Too many kids don’t get enough vitamin D
Kids need vitamins to help them grow strong and healthy. But a new study in this month’s Pediatrics journal finds that nearly 7 out of 10 kids aren’t getting enough vitamin D. This is alarming because vitamin D is an important nutrient in preventing bone-weakening diseases in children as well as other health complications that can occur later in life, like diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
The study examined over 6,000 children aged 1-21 and found that kids who spent more time watching TV, playing video games or using computers and drank milk less than once a week were more likely to have lower levels of vitamin D.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends babies, children and adolescents get 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D per day. Babies who are breastfeed can get this nutrient from vitamin D drops. Your baby’s pediatrician can and should prescribe multivitamin drops containing vitamin D to breastfed babies starting in the first 2 months of life.
Kids can get the right amount of vitamin D by eating foods that are fortified with vitamin D, taking a children’s multivitamin with vitamin D, and by spending some time playing outside in the sunshine (sunlight is a good source of vitamin D).
Tags: baby health, child health, children's multivitamin, infant health, multivitamin drops, multivitamins, vitamin D
August 7th, 2009 at 9:21 am
Hi Ivette,
Interesting information. I caught some of it on the news the other night. My daughter is 6 months old and still nursing. When she was a newborn her pediatrician recommened over-the-counter Tri-Vi-Sol vitamin drops that contain vitamins A, D and C. Now that she just popped her first tooth he wrote a prescription for Poly-Vitamin Drops with flouride. Poor baby makes a horrible face when I give it to her, but she needs her vitamin D! Great post : )
Have a great weekend.
PS - the vitamin drops are a dark amber color and they stain. ugh.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:29 pm
These are alarming statistics!! Makes you sit and consider the fact that our food sources have deteriorated since the good ‘ole days of growing your own food. And the fact that Americans have too many opportunities to eat poorly…with fast food on every street corner.
Liquid vitamins are by far the best way to go, but you are correct Anne, they taste terrible. There are many other options, you should try a few and see how your little one reacts.
Thanks again for the article.