Vitamin D supplements!

karynste19

I just found out I should be be giving LO vitamin D supplements. I'm panicking that he is 12 weeks and hasn't had any up to this point. He is EFF. 

Have you you all been supplementing since the first week?

jrouge12

I think (not sure) formula would have the needed vitamin d in it. My drops I give LO say for exclusively breastfed babies. 

Edit because I googled it: if your EFF baby is drinking less then 32 ounces of vitamin D fortified formula you do need to supplement with drops. Probably best to ask your doctor. They told me I needed to use the drops for my baby who is only fed breast milk.

ekscopp

I am EBF and I asked my pedi about vitamin D drops, and he said not until 6 months. I would ask them before you start anything! 

mamakate1616

My ped gave them to us as well (ebf) but I have not given them to LO yet. I am just uncomfortable with giving extra stuff to her 

kaym6

I EBF and my pedi said they are encouraged for BF babies because we "don't get outside as much as we used to as a society" I use the drops but we are outside frequently and I honestly forget a lot so I wouldn't worry! 

cali1710

Mine is EFF and my pedi says that formula babies done need the drops bc formula had vitamins in it. But ask your pedi. Maybe my formula has more then others? Not sure

karynste19

Thanks everyone!  My pedi said he should be getting them which is why I panicked. I started them today. There's nothing I can do about the past weeks but your comments made me feel much better

nackie

My pediatrician hasn't mentioned them. We supplement with formula, but usually only 6-8 oz per day.

Cricket99

EBF and we have them as we live in a very dark area of the world, think go to work and it's dark, leave work and it's dark. I am really inconsistent with giving them as DH can't stand things being out of place and he keeps putting them away where I can't reach them when I'm feeding LO and I forget... Oops. 

m6tonner

They gave them to me when we were leaving the hospital, but the Doctor said "I have to give you these, I think they're useless, talk to your pediatrician." Our pediatrician echoed that she didn't have an opinion of them one way or another, that if we gave them great, if not not big deal. So we haven't, and she is ebf.

kmo8986

We do, but my baby is EBF. She gets a drop in a bottle every day.  There are some days when she doesn't get a bottle so she doesn't get vitamin D.  I am not that worried.

l4rk

I told my midwife I keep forgetting and she pointed out that they are a new thing, even her kids who are 5 and 7 didn't have them, and that generations of children were just fine without them. She also said the stats are skewed by hermits in cold climates who never go outside (her terminology was more PC...)

ChrissyD1203

I constantly forget.  I EBF.  Everything I have read said FF don't need them and our pedi only recommends them for babies who BF more than 50% of the time.  I do not think you should worry at all.

babym418

I ebf my daughter so she has been getting them since about 2 weeks. I didn't think you needed to give vitamin d wit formula 

cali1710

I googled it and this is what comes up...

Hipshaker

I don't give them even though I've been told to. I live in Va. n ebf.  I'm uncomfortable give my babies any thing since they have virgin guts until solids introduced. We get outside everyday pretty much. I am unconcerned. I take my prenatals. I'm seeing a new pediatrician next week we will see how they feel about it.

fishsticks-n-custard

Supposedly the AAP looked at it and if you take 6400 IU of Vit D a day, your baby will get enough in your breastmilk. That being said, I give the drops to her. I have a brand that is one drop on the nipple and baby gets that drop while breastfeeding. I'd guess I remember 75% of the time and I've increased my Vit D intake to make up the difference.

sunnydlight

EBF here. Her pedi had to prescribe the vitamin D drops and didn't do it until her 2 month check up. Even though she saw LO 3 times before that.

BabyHope2013

We EFF and do not use them. I didn't use them with DS1 who was FF. I have been told as well that babies who FF do not need them. 

l4rk

BabyHope2013 said:

We EFF and do not use them. I didn't use them with DS1 who was FF. I have been told as well that babies who FF do not need them. 

A nutritionist came to our baby group on Tuesday and she said FF babies need 4 cups of formula before they get enough vitamin D. She told the moms in our group to still supplement unless their babies are drinking at least that much.