Vitamin D | Baby Health Clinic

Vitamin D From birth to 5 years of age

Vitamin D helps to control the amount of calcium and phosphate in our bodies.
Both are needed for healthy bones, teeth and muscles.
Vitamin D is found naturally in a small number of foods, including oily fish, red meat, liver and egg yolks. It's also found in fortified foods like breakfast cereals and fat spreads.
Our main source of vitamin D is from the action of sunlight on our skin.

Infants and Vitamin D Guidelines

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recommend that pregnant and breastfeeding women take a vitamin D supplement of 10 micrograms (or 400 units) daily.

BreastFed Babies

Babies from birth to 1 year of age who are being breastfed should be given a daily supplement containing 8.5 to 10 micrograms (µg) of vitamin D to make sure they get enough. This is whether or not you're taking a supplement containing vitamin D yourself.

Infant Formula Fed Babies

Babies who have more than 500ml of formula (about a pint) a day don't need a vitamin D supplement as infant formula is already fortified. If less then 500ml, all babies should have a daily 8.5-10mcg vitamin D supplement to make sure they get enough.
Children aged 1 to 4 years should have a daily 10mcg vitamin D supplement all year round.

Where to Buy Vitamin D

Vitamin D supplements are widely available from local supermarkets and chemists.
Vitamins are available free to low-income families through the Healthy Start scheme.

CBHC 2.2.2021] National Health Service 2019 The new guidelines on vitamin D – what you need to know, Thursday July 21 2016, https://www.nhs.uk/news/food-and-diet/thenew-guidelines-on-vitamin-d-what-you-need-to-know/

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. (2008) Public health guidance

PH11. Maternal and Child Nutrition. Updated (2014) Vitamin D: increasing supplement use in at-risk groups https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph56