HealthTree Blog

Although breast milk provides an infant with immunity benefits and necessary nutrients it does not give a baby enough vitamin D. Even though most infants get enough vitamin D through sun exposure, there are growing cases of rickets in breastfed babies in the United States and it is recommended that supplemental amounts of this vitamin be given to infants. Rickets is a disease the causes softening of the bones and in small children may result in bowed legs, soft skulls and can delay crawling and walking. It can also cause problems such as osteoporosis later in life.

There are a number of reasons that an infant may not get adequate sun exposure. These include: Living at higher altitudes (the sun is weaker in these areas); high levels of air pollution; living in an area where the sun does not shine much (the northwest), having dark skin and using sunscreen. Physicians have recommended that babies younger than six months not be exposed to direct sunlight since it can be dangerous to them and seems to have a great impact upon an increased risk of skin cancer later in life.

Breast milk contains only about 25IU of vitamin D per liter and doctors recommend that infants be given supplements of 400IU daily. There are vitamins that are available over the counter to supplement the vitamin D intake. A pediatrician can provide parents with information concerning the amount and type of vitamin D supplementation. The supplementation of the vitamin is recommended in the first two months of life and even as early as just after birth. If an infant is given formula that is fortified with vitamin D along with breast milk the amount of supplemental vitamin D may be decreased. After a child begins drinking regular milk supplementation is no longer needed.