However, these foods should not be given to a baby until they are old enough to consume solids.ĭiscuss your needs with your baby’s doctor. Vitamin D is found in many food sources, including fatty fish, cod liver oil, eggs, and mushrooms. However, if you’re exclusively nursing or feeding less than 32 ounces (946 mL) of formula per day, pediatricians recommend giving your baby a supplement.Įven though breast milk is considered a “perfect food” for your growing baby, it likely doesn’t contain enough vitamin D to support your baby’s needs - even if you are taking a supplement yourself.
If you’re feeding your baby formula sold in the United States, it’s fortified with enough vitamin D that a supplement isn’t necessary. This can be tricky for infants younger than 6 months old, who should be kept out of direct sunlight - a natural source of vitamin D - because they’re too young for sunscreen ( 1, 2). The AAP recommends that infants receive 400 IU of vitamin D daily.
Most of us know about the benefits of vitamin D for bone health but may not realize that vitamin D also has potential benefits for mental health, immune function, and brain development in children, notes Elisa Song, MD, a holistic pediatrician.
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