Babies grow at an astonishing rate, with the average baby doubling in weight in the first four to six months of life. Adequate nutrition is essential to healthy growth and development, and while a newborn will get most of the nutrients he or she needs from formula and/or breastmilk, supplements may be necessary to make up for vitamin deficiencies. One such deficiency that parents may need to account for is a vitamin D deficiency.
Why Do Babies Need Vitamin D?
Vitamin D plays a crucial role in all phases of growth and development, as it aids in the absorption of calcium, which contributes to bone strength. If an infant has too low of levels of vitamin D, he or she is at an increased risk of growing up with weak bones. Weak bones are more likely to develop rickets, which is a childhood condition characterized by soft bone that is more susceptible to breaks and fractures.
While breast milk contains nearly all the nutrients infants need to grow and thrive, it is low on vitamin D. As a result, breastfed babies tend to be more vitamin-deficient than their formula-fed counterparts. To account for this deficiency, many pediatricians will recommend that parents supplement their little ones’ diets with vitamin D drops.
Ways To Give Your Baby Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a naturally occurring element that can be found in certain foods and sunlight. The problem is that exposing infants to vitamin D through these elements can be dangerous, if not impossible. That said, there are certain tricks you can try to increase your little one’s vitamin D intake naturally, such as the following:
- Take your baby outside but ensure he or she is adequately protected with sunscreen and proper clothing. Remember, babies should not be exposed to direct sunlight before 6 months old.
- Supplement your little one’s diet with fortified formula.
- If you breastfeed, eat foods rich in vitamin D, such as yogurt, salmon, mushrooms and milk.
- Supplement with about 4,000 IUs of vitamin D daily to ensure your breast milk contains a sufficient amount for your baby.
It also doesn’t hurt to be proactive. By supplementing with vitamin D and getting plenty of sun exposure while pregnant, you can give your baby-to-be a head start.
Wellements Vitamin D Drops (Benefits & Ingredients)
Even if you supplement your little one’s diet with formula and eat foods rich in vitamin D, it may not be enough. Just one drop of Wellements Organic Vitamin D Drops contains the daily recommended dose of vitamin D for breastfed babies. Unlike other supplements on the market, our organic vitamin D drops contain zero artificial ingredients and are alcohol, gluten, dairy, soy, dye and paraben-free. In fact, these drops are made up of just three organic ingredients: Organic extra virgin olive oil, palm medium chain triglyceride oil and vitamin D3.
How to Give Your Baby Vitamin D Drops
Administering our organic vitamin D drops to your little one is as simple as its list of ingredients. Before removing the cap, tip the bottle upside down. Mix a single drop in with your baby’s food, milk or formula, or place a drop on the nipple of a bottle or pacifier. That’s it — once you have done that, store the bottle in a dry, cool place until the next day.
Vitamin D is essential to your infant’s growth and development and his or her overall health. To ensure your little one receives the nutrients necessary to thrive, supplement his or her diet with Wellements Organic Vitamin D Drops.