Vit D drops for breastfed newborns - which ones?

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I'm sorry for the barrage of questions... you can tell I'm on mat leave and worrying about everything we haven't done!

The NHS website recommends vit d drops for newborns if they are breastfed, and I'm hoping to breastfeed. I had a look in Holland and Barrett and Boots and most of them seem to say 'from 4 months'. Has anyone else given drops from birth? If so, which ones? My midwife was clueless.

You'll get them for free from the health visitor. Tablets for you and drops for baby.

I didn't get any. Do I need them?

We got ours from Holland and Barrett, they were 0-12 months.

They are recommended. Children's centres should give them out too

It's coming into the summer, 10mins-15mins outside with no sun cream (even on a cloudy day) will do far more good than any tablet.

We use abidec ones, we didn't use from birth as guidance was different then but fairly certain they can be used from birth

Maybe free drops are dependent on the NHS trust. I seemed to have everyone trying to give me free vitamins following my DS birth in December.

Is this a new thing? My baby is now nearly 2 and I was told vit d drops from 6 months.

Abidec

Guidelines have changed since I had an infant, though

Must be new...was from 6 months with my first. We gave her Abidec (3 for £10 in Asda) and I guess we'll start the baby when it arrives with them too if that's the latest guidelines. No free vits for us here.

I was told this too for DD2. Wasn't a thing with DD1 3 years ago. All the ones I can find say from 4 or 6 months, even the ones from children's centre. I dont get them free as we aren't on benefits, but they are subsidised from children's centre.

Mine weren't benefit dependent. We are in quite a deprived area which may make a difference.

If you take baby outside without too much covering them up ie bare arms and head but not in direct sunshine, then they will surely get enough sun to make their own Vit D.
Lots of people never go outside these days and end up deficient.
I just googled and Laleche website says :-
Exclusively breastfed healthy, full-term infants from birth to six months who have adequate exposure to sunlight are not at risk for developing vitamin D deficiency or rickets. Rickets occurs because of a deficiency in sunlight exposure, not because of a deficiency in human milk

If you can get the Sure Start ones (either from the children's centre or they stock them in our local Superdrug) then use them - they are measured out by drops so have found them far easier than the tiny syringes most of the brands use. Plus a lot of the brands seem to have much less vit D than the guidance suggests.

Thank you all. Yes, I think it is a fairly new recommendation, but we have some bone issues that run in our family so I'm keen to follow it. Phalarope that's a great tip, thank you!

Don't they get enough vitamin d through the breast milk if the mother takes vit d tablets?

Abidec stain and smell beefy my lo takes ones from the sure start/primary care.
Theyve gone up to £2.10 at last purchase. They stadted at £1.20 the abidec ones etc were 6quid odd.

In my area and maybe others you can get free drops at the health centre and children's centre. And I've seen the same ones for sale in super drug (much cheaper than branded).

Depending on where you live, you might be able to get them free from the chemist too. I think some are signed up to a scheme. So maybe ask on your local one.

If you're exclusively breastfeeding and you take a high-dose vitamin D (6400 IU/day) then no need to supplement until you start weaning/mix feeding. It's new advice as so many people are deficient in the UK that they can't be certain breastmilk will contain high enough levels.

Reference here if anyone's interested
pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/early/2015/09/22/peds.2015-1669.full.pdf