Are you shopping for Vitamin D supplements? These dietary supplements are helpful for children as they're essential for building and maintaining healthy bones and teeth. In addition, regular vitamin D supplements can help to prevent various diseases, such as Rickets Disease, which are more common among children. Natural sources of Vitamin D can be found in certain foods and also through sun exposure, but supplements can ensure that people get the nutrients they need. Choosing the right Vitamin D supplement for kids can be confusing, especially with so many available choices. These questions and answers address some of the more common concerns about finding the right Vitamin D supplement.
The Vitamin D supplement that children receive should come in a single vitamin form. Multi-vitamins should not be given to babies. For most children over the age of one, a multi-vitamin is not needed. Any supplements they take should be in single vitamin form. However, parents should consult with their doctors if they have more questions or a special case with their children.
It is important to check the dosage level of the supplement because different brands may have different dosage sizes. Parents should look for a dosage of 400 IU for their children and make sure to always keep the supplement out of reach of the children.
Vitamin D supplements come is several forms and the best form varies based on the age of the child. Babies should receive their supplement in a liquid form. There are chewables available for young children. Older children can take it in tablet form once they are old enough to swallow them safely.
Children can receive some of their daily requirement of Vitamin D in the foods that they eat. However, there are not many foods rich in Vitamin D and so it is unlikely that most children will get an adequate amount through their food intake.
The foods that are rich in Vitamin D are primarily dairy foods and include cow’s milk, goat’s milk, infant formula, butter, and yogurt. Egg yolks and fatty fish such as salmon, herring, and rainbow trout contain Vitamin D. Breastmilk also contains some Vitamin D.
While infant formula does contain some Vitamin D, babies usually do not drink enough of it to get their full daily dosage of it. Therefore, both formula-fed babies and breastfed babies should take a supplement of 400 IU daily.
The sun is a natural source of Vitamin D. When bare skin is exposed to the sun, the human body will produce Vitamin D. However, this is not always a reliable source. Many children wear protective clothing sunscreen, which prevents their bodies from making Vitamin D. Also, if they are not in direct sunlight, or it is a cloudy day, they will not produce it.
Too much Vitamin D can be dangerous for children and this amount depends on the age of the child. Babies under six months should not have more than 1,000 IU and those between seven and 12 months should have a maximum of 1,500 IU. Children ages one to three should have no more than 2,500 IU. Ages 4 to 8 should have no more than 3,000 IU. Ages nine through 18 should get no more than 4,000 IU in one day.