Vitamin D Intake for Infants and Children
Nancy Brenton, MD
Strasburg Family Health Center

"Reprinted From Lancaster County Woman Newspaper."

The America Academy of Pediatrics recently issued new guidelines for Vitamin D intake for healthy infants and children.  Based on conclusions drawn by the National Academy of Sciences, healthy infants and children should have an intake of at least 200 IU (international units) of Vitamin D daily to prevent rickets, a disease in which the bones become soft, weak, and bowed. 

Vitamin D is produced in our skin when we are exposed to sunlight.  We also absorb it in our intestines from certain foods such as vitamin D fortified milk and standard infant formulas.  It is unclear exactly how much sun exposure is required to maintain adequate Vitamin D levels.  Sunlight exposure can be limited in some climates.  Additionally in some cultures less skin is exposed to the sun because of dressing standards.  Skin cancer experts recommend keeping infants and children out of the direct sun during the hottest times of the day and using sunscreens with a high SPF. Although these are important in preventing skin cancer, sunscreens block the sun’s rays needed for the conversion of Vitamin D in the skin.  Finally, darker skinned children absorb less of the sun’s rays than lighter skinned children.  All of these factors make it harder for our children to get enough sunlight to maintain their Vitamin D levels.

Dietary sources of Vitamin D include standard infant formulas and Vitamin D fortified cow’s milk and soy milk.  About 16 oz of either per day will provide the 200 IU of Vitamin D recommended.

Breastmilk, although a superior source of nutrition for an infant, is lacking in Vitamin D.  The average “days worth” of breastmilk contains 12 to 60 IU of vitamin D.  Therefore the American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending Vitamin D supplementation for all breastfeeding infants starting at the age of 2 months.  Most over the counter infant multivitamin drops will supply this.  Generic versions are also available at a fraction of the cost.  Before starting your breastfeeding infant on a multivitamin discuss it with your child’s physician.