Breastfed babies of Scotland and vitamin D

[Quercusrobur]

‘Ready steady baby’ tells me that breastfed babies up north need a daily vitamin D supplement-I don’t think I ever did this for my other two (although this was six years ago for my youngest, maybe a new thing?).

What is it, where can I get it and are you doing it? Would like to get some before baby arrives, currently 40+2...

I don’t think that’s unique to Scotland. It’s the recommendation throughout the UK AFAIK and has been in place in England since at least 2013 when I had my eldest. Health visitors sometimes give out free Healthy Start vit D drops but otherwise you can get them from any chemist. It’s also advised that the breastfeeding mother takes a vit D supplement.

Not unique to scotland at all. All Breastfed babies and formula fed babies taking less than 500mls should take a supplement. In Scotland its probably more needed as you can't make vitamin D from the sun at this time of year

The health visitor should give you it on their firat visit or as above you can buy from the chemist

It's the same advice here in England - including in the South. I have a 5 year old and I didn't give her vitamins till she was 6 months old as that was the advice then; I think it changed shortly afterwards.

Not new to Scotland but it is something that seems be being a pushed more at the moment.

Due to covid /lockdown the NHS has changed their recommendation that everyone should take vitamin d over winter months to all year as people are getting less exposure to sunlight. There is some early evidence that suggests vitamin d might improve how to react to covid 19 but as will all things covid it is too early to tell for sure.

I am taking a multivitamin with vitamin d for myself and I have baby d drops for my baby. These drops have the full dose in one drop, some of the others require you to give 0.5ml a day. Drops are placed on the nipple prior to a feed.... One drop is much easier than 0.5mls worth!

no, not a new thing.
I was advised (15 years ago in se) to give dc vit d from birth if bf.

Same in England. Wellkid do vitamin D drops. I’m sure with DD1 who is four the advice at times was just for Mum to take a high dose of vitamin D. Either way it wasn’t advertised and I’m sure I was told breast milk contains everything a baby needs.

It's the same guidance elsewhere, I used the drops as they were a lot easier.

Oh wow, either I have lost all memory of this or my poor babies were deprived! I think I thought breast milk had it all.

Superscientist I’d heard that about Covid too so was planning on continuing with some form of multivitamin for myself after the birth anyway...

Thanks for the replies!