Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D for Babies and Children

Diet,Healthy Living,Neonatal,Pediatric

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate
Why is vitamin D important for babies and children? — Babies and children need vitamin D to grow normally and develop healthy bones.
What can happen if babies and children don't get enough vitamin D? — Babies and children who don't get enough vitamin D can get a condition called "rickets." Rickets can make bones thin and weak. Some children with rickets have legs that bend to the side, called "bow-legs" (picture 1).
Is my baby or child at risk of getting too little vitamin D? — Maybe. If your baby only gets breast milk, or breast milk and some formula, he or she needs extra vitamin D. Breast milk has most of the nutrients a baby needs, but it does not have enough vitamin D in it.
Babies and children can also be at risk if they:
Have dark skin
Do not drink enough milk or eat other foods with vitamin D in them
Take certain medicines
Were born premature
Have a medical condition that makes it hard to get enough vitamin D, such as cystic fibrosis or celiac disease
Spend most of their time inside or live in a place with little sun
How can I make sure my baby or child gets enough vitamin D? — Vitamin D supplements are the best way to make sure your baby or child gets enough vitamin D for healthy bones. Supplements are pills, capsules, or liquids that have nutrients in them.
How much vitamin D does my baby or child need? — Experts recommend that all babies under 1 year get 400 international units of vitamin D a day, starting a few days after birth. This is the same as 10 micrograms of vitamin D. If your baby only drinks breast milk, he or she should get a vitamin D supplement. You can buy liquid vitamin D drops for babies at most drug stores.
Children should get 600 international units a day. This is the same as 15 micrograms. If your child does not get this amount from milk or other foods, he or she should take a supplement. Most children's multivitamins have enough vitamin D, but check with your child's doctor or nurse if you're not sure. If your child has a condition that makes it hard to get enough vitamin D, he or she might need to take more.
Talk to your child's doctor or nurse about which type of vitamin D to give your baby or child, how much, and when to give the supplements. The right dose will depend on your child's diet, whether he or she has any medical conditions, and other factors. Do not give more than the amount your child's doctor or nurse recommends.
Is there a test for vitamin D? — Yes. Your child's doctor or nurse can do a blood test to check your child's vitamin D levels.
Can my baby or child get vitamin D from foods and drinks? — Yes. Foods and drinks that have a lot of vitamin D include (figure 1):
Baby formula, milk, orange juice, or yogurt with vitamin D added
Cooked salmon or mackerel
Canned tuna fish
Cereals with vitamin D added
Cod liver oil
Your baby or child can also get vitamin D from the sun. The body uses sunlight that shines on the skin to make vitamin D. Playing outside can help your child exercise and get vitamin D at the same time. But it is important to ask your child's doctor or nurse how much sun is enough. Your child should wear sunscreen at least part of the time to prevent sunburn and other conditions caused by too much sun.
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete.
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Mar 30, 2020.
Topic 86460 Version 6.0
Release: 28.2.2 - C28.105
© 2020 UpToDate, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

D,Vitamin D for Kids

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© 2020 UpToDate, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.