Vitamin D supplementation for LO?

carolinakiwi · October 2010

Our DS is 2w 1d old and our pediatrician told us at his 6d old appointment to give him a vitamin D supplement. I went out and bought it right away, but we have only given it to DS once (mainly because we forget).

But now that I've researched vitamin D supplementation a little bit on kellymom.com, I am wondering if it is even necessary. I am still taking my pre-natal pills and will continue to do so throughout BFing.

I live in the southeastern US, so we are not void of any sun. However, we are coming into the fall/winter months where the days are shorter and I will probably be spending many day time hours indoors during my maternity leave.

Has your pediatrician ever suggest giving LO a vitamin D supplement?

CatDawn7470 · October 2010

Yes, my pediatrician told us to start my LO on it. We were told this at his one week check-up. Even though I'm still taking my prenatals, he told us to give it to him. (And let me say, he doesn't like it!!!!)

carolinakiwi · October 2010

CatDawn7470:
Yes, my pediatrician told us to start my LO on it. We were told this at his one week check-up. Even though I'm still taking my prenatals, he told us to give it to him. (And let me say, he doesn't like it!!!!)

Yeah, the one time we gave it to him he spit half of it onto his clothes. :-)

My sister, who has two LO's (age 3.5 and 2) said they stopped giving it to her kids b/c she thinks it stinks.

bancbev · October 2010

The pedi (nor anyone in the hospital) has ever even mentioned Vit D drops to us. I don't give them.

ncbelle · October 2010

My pedi didn't feel it was necessary if he had some sun exposure (20 minutes per week or a bit more if he was mostly covered). He was born in winter too and it still wasn't a problem.

If you don't get outside a ton (although even a few minutes at a time counts), sitting by a sunny window can work too.

mexicolombiana · October 2010

My pedi told me to do it too, but I forget all the time. oops. And she hates it and I've also read here and there she doesn't really "need" them. I still give them to her when I remember.

nrbg116 · October 2010

I give LO the poly vi sol vitamin every night. I give it at the same time every day so I can remember. My pedi told us to give it to her so I will do so. My thinking is that its a vitamin and its defiantly not going to hurt!

jlthompson19 · October 2010

Our pedi said to do it, but we forgot as well. Then I read that you can put it in the bottle if LO doesn't like it. I started doing that (if I keep it next to the bottles I remember to add it when prepping for the next day). I haven't heard from daycare that it's been an issue-so I'll continue this since winter is coming and we'll be out less.

Genevieve_kris · October 2010

Our pedi recommended it too, but I haven't given it to LO yet (keep forgetting). She said with winter coming (I live in Minnesota, so it's not really practical to have a newborn outside for a prolonged period of time between about November and March) she recommends it to all her patients. I intend to try it, I'm just afraid LO is going to hate it and am afraid to try it (yes, I'm a wimp).

Jessesgirl43 · October 2010

I give it to DS. Everyone has mentioned it to me - the LC I saw, the pedi, the nurse doing his vaccinations. I put it in his first bottle of the day and he doesn't notice it. Although, as my profile says, I live in the cold (and boring) part of Canada where in winter you can get frostbite on exposed skin in less than a minute, so I doubt I'll be outside at all in a few months.

andrew's wifey · October 2010

My pedi said he is just now starting to 'kind of' recommend it. He says it keeps coming up in literature he is reading, and while for a long time now he's thought it to be a little hokey, he figures there may be something to it, although he says that rickets is extremely rare, especially for Caucasian babies in the South. He said it's up to us but just feels like he should mention it. I haven't bought any yet, but I think we may... Still haven't decided.