Giving specific daily doses of Vitamin D for Children and infants is extremely important due to its vital role in their healthy growth and its contribution to building their bones and teeth.
It is considered one of the essential vitamins that support vital body functions in young ones, as well as strengthening their immune system and protecting them from many diseases.
Moreover, a child cannot obtain vitamin D through breastfeeding, especially with limited exposure to sunlight, which makes its deficiency common among young children and negatively affects their health.
To learn more about the importance of vitamin D for infants and children and the doses they should receive, follow the upcoming lines in this article on evercare.
The Importance of Vitamin D for Infants
Giving vitamin D to infants and children daily in specific doses helps facilitate the absorption of phosphorus and calcium they get from various food sources and balances them within the body.
Additionally, it plays a key role in supporting the health of bones and teeth and assisting in the child’s healthy growth.
Vitamin D also helps maintain the immune system in children and regulates the growth of cells in the body.
Since children at this age after birth may not be exposed to enough sunlight to obtain vitamin D, and they rely solely on milk as a source of nutrition, whether it is breast milk or formula designed for them.
One of the most important symptoms of vitamin D deficiency at this stage is the increased likelihood of the child developing serious conditions such as rickets, soft bones, and osteoporosis, which are among the most common diseases in infants and children.
You can also read about your Complete Guide to Drip Vitamin
Vitamin D Drops Dosages for Children
Vitamin D deficiency issues are long-term problems that require extended treatment periods, which necessitate taking dietary supplements to avoid symptoms that may affect the patient’s health and condition, especially in children.
Children should also be regularly exposed to sunlight to help them obtain vitamin D from it, in addition to consuming healthy foods rich in vitamin D and calcium, such as drinking a cup of milk or its derivatives daily.
Some of the main dietary sources of vitamin D include the following:
- Tuna fish
- Fortified breakfast cereals
- Liver
- Beef
- Eggs
- Some types of mushrooms
Required Doses of Vitamin D for Children
The recommended dosage for children older than 1 year is about 600 IU, equivalent to 15 micrograms.
These doses can be obtained through dietary supplements available as vitamin D drops or syrup.
If the child suffers from severe vitamin D deficiency, confirmed by lab tests showing a level below 30 nmol, then the child should receive intensive doses under medical supervision, which often reach 10,000 IU daily for children over one year old.
You can also read about Vitamin Supplement: One Daily Dose Ensures You Live Healthy and Active
Vitamin D Drops Dosage for Infants
Vitamin D drop dosages for infants are determined according to their age and the severity of deficiency symptoms, as specified by the doctor for cases with severe deficiency.
The usual dosages are:
- Children under 1 year old: Should receive 400 IU of vitamin D, equivalent to 10 micrograms.
- Children aged 6 months to 1 year: Prescribed dosage is 6000 IU daily.
- Infants aged 1 month to 6 months: Appropriate dosage is 3000 IU daily.
- Infants under 1 month: Dosage is 1500 IU.
These doses are considered initial and doctors usually recommend continuing them for no more than 6 weeks in cases of severe vitamin D deficiency, according to the Nottingham Children’s Hospital protocol.
Afterward, a 400 IU dose should be continued daily in the form of drops or syrup.
You can also read about Iron Stores in the Body: Symptoms of Deficiency and Treatment Method
Best Vitamin D for Children in Pharmacies
In the early stages of life immediately after birth, the child needs to receive specific doses of vitamin D, which leads doctors to prescribe it to parents for their children in the form of drops or syrup.
Among the best types of vitamin D available in pharmacies for children and infants are the following:
Osteocare Syrup for Children
This type of vitamin D for children contains a group of vitamins and minerals beneficial for the child’s health and supports their immune system, bone, and dental health; osteocare syrup contains calcium and zinc.
To determine the correct dose of this syrup for the child, the treating doctor must be consulted, especially since excess intake of calcium-containing treatments may lead to kidney problems.
Vidrop Oral Drops for Infants
Vidrop is considered one of the best types of vitamin D given to infants. It comes in a 15 ml bottle with a dropper to be used directly in the child's mouth.
Vidrop helps prevent many bone-related diseases such as rickets and osteoporosis. Each 1 ml of drops for infants contains 2800 IU.
PediaCal Syrup for Children
The daily dose of PediaCal for children varies depending on the infant’s age.
Infants under 6 months should not receive more than a quarter teaspoon daily, while children over one year may receive up to half a teaspoon daily.
Nonetheless, it is advised not to give any doses of PediaCal to children without consulting a doctor, as it contains calcium, vitamin B12, and vitamin D3.
Decal B12 Syrup for Children
Decal contains a group of essential vitamins and minerals, most notably vitamin B12, calcium, and vitamin D.
It supports bone and dental health, helps prevent rickets and osteoporosis, and also promotes brain and nerve health.
Decal B12 should be given to children under medical supervision due to its calcium content, as excessive calcium intake poses a risk to kidney health.
You can also read about Vitamin A for Children with Severe Measles
FAQs About Vitamin D for Children
Is it necessary to give my child vitamin D?
Yes, vitamin D is one of the essential elements children and infants must receive in specific daily doses to support the health of their bones, teeth, and overall healthy growth.
What fruits are rich in vitamin D?
Fruits rich in vitamin D include oranges and bananas, but they are not sufficient to replace the need for daily vitamin D drops for children, under a doctor’s consultation.
Should vitamin D drops for children be kept in the fridge?
Vitamin D drops should be stored at a temperature below 25°C and should not be refrigerated or placed in the fridge.
sources
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/ar/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/expert-answers/vitamin-d-for-babies/faq-20058161
- https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/vitamin-d/
- https://www2.hse.ie/babies-children/weaning-eating/nutrition-baby/vitamin-d/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5607921/
- https://www.nhs.uk/baby/weaning-and-feeding/vitamins-for-child
