It seems like a simple enough question. Unfortunately, the simplest answer sometimes isn't useful.
A more practical answer is that your baby may need to take a vitamin supplement if:
- he was born premature, and a vitamin was recommended by your pediatrician
- you are breastfeeding, in which case he likely needs a vitamin D supplement
- your pediatrician recommended vitamins for another reason such as a low iron level
Breastfeeding and Vitamin D
Why is it that only breastfed babies need vitamin D?All babies actually need vitamin D. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics, in its clinical report, Prevention of Rickets and Vitamin D Deficiency: New Guidelines for Vitamin D Intake, recommends that all children, starting from the first two months of life, receive at least 400 IU of vitamin D each day.
Baby formula is supplemented with vitamin D. So, babies drinking at least 17 ounces of formula each day don't need any extra vitamin D. However, babies who are exclusively breastfed do need it and can get it by taking a daily vitamin that contains vitamin D.
Remember that just because babies don't get enough vitamin D from breastfeeding, that is not a reason to supplement with formula or not to breastfeed. It just means that you should give your child a vitamin with vitamin D such as:
- Gerber Vitamin Drops
- Poly-Vi-Sol Drops
- Tri-Vi-Sol Drops
- Vi-Daylin ADC or Multivitamin Drops
