Vitamin D Drops for Babies—How Much?

As a parent, you want your little one to get proper nourishment and nutrition. That includes vitamin D drops, a convenient way to provide this important nutrient to babies. As breast milk alone doesn’t provide enough vitamin D for babies, breastfed infants and those who are partially breastfed will need vitamin D supplementation to help boost immunity, build healthy and strong bones, and prevent diseases like rickets. We’ve got all the details on the benefits of vitamin D drops for babies and how much your newborn needs.

What Does Vitamin D Do for Babies?

Vitamin D is essential for babies (as well as for older children and adults) because it helps the body absorb calcium. Working together, calcium and vitamin D build bones and help keep them strong and healthy.

When babies don’t get a sufficient amount of vitamin D, they could potentially develop rickets, a rare disease that involves softening and weakening of the bones.

In addition, vitamin D has a role in fighting infection and maintaining a healthy heart, contributing to strengthening the immune system and decreasing the risk of chronic disease.

Risks for Babies Who Lack Enough Vitamin D

When babies lack enough vitamin D, one potential consequence is weakened or softened bones. This can make a baby’s legs appear curved or bowed. Keep in mind that bowlegs are actually common in babies and toddlers but that this condition usually corrects itself before the age of 2. Bowlegs in babies and young toddlers are within the range of normal development and thought to be related to the tightly curled up position of babies in the uterus.

However, there are signs, symptoms, and conditions, including rickets, that can result from extreme vitamin D deficiency, and can hinder your child’s physical development. These may include:

extreme curvature in the legs
one leg curving more than the other
bowlegs becoming worse after 2 years of age
knock-knees after 7 years of age
short height
seizures
difficulty breathing.

Additionally, researchers have found correlations between vitamin D deficiency and certain diseases and conditions that could occur as babies get older and reach childhood or adulthood, such as

colon, breast, or prostate cancers
hypertension
diabetes
allergies
asthma
respiratory and viral infections
autoimmune conditions, including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Although these diseases and complications sound scary, remember that they are rare. With the right supplementation, your baby will get the necessary nutrients to stay strong and healthy! If you have any questions or concerns, consult your child’s healthcare provider.

In Summary

Getting the right amount of vitamin D is vital for babies, as a sign of deficiency is rickets, a disease that softens and weakens the bones. Long-term vitamin D deficiency is also linked to other diseases that could appear later in childhood or adulthood.

How Much Vitamin D Is Necessary for Kids?

Health Canada, the Canadian Pediatric Society, and the Institute of Medicine recommend a daily intake of 400 IU (international units) of vitamin D for newborns and babies within the first year. For children older than 1 year, the amount of Vitamin D increases to 600 IU per day. To determine whether your baby is getting enough vitamin D, consider the following:

Breastfed babies and partially breastfed babies will not get enough vitamin D from breast milk alone, so supplementing with liquid vitamin D (drops) is necessary and important.
Formula-fed babies are likely to get a good amount of vitamin D from their formula, as most brands are fortified with vitamin D. However, to get the full recommended amount of vitamin D, babies will need to consume 32 ounces of fortified formula a day. Most newborns and many young babies won’t drink this much, so supplementation with vitamin D drops is probably necessary. Check with your provider to be sure.

It’s also important to keep in mind that every baby is different. Some children may require more vitamin D, including those who’ve had a recent surgery, are taking medications that block the absorption of Vitamin D, or with the following conditions:

obesity
bone pain
fractures
celiac disease
cystic fibrosis.

There’s no normal range of vitamin D for children. Instead, there’s a specific daily amount of the nutrient you’ll want your little one to meet. If your baby isn’t getting this specific amount, you can supplement with vitamin D drops.

To determine the appropriate amount of liquid vitamin D (vitamin D drops) to give your infant, baby, or child, consult the chart below and your child’s healthcare provider.

