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how much vitamin D does a child need

Guide to Vitamin D for children and babies

25 Jan 2023 • 4 min read

Expertly reviewed by Sarah Almond Bushell, Registered Dietician & Children’s Nutritionist

Just like adults, babies and children also need their quota of Vitamin D every day to help them to grow up strong and healthy. The Department of Health recommends that all breastfed babies and children aged 6 months to 5 years are given vitamin D supplements, as well as vitamin A and vitamin C, every day.1

This guide comes with expert insight from The Children’s Nutritionist Sarah Almond-Bushell, a registered dietitian and expert in children’s eating habits.  

She provides helpful information on:

  • What vitamin D is
  • What vitamin D does
  • Why kids need vitamin D
  • Vitamin D deficiency in babies and children
  • The best vitamin D supplements for kids of all ages
  • The recommended vitamin D dose for children and more!

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What is vitamin D?

Also known as “the sunshine vitamin”, vitamin D is essential for making sure our bones, teeth, and muscles are healthy as they develop.

It also makes sure they remain healthy as we get older.

We tend to get most of our vitamin D from sunlight exposure, which starts in the UK around March and ends as autumn arrives, usually around September time.

Did you know that Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in the world? 1 

In fact, some reports state that vitamin D deficiency is so widespread that it should be seen as a global public health problem.²

Given the fact it’s one of the vitamins we can all get access to, simply by being out in the sun, you might think you needn’t worry about deficiency.

But low vitamin D happens to be one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in the world.

According to the British Nutrition Foundation, 1 in 5 people in the UK have low vitamin D levels.³

Low vitamin D is associated with a higher risk of poor musculoskeletal health, such as rickets, osteomalacia, falls, and poor muscle strength.³

And the thing is, few people are aware of the fact they are deficient in it - so they fail to recognise some of the common symptoms.

Summary:

  • Just like adults, children and babies need vitamin D every day to stay healthy
  • Vitamin D supplements for children can help to keep little ones healthy

What is Vitamin D good for?

Overall, vitamin D is good for maintaining good bone, teeth, and muscle health.²

Vitamin D for kids

Growing children need vitamin D to thrive.

However, it can be hard for kids to get it through food alone because it’s present in very few foods and in very low levels.

Pair that with a not-so-sunny climate, and most children will be susceptible to becoming deficient in vitamin D.⁴

That’s why the NHS recommends that all children up to 5 years are given a 10µg (microgram) vitamin D supplement.

Vitamin D is sometimes expressed in IU or International Units. 400IU is the same as 10µg.

Vitamin D for breastfed babies is also important. They should be given a supplement containing 8.5-10mg of vitamin D too, but we’ll get on to that below…

Summary:

  • The NHS recommends that all children up to the age of 5 years are given a vitamin D supplement containing 10µg of vitamin D.

How to give your child more Vitamin D

Fortified foods - such as some breakfast cereals, soy products, and orange juice - contain extra vitamin D. You can find it naturally in oily fish, red meat, and mushrooms, too.

Find out about the best sources of vitamin D in this article

You can also boost your child’s vitamin D levels by encouraging them to play outside in the sunshine for 10 minutes per day. That’s after you cover them in sun cream, of course – no matter the weather.

But what if your child spends a lot of time inside?

The best solution is to follow the government health guidelines: they recommend a daily supplement (10µg) every day.

Don’t worry, your child can’t get too much vitamin D with a combination of a daily supplement, sunshine, and fortified foods.

Summary:

  • Breakfast cereals, orange juice, and other fortified foods can help your child get more vitamin D
  • Getting outside in bright sunshine is a great way for kids to get vitamin D
  • But, to assure they’re getting enough, a 10µg vitamin D supplement should be given daily.

The best Vitamin D supplements for kids

It can be a little tricky to get kids to take their supplements!

But, thankfully, manufacturers have found ways to make their products more appealing to our little ones.

Here’s some of the best vitamin D for toddlers and the best vitamin D for kids:

Vitamin D dosage for kids

Children aged 1-5 years should be given a daily supplement containing 10µg of vitamin D.⁴

However, the NHS recommends that everyone above 5 also considers taking a vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter months.

Vitamin D for babies

It is essential for babies to get enough vitamin D to help their bones, muscles, and teeth strengthen and grow.

This is why it’s recommended that breastfed babies are given a vitamin D supplement – even if their mother is taking one, too.

It is advised that babies are exclusively breastfed until around 6 months old.⁵

However, you should know that infant formula is already fortified with vitamin D. Babies who are fed more than 500ml of infant formula a day should not be given a vitamin D supplement.¹

Summary:

  • Babies need vitamin D for healthy development
  • Breastfed babies need to take a supplement
  • Formula-fed babies having more than 500ml (20oz) per day won’t need to take a supplement

Why do babies need Vitamin D supplements?

Up to 90% of the vitamin D in our bodies is produced in response to exposure to sunlight.⁴ Most babies are kept inside, or covered up from direct sunlight.

It is unlikely that your new baby gets enough sunshine on his or her skin to stimulate vitamin D production.

The other 10% comes from a varied diet including oily fish, and very small babies won’t be getting their hands on that!

Public Health England recommends that babies under 1 year old are given a daily 8.5-10µg vitamin D supplement.⁶

Best Vitamin D supplements for babies

There are some vitamin D supplements made specially for babies, like vitamin D drops for infants. They have been designed to provide the perfect dose of vitamin D for infant development:

Worried about giving your baby or child supplements?

Vitamin D supplements for babies and children have been formulated with little bodies in mind and are perfectly healthy.

To put your mind at rest, read the label carefully so you are confident that you understand the dosage. Then, make sure to stick to the recommended dose and keep a careful note of when you give your baby or child the supplement.

