Vitamin D Drops for Breastfed Babies?

Vitamin D is essential in supporting babies’ immune system and bone development. Breast milk provides great nutrients for babies, and mother’s diet and exposure for sunlight directly influence the production of Vitamin D in her breast milk.

Newborns usually stores sufficient Vitamin D in her body if the mother takes good care of herself during pregnancy, such as getting good exposure to sunlight, eating Vitamin D rich food, taking multivitamin supplements.

Once a baby is 3-4 weeks old, it is recommended to give her Vitamin D supplement especially if you live in the northern climate because of limited sunlight. Baby needs at least half hour sunlight each day to maintain her Vitamin D level. In other words, sunlight is the most effective way for baby to boost her Vitamin D level.

However, for the first six months, baby’s skin is extremely delicate. It is very dangerous if you keep a young infant under the direct sun because too much sun exposure may damage her soft skin.  Although sunscreen cream may keep baby relatively safe under the sun, it prevents the rays that helps her skin to produce sufficient Vitamin D for herself.

Many pediatricians suggest giving Vitamin D drops for breastfed babies in the first year. You should place one drop on your nipple right before nursing and let baby suck on it for at least 30 seconds every day.  Sunshine D Drops is one of the best Vitamin D supplement for breastfed babies.

Once baby gets older that can go out for sunbathing every day, and her stomach is ok for majority of Vitamin D rich foods (fish, fortified milk, egg and butter), you may stop giving her Vitamin D because too much Vitamin D may cause problems on her lung or heart due to excessive absorption of calcium. The chart from Interior Health gives detail information on Vitamin D rich foods.

For more information, please read “All babies and toddlers need Vitamin D”