Why Is Vitamin D important for babies and how should they get it? Here is the information that every parent needs to know about making sure their infant is getting enough of this important nutrient.
Babies grow at an astounding rate in the first few months of their life, almost doubling their birth weight within the first six months of life. During this critical stage, it is pivotal for babies to get proper nutrition to aid their growth. Vitamin D is a critical aspect of this nutrition. It helps the body to absorb calcium and build strong bones. Therefore, vitamin D vital for every baby.
However, Vitamin D is not found naturally in many foods. Breast milk alone does not provide babies with an adequate amount of vitamin.
In this article, we bring you all the information about the importance of vitamin D for your baby and how to prevent them from developing a vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D is also called the sunshine vitamin. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in a few Vitamin D foods. It is also produced endogenously when ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight trigger vitamin D synthesis in the body.
At birth, babies have a limited amount of vitamin D stores transferred from the mother during pregnancy. After birth, the infant can obtain vitamin D through the mother’s milk. But breast milk has low amounts of vitamin D (4 to 40 IU per litre), which may not be enough to meet the baby’s needs. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants younger than 6 months stay out of direct sunlight completely. Therefore, babies need vitamin D supplements.
Vitamin D works for babies by promoting healthy growth and development. It helps to build strong, healthy bones and teeth. This is done by boosting the intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorus.
Without sufficient vitamin D, the body can only absorb 10% to 15% of dietary calcium. When the body has sufficient vitamin D, the intestinal calcium absorption increases to 30% to 40%.
Babies who don’t get enough vitamin D develop a Vitamin D deficiency. If the levels continue to be low for a prolonged period, the baby is at risk of getting rickets. Rickets is a bone, a disease that affects the way bones grow and causes soft malformed bones. Vitamin D is also important to build and maintain strong teeth.
Babies need the best vitamin D supplements to meet the demands of their growing body.
Vitamin D supplements are available at HERA. HERA’s Strong Baby Enhancer pregnancy formula contains the right ingredients like calcium and Vitamin D in the correct dosages to bridge any gaps in nutrition during pregnancy that affect your baby’s skeletal system development.
The doctor-formulated range contains 400 IU Vitamin D that helps in the baby’s bones, joint and teeth development
Vitamin D supplements taken in mega doses for a long time can cause toxicity in the body. This results from levels greater than 100 ng/ml (250 nmol/l) are considered potentially harmful.
The vitamin D supplement side effects are related to excessive calcium in the blood and includes symptoms like
Hera Pro Tip: Speak to the doctor before starting any dietary supplement for yourself or your baby..- HERA
Low vitamin D levels in infants can cause:
According to the World Health Organisation, vitamin D deficiency in babies also causes:
If your baby is fully or partially fed with infant formula, speak with your pediatrician before giving the vitamin D supplements to avoid an overdose. Always ensure that your baby does not receive more than 400 international units (IUs) of vitamin D a day
Vitamin D deficiency is believed to be common among pregnant women. Therefore, it is necessary for pregnant women to take a vitamin D supplement. It is especially important as it helps in the development of the baby’s bones, teeth, kidneys, heart and nervous system to develop. It also helps reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia, low birth weight and preterm birth.
There is a consensus on the need for vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy. However, there is very little information on vitamin D intake in pregnancy and very few studies on clinical outcomes.
Vitamin D is a vital nutrient for our body at all ages and stages of life. However, a person cannot only depend on sunlight or vitamin D foods for sufficient doses of vitamin D in the body. It is, therefore, necessary to check your vitamin D levels regularly and take supplements if needed.
For babies, a Vitamin D deficiency can increase the risk of rickets and affect their bone growth and development
Hera’s Strong Baby Enhancer is the perfect source of Vitamin D needed for every expectant mother and baby.