Vitamin D Supplementation for Babies from Dr. Jack Newman

VITAMIN D

It seems that breastmilk does not contain much vitamin D, but it does have a little. We must assume this is as nature intended not a mistake of evolution. In fact, breastmilk is one of the few natural foods that does contain some vitamin D. Salmon and tuna contain a fair amount of vitamin D. We were obviously meant to get our vitamin D from being exposed to sunlight. If the gestational parent is not vitamin D deficient, the baby stores up vitamin D during the pregnancy and s/he will remain healthy without vitamin D supplementation for at least a couple of months. Vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women in Canada and the USA is not common, but it does exist. Outside exposure also gives your baby vitamin D even in winter, even when the sky is cloudy. A few minutes of exposure very late on a summer’s day is ample. Thirty minutes during a summer week, and an hour or so in winter, gives your baby more than enough vitamin D even if only his face is exposed.

Under unusual circumstances, it may be prudent to give the baby vitamin D. For example, in situations where exposure of the baby to ultraviolet rays of the sun is not possible (Northern Canada in winter or if the baby is never taken outside), giving the baby vitamin D drops would be advised. If you have had very little outside exposure yourself (women who are veiled are particularly at risk, especially if they are dark skinned), make sure your intake of vitamin D during the pregnancy is higher than usually recommended. Your baby may need vitamin D supplementation as well. Recent studies suggest that high intake of vitamin D while breastfeeding (4000 IU a day—10 times the usual recommended dose) does in fact increase the amount of vitamin D in the milk to levels that will protect the baby from rickets.

Health Canada and other government organizations, given the change in the way we live, have recommended that all babies be supplemented with vitamin D. Artificially fed babies have vitamin D already added to their milk artificially at the factory.