Guidelines for vitamin D and calcium supplements for infants

1. Guidelines for vitamin D and calcium supplements for infants Similar to adults, vitamin D is also essential for the development of bone, teeth, and immune systems in children. It is also important for regulating inflammation and ensuring your brain health. Now, you may get ample vitamin D from vitamin D-rich food but what about your baby? If you are thinking about the same, this article is for you. The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) recommends babies to be fed with exclusively only breast milk till the age of 6 months. Human milk contains a natural balance of vitamins C, E, and B. This means that if you and your baby are well-nourished and healthy, you may not require supplements for these vitamins. Breastfed babies, however, do require supplemental vitamin D or intake it from the sources of vitamin D. Why Do Babies Need Vitamin D Supplements? Humans produce vitamin D from sunlight. Hence, an ample dose of daily sunlight is required to boost vitamin D levels in your body. Children, on the other hand, are prone to sunburns. Hence, you also need to protect them with sunscreen, hat, or other protective clothing when outdoors.

2. This may seem like a constant dilemma. For this very reason, AAP recommends all babies receive vitamin D supplements. This is, however, not required if your baby is consuming more than 27 ounces per day of commercial formula that has vitamin D supplements added.