Do you give your breastfed baby vitamin drops?

[haloflo]

Specifically vitamin D? My friend is a nutrition student and said that its recommended to give breastfed babies vitamin D drops. I asked the HV who said only sick or babies who don't eat well need them. Who is right? From googling it looks like the NHS line is to give them. If its so important then why has no one told me this until now then?!

DD is 10mo and a picture of health.

Its been in the news over the last few days.

Yes I do give them.

I do give mine vitamin drops (he's almost 11 months, and breastfed), but only because his diet is so restricted due to various intolerances. It was suggested to me on that basis, and not as a matter-of-course-for-breastfed babies sort of thing.

Nope

Your HV is not following policy - maybe ask her why she has not said anything?

There are a few threads on this topic current - search this folder for them. There are some strong arguments in favour, but there's no doubt that some babies need the drops more than others.

I asked my HV about this - she said not to worry about vitamin drops as long as my boy was getting 10 mins of natural sunlight a day and having a broad and balanced diet. I kept up with Pregnacare the whole time I was bf'ing as well (just over a year).
I'm interested to see what other people do/did.

I don't, but a HV suggested extra vitamins to me today (as in I should take them and they will pass to DD through BF, rather than giving direct).

Apparently the number of cases of rickets is increasing, due to lack of vitamin D.

Its not helped that I moved so saw my old health visitor at 5 months, then didn't see this HV until last week.

Thanks tiktok I'll have a look for the arguments.

I can't imagine many people in my area give them. I don't know anyone that does.

yes, both get 500iu a day during the winter months and I take 1000iu a day (history of broken bones)

NotSoSuperMa your HV is wrong, unless you are living in a southern hemisphere country? Here, in the UK, during the winter months (October through to April ish) the sunlight provides very little vit D, not enough. An easy way to judge whether or not you are getting vit D from standing in the sun is to look at your shadow. If your shadow is taller than you are then you aren't getting any Vit D. If your shadow is short you will be. So in the evenings during the summer you won't be getting any vit D either.

Vitamin drops are an easy to ensure you and your babies are getting enough.

Yes, but we live in central Europe where there is much less winter sunlight than in southern UK and babies have to be almost entirely wrapped up to avoid freezing. I think I'd have done it in the Uk as well, though.

Thanks, Right honestly, I sometimes wonder why I ask my HV anything.
So my 3m old baby will be getting Vit D from me (through my supplement) at the moment and by the time he's 6m there'll be a natural source of Vit D?

No one has ever told me to do this. Should I? As dd is 6 months old it's a bit late really.

Yes I have done with both my dc. Both got used to the taste and would get excited when vitamin syringe was coming towards them.

I do (vitamin D only) when I remember, now it's the winter. I don't think she eats enough foods rich in vitamin D to compensate for low sunlight. Not actually daily, though (I intend to do it daily, but sometimes (like today) I get to the end of the day and realise she hasn't had any).

I didn't do it with the older two, though, and they seem fine so far (doesn't rule out long term issues, admittedly)

I never have with my DS6 , DD5 or DD 16 months,have never been told to or heard that it is the done thing? Also don't know anyone that does,although that doesn't mean you don't have to.

I'm in Ireland and we are all told to give vit D daily til 1yr old, surprised the UK is different.

I give them to my 16mo, but he is a champion veg avoider. I seem to remember reading something in my postnatal bumf about giving Vit D (and taking a supplement) but can't remember if it was an NHS book/leaflet or not.

I was advised to take a supplement myself, I just took Calcium & Vit D from Boots.

yup in Ireland it's 'required' if you know what i mean, dd is 4 months now.

wasn't 2 yrs ago when ds was born. he seems healthy enough though!

I'm in same situation as fluffygal although my eldest is 7 and youngest is 2. I've never been told anything about Vitamin D drops so am going to ask my HV and see what she says.

As per NHS adivice i take 10ug of vit D a day, and 4m baby doesnt get drops

as soon as she is 6months old, as per NHS advice she will get drops with vitD in

What is this?
Mine are 4.5 and 2.5, both BF, both seem fine, have I missed something? No-one mentioned supplements of any kind.

good lord

However, the Department of Health recommends that the following people take daily vitamin D supplements:
all children aged six months to five years old

well this is new advice

fortunately we are into eggs, breakfast cereals and oily fish so, um, hopefully it's going to be OK

But my children are both between 6 months and 5 years

Never heard of this before - how is this advice supposed to be propagated?

Jesus. So why has neither my mw nor my hv told me that?

Well Jesus is quite an appropriate comment. Am totally foxed by this. Usually quite good on health stuff. Also over 65s supposed to take it every day. Who knew? Not my parents, and they were doctors, still get the BMJ etc

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