Baby Health Clinic
Frequently Asked Questions Parents have about their Baby
Vitamin D From birth to 5 years of age
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Vitamin D helps to control the amount of calcium and phosphate in our bodies.
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Both are needed for healthy bones, teeth and muscles.
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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.
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Our main source of vitamin D is from the action of sunlight on our skin.

Infants and Vitamin D Guidelines
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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
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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
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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.
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Children aged 1 to 4 years should have a daily 10mcg vitamin D supplement all year round.
Where to Buy Vitamin D
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Vitamin D supplements are widely available from local supermarkets and chemists.
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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
SACN (2016) Vitamin D and Health https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/537616/SACN_Vitamin_D_a nd_Health_report.pdf