women
• People who spend a lot of time indoors
• Residents in a care home
• People who usually wear clothes that cover up most of the skin when outdoors
• People with darker skin (eg. African, African-Caribbean or south Asian background) because this makes it harder to absorb vitamin D from sunlight.

Women and children who qualify for the Healthy Start scheme can get free supplements containing Vitamin D.

You can talk to your local pharmacist about what supplement is right for you and your family.

Vitamin D Recommended Doses

The Department of Health have recommended doses for all age groups:

Newborn to 1 years

• Babies under 12 months need no more than 25 micrograms a day.

Aged 1 to 11 years

• No more than 50 micrograms a day is needed as a supplement.

Aged 11 years and over

• 20 micrograms a day as a supplement is enough for most people aged 11 years and older (including pregnant and breastfeeding women).

Pre-existing conditions

• If you or your child have a pre-existing medical condition you should talk to your GP before starting a supplement.

If your doctor has recommended you or your child take a different amount of vitamin D you should follow their advice.

Not Enough Vitamin D

Not having enough vitamin D can lead to:

• Osteoporosis – weakened or less dense bones, which means they are more likely to fracture
• Muscle pain
• Rickets which can cause bone development problems – causing misshapen bones
• Bone pain, poor growth and soft, weak bones
• Heart abnormalities 

Vitamin D is unusual because we get it from our diet and from the sun. We also need to top up Vitamin D using supplements to make sure we get enough.

Healthy Start Cards

Healthy Start is a national scheme to improve health. You could qualify if you're on low income or benefits and are at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under the age of four. You also qualify if you're under 18 years old and pregnant.

Your midwife, health visitor or other health professional can support you to sign up. You will be sent a pre-paid card for cow’s milk, fresh/frozen fruit and vegetables and first infant formula milk. These can be used in local shops or supermarkets. You will also receive vouchers to exchange in pharmacies for:

• Women’s vitamins (contain Vitamin C, D and Folic Acid) - available from week 10 of pregnancy up to baby’s first birthday
• Children’s Vitamins (contain Vitamin A, C and D) – from ages 6 months to 4 years.

For families who are not eligible for the scheme, all Norfolk Lloyds Pharmacies sell Healthy Start vitamins at a cheaper price than branded vitamins.

Find out more about Healthy Start