Vitimin D

[emily_Mae]

Does anyone give their LO a supplement of Vitimin D. I have the my baby app and I quote:

In most cases, breast milk or formula provides just about everything a baby needs for the first four to six months. The exception is vitamin D, which is recommended as a supplement for breastfed babies and babies who drink less than 32 ounces of formula per day.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends that you give your breastfed baby a supplement of 400 IU per day of vitamin D, starting in the first few days of life. Babies who are fully or partially formula fed but drink less than 32 ounces of formula a day also need a daily 400 IU vitamin D supplement.

After age 4 to 6 months, as your baby's diet gradually changes from an all-liquid diet to one that contains more and more solid food, your doctor may or may not recommend additional vitamin supplements.

[PaulsMom]

I give my dd vit D drops.  The "D drops" are easy because they just need one drop rather than trying to get them to take a 1 ml.

[Kirsten~]

We gave DD vit D drops for a while, but we missed the boat on this until she was prob 4 months old. I didn't know about it until we had our dr appt.

[emily_Mae]

Thanks my DD is 10 weeks and I've only read this now. I'm based in the uk and can't find where to get Vitimin D drops. I'm keen to give drops to my DD as she was born in the winter. There isn't much advice from the midwives or Health visitors I've seen and when looked it up the Health Service only recommends drops from 6months of age if still BF.

[CCCmom27]

I never gave them to either DS    Must be a new recommendation since the pediatrician never said anything 

[Fiver]

This is the UK UNICEF stance on vitamin D supplements - http://www.unicef.org.uk/BabyFriendly/News-and-Research/News/UNICEF-UK-Baby-Friendly-Initiative-Statement-on-vitamin-D-supplementation-for-breastfed-babies/

[*happy*]

we were asked at every single health appointment/weight check if we were giving the drops...seems to be a big thing here.i EBF until she was 8MO & we're still giving them to her now...xxx

[emily_Mae]

Thanks for the UNICEF link, that makes things a lot clearer.

None of the Health Proffesionals I've seen in Wales asked or discussed vitimin D. My DD did have the vitimin K injection after birth which was discussed. I was surprised not to have been told about vitimin D as sunshine in Wales is very rare and I've read deficiency of the vitimin is on the increase.

[Shellha]

I live in Australia with an 8wo (3rd baby) and my paed has said I should give all 3 of my kids Vit D. Was never mentioned before and DS1 was born in the UK!

[Me.and.my.two.boys]

ive never heard of this either - DS2 is 12 weeks and I havent given him any!

[Fiver]

I've read deficiency of the vitimin is on the increase.

I've seen the same, but at the same time it is still a fairly rare condition, as the UNICEF BFI document points out in the final paragraph.

There was a big 'thing' about vitamin D in the UK about 12-18 months ago, so that's probably why some have never heard about it.

[PaulsMom]

I'm surprised at the different standards around the world.  I was told to give my DS vit D when he was a baby and that was back in 2008.  This is what I gave him:

http://www.ddrops.ca/index.php

I could put a drop on my nipple before he breast fed.  So easy!

[ENMS]

Here we were also advised to give vit D when DD and DS were babies. We actually got the prescription both times by the doc who discharged us from the hospital.

We used the same as PaulsMom.

[nona]

I was told this time around. I have them but often forget

I'm in the usa

[cuckoochick]

DD is just over 2 and we were given a bottle of drops and told to use it until it was gone. Not advised to give any after that one bottle which lasted a good few months.