The risk for vitamin D deficiency is increased when there is limited exposure to sunlight or when an infant is not consuming an adequate amount of vitamin D. Why are infants at risk for vitamin D deficiency? Once a child has started eating solid foods, parents can make sure their child is getting enough vitamin D from foods or supplements. Families who do not wish to provide a supplement directly to their infant should discuss with a healthcare provider the risks and benefits of maternal high dose supplementation options. To avoid developing a vitamin D deficiency, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend breastfed and partially breastfed infants be supplemented with 400 IU per day of vitamin D beginning in the first few days of life. Shortly after birth, most infants will need an additional source of vitamin D. Do infants get enough vitamin D from breast milk?īreast milk alone does not provide infants with an adequate amount of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency rickets among breastfed infants is rare, but it can occur if an infant does not receive additional vitamin D from foods, a vitamin D supplement, or adequate exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D is needed to support healthy bone development and to prevent rickets, a condition that causes weak or deformed bones.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |