Supplemental Vitamin D for EBF baby?

[emilyash]

Not sure which forum this should go in....

When my DD was born (3.5 weeks ago), one of the Drs suggested Vit. D supplements for her. I've heard a lot about this in the media lately...I didn't do with with DS (19 mos).

What's the consensus here on this? Is this a new "vitamin fad" or a genuine dietary need? I'm still taking my prenatals.

If you do use Vit D drops, what kind do you use?

[ErinYay]

I'm a very pale, blue-eyed redhead, and V is a pale, blue-eyed blonde-redhead-strawberry blonde-dunno really, and even though she was a December baby, I didn't supplement with vit D, as I got a lot of fresh air and as much wintery sun as I could. (I mention our coloring because she and I need a minimal exposure to the sun to get our vit D- your exposure needs go up the more pigmented your skin is.) Her wonderful ped was fully on-board with this.

I personally wouldn't supplement a summer baby at all, but if you have a hard time getting enough sun it's definitely something to consider.

[emilyash]

We're all pale blue- & green- eyed redheads, too. Good to know! How much exposure time do we need? Can a newborn safely be exposed?

[Callimom]

Originally Posted by emilyash

Not sure which forum this should go in....

When my DD was born (3.5 weeks ago), one of the Drs suggested Vit. D supplements for her. I've heard a lot about this in the media lately...I didn't do with with DS (19 mos).

What's the consensus here on this? Is this a new "vitamin fad" or a genuine dietary need? I'm still taking my prenatals.

If you do use Vit D drops, what kind do you use?

I'd vote for genuine dietary need. There are vitamin D receptors in every type of cell in the body. The research is fascinating and both my doctor and naturopath are now recommeding supplementation for my family.

I have a daughter with Type 1 diabetes. Vitamin D deficiency which is pretty much a foregone conclusion for those living in the Northern Hemisphere is implicated in a large number of medical conditions - including the explosion of T1 diabetes, auto immune diseases, types of cancer etc.

We use NOW drops and forego sunscreen unless we are out in direct sun during the midday for more than 20 or 30 minutes at a stretch.

[emilyash]

Originally Posted by Karenwith4

We use NOW drops and forego sunscreen unless we are out in direct sun during the midday for more than 20 or 30 minutes at a stretch.

Can an infant take the NOW drops?

[Knitting Mama]

We're also pale, pale, pale here, and we do sun exposure (not hard living in the desert; we have more sunny days than cloudy by far-- something like 300 sunny days a year). I take my girl outside in just her diaper for 5 minutes every day, so she gets 35 minutes a week of sun. My ped says that's plenty.

[Casha'sMommy]

I have a condition that is worsened by sun exposure and we tend not to get out as much as I'd like so we use Carlson brand Vitamin D drops. Both ds (7.5mo) and I take the drops. DD (4yo) takes a multivitamin so she isn't taking the drops.

[St. Margaret]

i didn't w/ dd but plan to with this babe-- the new research is incredibly compelling. I also supp myself and dd quite a bit now too.

[ErinYay]

Originally Posted by emilyash

We're all pale blue- & green- eyed redheads, too. Good to know! How much exposure time do we need? Can a newborn safely be exposed?

Here's Mothering's article on vit D sups.

I get quite a bit of sun, at least 10-20 minutes a day (spread out over short periods) but I don't do direct sun for the baby, even though she already is showing slightly darker pigments (I'm very pink-based, she's more olive-based, like her dad- aka pale but can tan) mostly because it's been so hot *and* humid.

On less humid days, she gets some sun, while dressed and in a hat, but since she's still breastfed and is on a wide range of solids, I really don't sweat her actual exposure time.

We also don't use sunscreen, other than at one all-day family party outside. We use light blankies and hats to keep her out of direct sun, and I'm always more than happy to move with her into the shade!

[1blueheron]

We don't use them. Sometimes DH and I take cod liver oil in the winter, but right now I'm outdoors working at least 1-2 hours a day, plus a walk in the afternoon.

