What Parents Need to Know about Vitamin Supplements for Infants

As a new parent, you are undoubtedly full of questions about how to care for your baby. From sleeping to eating, your baby’s needs are changing daily, and it can be challenging to figure out exactly what they need, when they need it. One of the most common questions concerns vitamin supplements for infants. Do they need them? And, if so, what type is best, and how often should they be given?

Both formula-fed and breast-fed babies require a wide range of vitamins and minerals. And, it can be challenging to ensure that they are receiving adequate amounts – particularly when they are not yet consuming solid foods.

The following provides some guidelines on vitamin supplements for infants, and when it might be necessary to give your baby a formula designed specifically for infants.

Vitamin D
While the body does make its own vitamin D with exposure to sunlight, infants and toddlers who are kept out of the sun and who are using sunscreen could be at risk of Vitamin D deficiency. Because almost all infant formulas contain vitamin D, most formula-fed babies do not need additional supplementation. However, babies who are exclusively breast fed may require vitamin D drops to receive their daily requirement. Many of the best infant vitamins, such as Animal Parade Baby Plex Sugar-Free Liquid Drops, will contain vitamin D to ensure that this nutritional requirement is being met.

Iron 
Iron is necessary for both growth and development in infants and toddlers. Breast milk supplies ample amounts of iron for a baby’s first six months. However, additional iron is required after that and can be consumed in iron-fortified cereals, dark leafy vegetables, and meat. Most formulas are iron-fortified and can be used throughout the first year of life. Thus, it is rarely necessary to provide iron in the form of a supplement for an infant or toddler. Before doing so, it is very important to consult with your child’s pediatrician.

Once Solid Foods Are Introduced
Most babies begin eating some amounts of food at around four to six months. First starting with iron-fortified cereals, and then progressing on to fruits, vegetables, and meats in the form of pureed foods, some babies will develop significant food preferences and aversions that make it necessary to add vitamin supplements for infants.

Infant and toddler nutritional formulas typically contain balanced amounts of:
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Thiamin
• Riboflavin
• Niacin
• Vitamin B-6
• Vitamin B-12

The percentage of daily value (DV) should not exceed 150% for one vitamin to prevent a possible overdose. And, it is never a good idea to give an infant, toddler, or young child a vitamin supplement for adults. Vitamin supplements for infants are formulated with amounts that meet the needs of small, but growing bodies.

Providing Vitamin D in Infant Vitamin Supplements

While it may be difficult to believe that babies in the United States could be at risk of a serious vitamin deficiency, the reality is that a large majority of them are at risk and could benefit from infant vitamin supplements. Vitamin D deficiency has become a health crisis among both breastfed and formula fed babies.

In fact, the numbers are rather startling. According to the CDC, only one in five formula-fed babies and one in 20 breastfed babies are getting enough vitamin D in their diets. These numbers have prompted the American Academy of Pediatrics to double their recommended daily intake of the vitamin for infants and children from 200 to 400 IUs per day. Just as surprising, only a small portion of these babies who are at risk are receiving infant vitamin supplements.

Vitamin D deficiency is a serious problem because it can lead to a bone-weakening disorder called rickets. This condition can cause a variety of problems including stunted growth, broken bones, and bow legs in children. Babies in cold climates and those who have darker skin are also more prone to getting rickets because they are not getting enough exposure to sunlight to produce the necessary vitamin D that the body requires. Some recent studies have also suggested that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of respiratory infection and type 1 diabetes in children.

Non-existent in the United States for many decades, rickets is making a comeback primarily with breast-fed babies who are not receiving enough vitamin D in breast milk. Formula-fed babies who consume less than a liter of formula per day are also at risk. Fortunately, there is a simple solution - adding infant vitamin supplements.

When looking for the best infant vitamins for a possible vitamin D deficiency in your child, it’s a good idea to choose a natural supplement that provides the complementary nutrients that are optimal for maximum absorption and utilization. For example, Animal Parade Vitamin D3 200 IU Liquid Drops features natural flavoring and 50% of the daily value for vitamin D in each drop. This product is also gluten-free and 100% natural.

Infant vitamin supplements are a simple solution for preventing a serious condition. With more parents aware of the risks of vitamin D deficiency, the use of these supplements will hopefully increase and the cases of rickets, a completely preventable condition, can be avoided.