Child’s Age	Amount of Daily Vitamin D	Sources of Vitamin D
0 to 6 months	400 IU	supplementation
6 months to 1 year	400 IU	supplementation and solid foods
1+ year	600 IU	supplementation and/or solid foods

Sources of Vitamin D

There are various ways to get vitamin D into your body. It’s more difficult for babies to obtain vitamin D naturally, which is why supplementation with liquid drops is the best option. Sources of vitamin D include the following:

Sunshine. Our bodies naturally manufacture this vitamin when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Because there are dangers associated with direct exposure to sun, especially for babies, sun exposure is not an optimal source of vitamin D for your child. It’s recommended to keep young infants out of direct sun as much as possible—and to wear sunscreen and protective clothing when they are exposed. These actions protect them from skin damage and skin cancer.
Breast milk and formula. Breast milk does have some vitamin D and provides nearly every other vitamin your baby needs, especially C, E, and B vitamins, but it doesn’t have enough vitamin D to ensure healthy bones and ward off diseases like rickets. Infant formula is nearly always fortified with a good amount of vitamin D (about 400 IU per litre); this could be a sufficient source if a baby consumes at least 32 ounces a day.
Solid food. Although some solid foods provide vitamin D, this won’t be a helpful source of the nutrient for newborns or young babies, who won’t be able to have solids until they are about 6 months old.

Every baby is different, but it’s best to wait until your little one is around 6 months old to start introducing solid foods.

When it’s time to expand your baby’s menu and include solids, you can try introducing some baby-friendly food with natural or added vitamin D, like eggs, yogurt, and cereal.

Supplements.The best way for babies to get the recommended amount of vitamin D every day is with liquid supplement drops. Vitamin D drops can ensure that infants and babies younger than 1 are getting 400 IU a day and children older than 1 are getting 600 IU.

In Summary

Babies can’t get enough vitamin D from natural sources alone, such as breast milk, sun exposure, and food. If your baby isn’t consuming enough formula fortified with vitamin D, it’s important to use supplement drops for at least 400 IU per day. Consult your child’s healthcare provider to determine exactly how much your baby needs.

How to Take Vitamin D Drops

Of course, it isn’t possible or safe for your baby to swallow a pill for vitamin D! Instead, your baby will get a liquid version of this nutrient. Using vitamin D drops for newborn babies is quite simple—all you need is the liquid supplement and the dropper that comes with it. Here’s what to do:

Read the directions carefully. Always start by reviewing the amount of vitamin D to give your baby and following the directions on how to measure and administer the appropriate dose. Be sure not to exceed the recommended dose.
Release the liquid into your baby’s mouth. To administer vitamin D drops for your baby, release the liquid onto the tongue or sides of the mouth. Don’t put the drops into your baby’s throat—this could cause discomfort and even lead to coughing or choking.

Vitamin D drops are handy for wriggly babies, and particularly helpful when caring for premature babies or fussy teething babies!

For How Long Do Babies Need Vitamin D Drops?

Your baby can start taking vitamin D drops soon after birth. Most likely, your child’s healthcare provider will prescribe the standard amount, which is 400 IU daily of vitamin D for babies under 1 year, and 600 IU daily for children over 1 year. But once your baby can start getting vitamin D from other food sources (like salmon, egg yolks, and fortified foods), you may be able to reduce the amount they receive by drops.

Every newborn, baby, and child is different, so although there is a recommended dose of vitamin D for babies, it’s always best to check with your child’s healthcare provider. Most babies need the standard dose, while others may need more, and some may need to supplement for longer than others.

I Forgot to Give My Baby Vitamin D Drops

If you forget to give your baby vitamin D drops for a day, it’s OK. Although it’s important to give your baby enough daily vitamin D, healthcare providers also measure the nutrient (for children and adults) in weekly and monthly amounts. It’s easy to forget a daily dose, so many studies have looked at the effects of higher weekly or monthly doses with promising results.

If you missed a day or two of vitamin D drops for your baby, contact their healthcare provider. You may be able to simply skip that day or double up the next day. You can also ask about weekly or monthly dosing.

FAQs at a Glance

Most babies need vitamin D supplementation in the form of drops to prevent deficiency of this important nutrient. Breast milk and some formulas alone don’t provide enough vitamin D, so many babies need drops to reach the recommended daily intake of 400 IU.

The Bottom Line

Babies need adequate vitamin D to stay healthy and build strong bones. Breast milk lacks enough vitamin D, and babies may not be able to consume enough vitamin D fortified formula to reach the optimal amount of this nutrient. The best solution for your baby is to supplement with vitamin D drops, which are easy for you to administer and for your child to swallow.

Although the daily recommended amount of vitamin D is 400 IU in your baby’s first year, every child is different. Talk to your baby’s healthcare provider to determine the amount of vitamin D drops your little one needs.

Learn more about how your baby may develop over the first 24 months of life!

_{How We Wrote This Article
The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.}