Also, I happily ignore the AAP recommendation to avoid direct sun under 6 mos. LO gets 30 minutes-1 hour of direct sun a day...without a hat!! Many of my friends IRL think I'm nuts, but I think it's bizarre the way not a single ray of light is allowed to touch their child.

I'm just not convinced that dietary vitamin D activates the same pathways. I read a study recently (you can google for it) that supp vit D increased UTIs in girls. A small percentage to be sure, but it tells me that we don't totally understand how this stuff works. That said, if we were darker skinned I'd take supplementing more seriously.

ETA: we worked up to our LO's current level of sun exposure gradually

[jillmamma]

I don't, but we are pale redheads too, and live in the intense sun of southeast Texas. I do apply sunscreen if we are swimming, otherwise we would be red lobsters that hurt. Our ped agrees that in our climate with so much sun, he is not as concerned as if we lived somewhere with less sun.

[leam811]

This came out in yesterday's New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/27/he...r=1&ref=health

Looks like 5-10 minutes a day at least 3x per week will get you what you need.

[toughcookie]

Originally Posted by ErinYay

I'm a very pale, blue-eyed redhead, and V is a pale, blue-eyed blonde-redhead-strawberry blonde-dunno really, and even though she was a December baby, I didn't supplement with vit D, as I got a lot of fresh air and as much wintery sun as I could. (I mention our coloring because she and I need a minimal exposure to the sun to get our vit D- your exposure needs go up the more pigmented your skin is.) Her wonderful ped was fully on-board with this.

I personally wouldn't supplement a summer baby at all, but if you have a hard time getting enough sun it's definitely something to consider.

i've also got a december baby. we're light-skinned, brown hair/brown eyed people. my ped thought it unnecessary to supplement, as they don't need the vit D right away from birth, and by the time baby was needing it, it was spring and we were out a lot more.

ETA: like blueheron, i've allowed baby some exposure to sun. if it's midday and blazing down sunny he gets a hat and sunscreen, but usually we are out daily for an hour or so in off-peak hours (early morning or just before dinner), with no hat or sunscreen.

[carmel23]

I've picked up the Carlson's Baby drops for the wintertime. We take CLO, but I figure this is a good way to get baby his D in the winter. It lasts for a whole year, doesn't have a taste, etc. and it is the D3, not the D2.

Right now we get sun every day, but the CLO really helps my big kids in the winter (keeps the S.A.D. away! ).

I think if you do want to give baby the D, look for the D3.

[belltree]

Also, you as the mom can supplement yourself. The babe will get the additional Vitamin D from you. I don't think that pale infants need supplements during the summer months. 3x 10min per week of sun is so easy to achieve, instead of spending money just go outside, or open a window and let him sleep at the window (in a safe spot).

[Quinalla]

Yeah, I supplement myself with vitamin D (especially in the winter as I am far enough north that there isn't enough sun getting through to make vitamin D here in the winter) and if I get enough there will be enough in her breastmilk too. And yes, sun exposure helps too which is something I try to do as well, morning sun works well IMO as it has other benefits and less likely to burn.

[neverdoingitagain]

First get yourself tested to see what your vitamin D levels are (25(0H)D test). If your levels are optimal, I wouldn't worry about.
If they are low, I would go with the sunlight + self supplement suggestion until 6 months then supplement both of you. The recommended dosage is 1000iu per 25lbs of bodyweight.

Vitamin D is not so much a "vitamin" as it is a very necessary secosteroid hormone.
Seriously, test first.
For more info
vitamin D council

[greenemami]

my family doc told me to supplement, but no need to supplement ds while he is still nursing. She said to make sure we get about 10-30 min max. ( I think, not sure about the exact time) of sunlight during the day without sunscreen. I really noticed a difference over the winter in terms of how many little colds and stuff we did not pick up as compared to the previous year and my dp who did not supplement.