Do not give them two supplements which contain Vitamin D (cod liver oil and vitamin drops, for example).

Summary:

  • Don’t be worried about giving your baby or child supplements; they have been designed with their unique needs in mind.

Is my child deficient in vitamin D?

Many people with vitamin D deficiency don’t show any symptoms.

However, your child could be low in vitamin D if you notice:

  • Muscle weaknesses or cramps
  • Bone pain
  • They’re often tired
  • They feel consistently down or depressed⁷

Vitamin D deficiency can also cause rickets, a disease that causes thin and weakened bones.

How is vitamin D deficiency treated?

Once you have spoken to your doctor about your concerns, they will carry out a blood test to confirm whether your child is deficient in vitamin D.

Children of different ages require different amounts of vitamin D per day and your doctor will be able to provide you with tailored advice and arrange follow-up appointments to check how things are going in the coming weeks and months.

Summary:

  • Vitamin D deficiency in children can result in softer bones, delayed growth, and in rare cases seizures.
  • Your doctor will organise a blood test to see if your child’s levels are low.

Recommended daily Vitamin D levels – at a glance

We all need different levels of vitamin D, which vary depending on how old we are.

  • Breastfeeding babies up to the age of 1: should have a daily supplement of 8.5 to 10 micrograms (µg).⁴
  • Babies that are fed infant formula: should not be given a vitamin D supplement if they are having more than 500ml of infant formula a day. Infant formula is fortified with Vitamin D and other nutrients.¹
  • Children aged from 1-4: should be given a daily supplement that contains 10µg of Vitamin D.⁴
  • Everyone aged 5 upwards: is recommended to take a daily 10µg vitamin D supplement in the autumn and winter months.⁸
The advice in this article is for information only and should not replace medical care. Please check with your GP or healthcare professional before trying any supplements, treatments or remedies. Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

Last updated: 25 January 2023

sarah-bushell

Sarah Almond Bushell

Author

Registered Dietitian & Children’s Nutritionist

BSc Hons Nutrition & Dietetics (1999), Diploma in Advanced Dietetic Practice (2006), MPhil Nutrition for children (2015) and SOS Certificated feeding therapist - advanced level (2017 and 2018)

Sarah Almond Bushell is an award-winning Registered Dietitian, ex NHS Consultant child nutritionist of 22 years and founder of The Children’s Nutritionist™ who is working to create a generation of happier, healthier eaters by reduce the stress around food and mealtimes for parents. She is passionate about helping to cut the ties of generational eating habits, fuelled by misinformation and desperation tactics.

Her work has resulted in being asked to consult for brands including Annabel Karmel, Hovis, Heinz Baby, Tommee Tippee, Thermomix and Aptamil. She is a keynote speaker and author having ghostwritten three books for well known personalities as well as writing Love At First Bite, her own weaning book for Thermomix. Sarah has also featured in various magazines and media, helping thousands of parents raise their happy healthy eaters.

In her spare time Sarah can be found in the kitchen, as an ex-baker Sarah enjoys cooking with her teenage children, creating amazing dishes full of flavour for her friends & family.

“Sharing a meal together should be happy, sociable occasions, but for so many families it is fraught with stress, parents anxious that their children are not eating the good stuff on their plates, children anxious that they’re going to be made to eat something they don’t want to. My mission is to help families learn to enjoy eating together, for parents to be reassured, for children to be relaxed, essentially for mealtimes to be a time where happy memories are made.”

Education, Qualifications/Training

  • BSc Hons Nutrition & Dietetics (1999)
  • Diploma in Advanced Dietetic Practice (2006)
  • MPhil Nutrition for children (2015)
  • SOS Certificated feeding therapist - advanced level (2017 and 2018)

Professional Accomplishments

Affiliations/Memberships/Governing bodies

Noteworthy work 

  • Love At First Bite, Vorwerk UK, 2021 
  • Weaning, Annabel Karmel, DK, 2018
  • Baby Led Weaning, Annabel Karmel, Pindock publishing, 2017


Older clinical publications:

  • Poster presentation ‘Self-management of Type 1 Diabetes by a 6 year old child of Profoundly Deaf Parents’. University of Brighton June 2010
  • T Coelho, C Spence, S Almond et al. ‘Self-management of Type 1 Diabetes by a 6 year old child of Profoundly Deaf Parents’ Diabetic Medicine 2009 24 (suppl 1) pp96
  • Professional Consensus Statement on Dietetic Assessment of Children with Special Needs with Faltering Growth June 2007
  • Shaw & Lawson, Clinical Paediatric Dietetics – Chapter 38 Feeding children with Neurodisability. 3rd Edition 2007
  • Peer reviewed document entitled ’Enteral feeding in Children with Severe Cerebral Palsy’ by Christine Carter Former Dietitian at Great Ormond Street Hospital. April 2006
  • Poster presentation of PhD project at European Academy of Childhood Disability Annual conference Nov 2005
  • Stewart L, McKaig N, Dunlop C, Daly H, Almond S. ‘Assessment and monitoring of children with neurodisability on home enteral tube feeding’ Clinical Nutrition Update 2005 vol 10 Issue 1 pp 6-8
  • Presentation entitled ‘Nutrition Screening of Children with Neurodisabilities’ at Nutritional Care of Children’s with Disabilities conference, The Belfry September 2005
  • ‘Challenges in Feeding Children with Neurodisabilities’ Clinical Nutrition, April 2005
  • Presentation of research project at British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Watford January 2005
  • Almond S. ‘Nutritional Supplements- Making an informed choices tailored to each patient’ Professional Nurse. 2004 vol 20, No 1, pp 43-46
  • Poster Presentation ‘Design and Validation of a nutrition screening tool for children with physical disabilities and learning difficulties’ at Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Local Research Day December 2003.
     
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