Kids need more vitamin D
You may remember our previous post on the importance of vitamin D. This essential nutrient helps prevent children from developing certain health issues that could weaken their bones. This week, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated its guidelines for vitamin D. The AAP now recommends babies, children and adolescents get 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D. This is double the amount the organization recommended before.
So what does this mean? Just make sure your baby, especially if she is breastfed, is getting her vitamin D drops. Your baby’s pediatrician can and should prescribe multivitamin drops containing 400 IU of vitamin D to breastfed babies starting in the first few days of life. Also, don’t forget to give your older kids their multivitamins with vitamin D. Talk to your health care provider if you have any questions.
Tags: breastfeeding, infant, multivitamin drops, newborn, vitamin D
December 24th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Medical research has proven that a proper amount of vitamin d is essential to a healthy heart, muscular development, and bone strength at all ages. It has also been shown to be indispensable for satisfactory brain and mental function, particularly among people over 50 years old.