Vitamin D for babies: How good to supplement?

Vitamin D supplementation for babies is one of the most important things a parent needs to do in the first year of life. Infants who get enough vitamin D will develop healthily, do not get rickets and have a healthier immune system.

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Signs of vitamin D deficiency in babies

Causes children to be deficient in vitamin D

Vitamin D supplements for babies like?

Beware of vitamin D poisoning

Some obvious manifestations of vitamin D deficiency are bowed legs, rickets, anorexia, poor mobility ... Vitamin D is essential for the development of infants , especially for strong bones and teeth. strong and steady. But not all parents know how to effectively supplement vitamin D for babies.

Signs of vitamin D deficiency in babies

Here are some common signs of Vitamin D deficiency in babies. Parents can refer to these signs to bring their children to the doctor promptly:

Rickets: This is the most common sign of vitamin D deficiency. However, some obese children may also be deficient in vitamin D, a phenomenon known as plump rickets .

Deformed bones: Legs bowed, sedentary, weak and young look, blue skin ...

Tapered wide

Poor feeding, constipation

Some signs of severe vitamin D deficiency, the child's bones may be deformed such as rib beads, deformed limbs ...

Vitamin D is an oil-soluble vitamin, so vitamin D supplementation should be done in parallel with ensuring enough fat for your baby.

Causes children to be deficient in vitamin D

Due to the psychology of many grandparents and parents that babies need to stay in a place with little sun, less wind, and warmth, they should not be exposed to the sun.

Live in an area with little sunlight

Babies born prematurely , poor ability to absorb substances

Black babies also have poor sun absorption and less vitamin D absorption than white babies

Children with liver and kidney disease, children are using some drugs such as epilepsy drugs (phenobarbital, phenytoin), anti-inflammatory corticosteroids (prednisolon, prednisolon) because they lose, interfere with the effects of vitamin D.

Vitamin D supplements for babies like?

Breastfeeding: Breast milk is an additional source of vitamin D for infants. So during breastfeeding, mothers should also supplement enough vitamin D to enrich this vitamin source in breast milk for babies. Foods that contain lots of vitamin D can be referred to as: meat, mackerel, sardines, eggs, butter, mushrooms, beans, orange juice ...

Nutritional supplement for mothers: Mothers should continue to take vitamins, calcium and drink milk 1 month after giving birth and supplement enough nutrients during lactation.

Daily sunbathing both mother and baby:  According to research, 80% vitamin D is synthesized in the skin under the effect of ultraviolet rays in direct contact on the skin. The remaining 20% ​​of vitamin D comes from breast milk and food. Sunbathing for your baby needs the right way. In the summer, babies can get enough vitamin D if they are sunbathed (best in the morning, before 8:00) about 5-10 minutes. Let your baby's hands, arms, legs, abdomen ... be exposed to sunlight. In winter, baby's sunbathing time may be a little longer. Overuse of sunbathing can cause skin burns, even skin cancer. Avoid giving your baby in the sun from 10g-15g

Vitamin D supplementation according to the instructions: In some cases, babies from 6 weeks to 18 months of age can supplement vitamin D 800-1,000 IU per day (if the baby is healthy); 1,500 IU (if the baby gets less sunlight) and 2,000 IU (if the baby has dark skin color). The use of vitamin D should be prescribed by a doctor. For severe rickets, your doctor may give your baby 1,200-5,000 IU / day for 4 weeks, then continue with the preventive dose. 

How to add vitamin D for babies by age Sunbathing is the simplest and most effective way of supplementing vitamin D for babies, but not the only way. You can increase vitamin D through the nutrition of your baby

Beware of vitamin D poisoning

Children can poison vitamin D if parents voluntarily give their children high doses of vitamin D for a long time without the instructions of a doctor. The symptoms are anorexia, weight loss, excessive urination, arrhythmia. More seriously, calcium accumulates in the blood vessels, heart, and kidneys and calcifies these places. Therefore, before giving any medicine to a child, including supplements, parents should consult a physician.

To prevent the lack or excess of vitamin D for infants, mothers should be equipped with proper nutritional knowledge to apply them in caring for their babies, helping their babies develop healthy momentum right in the first few months of life.