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Advice for parents of under 3s on getting enough Vitamin D.
General advice on Vitamin D use is on NHS Inform.
Vitamin D has a number of important functions and is needed to support bone and muscle health.
Our main source of vitamin D is sunlight. In Scotland, we only get enough of the right kind of sunlight for our bodies to make vitamin D between April and September. From October to March, we need to rely on dietary sources of vitamin D. Since vitamin D is found only in a small number of foods, it might be difficult to get enough from foods that naturally contain vitamin D and/or fortified foods alone.
Everyone, including children, should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms (10μg) of vitamin D particularly during the winter months (October – March).
Some groups are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency and it is specifically recommended that they take a daily supplement all year round. These groups include:
Advice to take vitamin D supplements is based on recommendations from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) who provide independent advice to government based on scientific evidence.
Healthy Start multivitamins contain vitamin D and are recommended for all pregnant women and are provided free for the duration of pregnancy. Ask your midwife, family nurse or health visitor about where you can get your free vitamins from locally.
Vitamin D drops are available free for infants and children from birth until their 3rd birthday. Ask your midwife, family nurse or health visitor about where you can get your free vitamin D from locally.
A new-born infants vitamin D level depends on their mother’s level during her pregnancy. Although mother’s level will be higher if a supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D was taken for the duration of pregnancy, it is still advised that all new born infants have additional vitamin D. Also, as it is advised that infants are protected from the sun, this is another good reason why infants need additional vitamin D.
The free vitamin D drops for babies contain the recommended daily dose of 10μg.
Remember if you have taken vitamin D in pregnancy you will have a few weeks before your babies stores are likely to be low so take your time and give your baby time to get used to taking them.
All infants who are breastfed or have breast milk and those breastfeeding are entitled to free vitamin D supplements.
Infants fed both breast and formula milk, or formula milk only, shouldn’t be given a vitamin D supplement until they’re having less than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day, as infant formula is fortified with vitamin D.
Breast milk is the ideal food for babies but, just like the rest of the population; it is likely that the baby will need extra vitamin D as the issue is related to a lack of sunlight rather than the breast milk. Although formula milk has added vitamin D, breastfeeding improves the health of mothers and children and should remain the first choice.
Too much vitamin D may be harmful. For most people, 10 micrograms per day is enough and is safe:
Advice for parents of under 3s on getting enough Vitamin D information retained but information but general advice page unpublished and redirected to relevant section on NHS Inform.
Updated sections on babies/children and pregnant/breastfeeding women to reflect current situation.
Updated the information about the potential harm from too much vitamin D.
Updates to what is our advice, pregnant women and availability of vitamin D sections.
Updated guidance to include seasonal references for Vitamin D use.
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