My baby is exclusively breastfed and the pediatrician told me to start giving
her Vitamin D drops. Is this necessary or is there something I can include
in my diet to boost Vitamin D in my milk?
Vitamin D is important because it helps with the absorption of Calcium, which
is critical for your baby’s bone development. It is activated by sunlight on the
skin for approximately 15 minutes several times a week; however, due to the
risk of sunburn it is not recommended babies be exposed to the sun for this
amount of time. Breastmilk is very low in Vitamin D, but is well absorbed and
should be adequate for baby if mom’s body has adequate levels. If mom has
darker skin or very little skin exposure to sunlight, a supplement is needed for
baby. If you don’t meet the “at risk” criteria for Vitamin D deficiency, discuss
with your child’s doctor whether the supplement is still necessary and make a
plan for monitoring to prevent compromising your child’s bone health.
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