When should I take vitamin D supplements for my child?

Vitamin D supplementation for babies plays an important role for the development of bones and teeth. Vitamin D is usually synthesized for babies through sunbathing or daily foods such as breast milk, fatty fish, eggs, other milks. However, many parents wonder when to take vitamin D supplements for their babies?

For babies who eat breast milk completely, vitamin D should be supplemented from the newborn stage with a daily dosage of 1 drop equivalent to 400 units. Supplementing vitamin D for babies until they are toddler and capable of going out a lot, regular sun exposure combined with a varied diet full of nutrients, using foods high in vitamin D such as (salmon, herring, sardines, yogurt, cheese, cereals, tofu …).

For infants who use formula milk for about 1000ml a day, the amount of vitamin D supplements for babies is usually provided enough.

Sunbathing is an important measure to supplement vitamin D for babies. You give your child daily sunbathing, every day 20-30 minutes in the morning is best (before 9:00), in case there are no conditions to sunbathe such as birth in winter or cramped housing … vitamin D supplements must be given to babies from birth after 1 week, drinking time up to 2 years old. When your child is older, participates in more outdoor activities or does not show any manifestations of rickets, there is no need to drink anymore.

In addition, how much vitamin D supplementation for babies depends on the breastfeeding regime, drinking milk made according to the formula or drinking other milks such as cow's milk, goat's milk, specifically as follows:

• If the mother is breastfeeding or only partly breastfeeding, you need to replenish the baby with 400 international units of vitamin D (400 IU) per day, starting immediately after birth. After that, continue to give the child vitamin D supplements until the child weans. From this time, it is recommended to replenish vitamin D for babies about 1 liter of formula milk per day or whole cow's milk (for babies after 12 months of age).
• If the child is drinking a vitamin D-enhanced milk but cannot take enough 1 liter per day, you need to replenish the baby with 400 IU of liquid vitamin D regularly every day, starting from the first few days after birth. Then continue to add vitamin D to babies until they can drink about 1 liter of milk a day.

In case of having to take vitamin D supplements for the child in liquid form (drops), take it as prescribed by your doctor. You need to carefully read the instructions for use, avoid drinking the baby beyond the recommended dosage.

The supplement of vitamin D for babies orally in the morning or afternoon, when hungry or full, does not affect the absorption of vitamin D. However, if taken with calcium it is advisable to drink it in the morning, since calcium taken in the evening increases the risk of kidney stones.

Vitamin D belongs to the fat-soluble group, so when taken, it will be accumulated in the liver for gradual use by the body, so in addition to supplementing and maintaining the dose according to daily needs, it is also possible to take high doses periodically (as prescribed by the doctor).

Vitamin D3, also known as Cholecalciferol, converts inicient substances, mainly calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D3 plays an important role in enhancing calcium absorption through the intestinal wall and helping to "bind" calcium to the bone system. In addition, vitamin D3 also helps the body to re-absorb calcium in the kidneys, playing an important role in strengthening bone-forming proteins to help the body's balance better, limiting the risk of the baby falling later.

Usually, babies after birth 3 days are mothers who can already start vitamin D3 supplements for babies. The golden time to give your baby vitamin D3 is from 9 a.m. to about 11 p.m.

How to give babies vitamin D3 supplements

• For infants: The child should be supplemented with 200 UI/day.
• Infants lacking months: Drink 400 – 800 UI/ day or take 150 – 400 UI/kg/day.
• For babies who are fully breastfed or partly breastfed: Start drinking 400 UI once a day for the first few days of birth. After that, continue to replenish the drug until the child weans to take amounts greater than or equal to 1,000 ml/day.

Besides vitamin D and D3 supplements, you also need to consult your doctor to be able to supplement calcium and other nutrients so that your baby can develop comprehensively.

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