Vitamin D Drops? What?

My doctor told me to give my son Vitamin D drops because breast milk doesn't have vitamin D. I used the poly-vi-sol.. or tri-vi-sol by Enfamil. I didn't like it at all.. it was messy and smelled bad. Also, it has some color dies in it which I don't like. Anyway, if you decide to give your next baby a vitamin D supplement I would suggest looking into what kind you get. However, I ended up just getting my baby out in the sun a bit everyday which I've heard is fine.

I am surprised that your doctor didn't tell you that with your daughter. I had my third in December of 2006, and I was told that I should supplement with Vitamin D drops. It became a recommendation from the AAP sometime between my second(12/04) and third. Apparently they were finding Vitamin D deficiencies in babies that were breastfed, because moms can be deficient in vitamin D, and . Also, the AAP was looking at the world population, which includes all babies including ones that are breastfed by moms in burquas who didn't get a lot of sunlight, moms where there wasn't a lot of sun, and moms and babies with dark skin who didn't produce as much vitamin D from the sun (these were the examples my doctor gave me). Anyway, to make a long story longer, you can supplement, or make sure that you get the baby in sunlight. I did supplement a bit with my third, but not regularly because my first 2 didn't have any problems, and we are outside as much as possible. Here's a link with more info: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/vitamin-d.html

Hi A.,
Congratulations on your new baby! I can't give advice but I've had 3 babies and didn't use supplements with any of them. I have May, October, and November babies so sun wasn't available to 2 of them. I am breastfeeding my baby and still take prenatal vitamins. I eat really healthy so I don't worry. My midwife and their doctor never suggested supplements either. Things change so much that you really must listen to your mommy gut. I suggest weighing the pros and cons and decide for yourself because then you know you've made the right decision for you and your baby.

M.

I didn't know either with my first (born Nov 2004). We just moved to the area and of course have a new ped. He had me start my little one on the vitamin drops right away (he's 7 months now). I'm not the best at remembering and as someone else said if they get on the clothes (yours or the babys) it's sure to stain. Wyatt is gaining weight fine & is in good health regardless of my forgetting sometimes. I'm still taking prenatals too, but I figure a little vitamin D is good...especially since sunshine seems to be a commodity we don't always get to enjoy! I wouldn't stress about it too much, just talk to your ped the next time and see what they have to say. Good luck to you!

I was just able to stop the Vitamin D drops and my daughter is 7 months old. The ped said that since we are spending more time outdoors and in the sun more that she will get what she needs from that.

I found the drops to be a pain. First to remember to give them to her twice a day and they were messy. If they got on her clothes it was really hard to get out if I didn't wash the clothes right away.

J.

Vitamin D helps aid in calcium absorption for bone growth and strength, not weight gain. Our ped said not to worry since we were outside so much when dd was born.