Vitamin D and Breastfeeding

absolutely supplement with Vitamin D. It does everything to help support growing bones to boosting immunity, protecting against certain cancers, etc. google it, it is all the hype these days. I give my baby carlson's Vitamin D3 drops. They have no odor or taste.When she was exclusively breastfeeding, I put a drop on my nipple before she ate. Now, I mix it in her foods(9 months) You can get them at whole foods or for less at vitacost.com. My whole family supplements. Carlson's are top of the line!

If you delay cord cutting then your baby has higher vit D levels and hemeglobin even at 6 months. Since your baby is a week old this isn't an option, but if your baby gets 20 minutes of sunlight/day, that is also good enough for Vit D. Realisticly, this works for summer babies, but not as well for fall/winter babies. I agree though - the stuff's nasty.

Hi!

I exclusively breastfed my twins, so I asked their pediatrician about vitamin D drops. I had read that breastfed babies need this, and so we had started giving to our boys, and then asked if we needed to. He said that in all honesty, my babies didn't need the supplement. I agree with another poster about taking vitamin D yourself, and it will pass through your milk to your daughter.

If you do give a supplement, the Enfamil brand did stain clothes. Even washing it right away and pre-treating didn't get rid of it. So beware!! We ruined a great outfit before we figured that one out.

My little one hated those vitamins, so I didn't give them to her. I'm due in 6 weeks, and I don't plan on giving my new baby those vitamin's either.

Besides, for the first 6 months, there is no need. Check out this page: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/vitamin-d.html

I wouldn't give a baby vitamin D drops if you are breastfeeding. However.....YOU should be taking vitamin D. It is so important.
Go to www.vitacost.com and buy some vitamin D 3. Ask your doctor OR chiropractor about an appropriate dose.
Your baby will subsequently get the vitamin through your breastmilk.

I've nursed 5 babies and never had my doctor recommend vit. D.

Hi, we're in Schaumburg! My 10-week-old takes Trivisol. In a week when they run out, I'll buy Polyvisol because he should have iron added very soon.
Check with your Dr., but I don't think a 2-week-old should have the iron kind. That can upset the stomach.
VItamin D, based on my readings, is VERY important, and breastfed babies don't get enough of it from mom's milk. Nature messed up there. :)
Note the iron kind stains teeth (no worries if no teeth). I had a terrible time with my toddler and iron liquid vitamins. I was happy when she could take chewable kind.
But, I would do everything possible to make sure the little one gets vitamin D drops.

M.,

I too have a newborn. Since I am breastfeeding exclusively I was told by the nurse practitioner to buy "Carlson Baby D drops" at a health food store in our area (All Ways Healthy in Lake Zurich).

It only takes one drop per day to fulfill the needed requirements to boost immunity, for health and development. It was a bit pricy at $22.50 for a 11ml bottle, but my child takes it while nursing (applied directly to the breast before I start the feeding) and has had NO side effects. I'd guess it's tasteless too b/c the baby has never made a face or turn away after starting to nurse.

She also said it could be applied onto food or into formula also.

I hope this helps! And congrats on the new baby!

Sara

Note: I saw the other replies. She said to try the Vit D drops since PolyVisol & TriVisol can stain clothing and that he didn't need any of the other vitamins.

I had used both of them before with other babies. When I asked why we needed D she said it was because D helps boost immunity and they are recommending anything to help the babies fare well through the cold and flu season. Plus since this is D only it's not from the formula companies. The only other ingredient is vegetable oil with no preservatives, colors added, etc.

Also, because we have "fall/winter babies" she said they simply can't get the direct sunlight needed to make it naturally in their own bodies. I asked, she said that window sunlight doesn't count as "direct sunlight" and that in the Midwest we don't get enough UVA rays in the wintertime anyway.

From the Tribune: http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/mar/22/health/chi...

Also from WebMd - check out page 2 for the AAP's recc on Vit D supplements in 2008 - http://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/news/20080519/supplemen...

For $22.50 - I'll try to "naturally" boost my baby's immunity with all the cooties going around - especially if my drs office recommended it.

E-mail me if you want to talk more!

I personally wouldn't give my breastfed baby something that is manufactured by a formula company. It isn't meant for her. take walks when you can and get her some sunlight! If anything, keep her by a window as much as possible. THat's the only way to truly get Vit D. It's not something you can ingest. Your body takes UV rays and metabolizes it to give you calcium which is why not enough D causes rickets or osteoporosis. Nothing given as a supplement is as good as the real thing.

We used Trivisol (at first, then Polyvisol) as recommended by our ped. starting when our baby was about the same age. He never had any issues with it! Good luck!