To be panicking that I haven’t ever given 5-month-old vit D?

It’s just been summer so they’ve probably been able to make it from sunlight but would give from now as less sun strength. They will be fine- I always forgot and my kids are fine.

To add to those brushing this off (not to the OP, btw, but those telling her she doesn’t need to start with the vit D because they didn’t with their kids), I once worked with a woman with rickets. When she wasn’t working she could sleep for hours - 16 hours a day. And she often came into work with her wrists strapped up. And she was white. Apparently her doctor said she had the lowest vitamin D he’d ever seen in a white person!

I do think it’s a big problem nationwide .
To get sufficient vitamin D you need to expose quite a large area of skin for around 20 minutes every day (less or more depending on skin type) obviously without burning. Most people don’t do this.

Everybody needs to supplement between Oct and March in the UK.

I do often get my levels checked to make sure they’re optimal - as it’s so important.

I take a vit d spray everyday although it waned over the summer I took it every other day, but I have taking it regularly again.

My level was shocking (9) and it’s taken a high dose course and 4000IU daily after that to bring it up to 66 and I’m still trying to increase it more
I think a lot of people don’t know about it
and I’m a pale redhead so thought I was ok!

My understanding from my Doctor was that everyone should probably take Vit D. This came to light following a blood test carried out on DS when he was about 18. It highlighted low Vit D, but the Dr said it was actually no lower than most people in the UK who were actually tested, and suggested that everyone in the family take it to avoid him feeling there was a specific problem.

DH and I still take it every day, but DS didn't want to after a few weeks.

I was given vitamin D drops for my little one ebf given the advice is to keep them out of direct sunlight too it does make sense he’s 2 now but I wouldn’t worry @FrogOfFroggHall just start now. She’s been through the sunnier, lighter seasons probably won’t make any difference it’s to help absorb calcium and I’ll bet you’re getting plenty of that to make sure it’s in your milk x

At least 2012, if not before.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7c59a3ed915d338141e3af/dh_132508.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Really. No idea when it was introduced as I’m not a doctor, I have small children and this is the advice given currently.

incidentally, my husband was told he is vit-d deficient and should take a supplement. The doc said that most people are and should supplement.

You need to be out all day to get the recommended allowance of sunlight in the UK, that’s why the NHS recommends it.

I was given Vit D drops when DD was born 16 years ago. Rickets was on the rise.

Oh that's interesting

Really? When was this decided? I didn't do this for my dc, but they are old now

Vitamin D deficiency is a huge problem in this country. Hence the NHS recommendations. Deficiency is linked to many conditions as it is actually a hormone.

You can obviously apear fíne and have a deficiency. I would encourage everyone to take it and give it to your children.

Severe, prolonged deficiency can lead to a whole host of conditions. We really shouldn’t be dismissing this. For example, low vitamin D has been linked to certain cancers. Low vitamin D is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease…

I don’t know why anyone would not take it.

I will reiterate that OP’s baby will be absolutely fine. It’s been summer and they are only 5 months old. But I would start the drops now as we go in to autumn and winter.

I did the same, and EBF, I simply forgot or was unaware. I was paranoid she would develop rickets because of it (bow legged) but she's hasn't and she's fine. She's 3 now.

My kids are 19, 14 and 6 and not one of them have had vitamin D supplements. I didn't even know this was a thing! My kids are all healthy, rarely unwell and are good weights and heights so I don't really think this is something you need to worry about.

I agree, I think it’s the only supplement the NHS recommends as a blanket thing for everyone (maybe folic acid for all women in pregnancy is the only comparator). This isn’t a Holland & Barrett advert telling everyone to take it.

DD is 15 and was ebf. Advice then was to introduce vitamin drops at 6 months. She (and all her ebf peers are absolutely fine). We’ve had a good summer so assuming you’ve taken her out in the pram most days, she’ll have made a lot of her own vitamin D over the last few months. I really wouldn’t worry.

You can get a bottle of NHS vitamins A C and D from your local clinic for a couple of pounds. Five drops a day. Much better than expensive ones from high st chemists!

I am not sure it’s a good idea to downplay the importance of vitamin D.

Of course OP’s baby will be absolutely fine. But it’s recommended for a reason and the NHS do not recommend many supplements. There’s a huge amount of science and data behind this. I have been part of a study on vitamin D and cancer for example.

My DS is about to enter 2nd year of uni studying Law. He is well over 6 foot tall, sporty and built like I walk around with personal protection :)

We are in the North of England and I have never given him vitamin D, as a baby or since.

There's so many things society gets to beat new mums up with. If your baby is happy and healthy, youre doing a great job 👍

I have 5 DC, all were EBF. My youngest is 15, oldest 33, and I was never once advised to give any supplements to any of them. They’re all very fit healthy and sporty.

It’s bizarre and frankly a bit unbelievable to me that breast milk is not enough for a baby; if that really were the case then the human race would have died out millennia ago.

It’s fine to start now and no harm will have been done. But vitamin D is really important for everyone to take between Oct-March in this country.