Vitamin D & Your Baby

Key points about vitamin D

• vitamin D helps our bodies use calcium to build and maintain strong bones and teeth
• low levels of vitamin D in pēpi (babies) and tamariki (children) can cause rickets
• rickets can result in weak bones, delayed walking, bowed legs, and swollen wrists or ankles
• if untreated, rickets can lead to failure to grow, deformed or broken bones, pneumonia and seizures
• every year a number of pēpi and tamariki in Aotearoa New Zealand are diagnosed with rickets

What is the main source vitamin D?

Vitamin D is known as the 'sunshine vitamin' because our bodies can make it from the sun. When the skin is exposed to sunlight, the ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from the sun are used to make vitamin D.

Pēpi can't safely get the vitamin D they need from the sun. Their skin is very sensitive and should not be exposed to direct sunlight.

Breastmilk is the ideal and recommended food for your baby but it is not a good source of vitamin D.

Advice about babies and the sun

Keep your baby safe from the sun. 

Sunscreen shouldn't be the only form of protection against the sun. Use it only on small areas of your baby's skin.

Use:

• shade
• protective clothing
• hats with broad brims
• sunglasses

See the Cancer Society's sunsmart page. This includes advice about pēpi and sunscreen. 

Which babies are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency?

Your baby is at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency if:

• they are exclusively or partially breastfed
• they are breastfed over the winter/spring months in Aotearoa New Zealand
• they were born preterm (before 37 weeks) or have low birth weight (under 2.5 kg)
• they have naturally darker skin tone
• one or more of your tamariki has had rickets or seizures resulting from low blood calcium levels
• you have been told that you are low in vitamin D

Vitamin D supplements for babies

Talk to a health professional about vitamin D supplements. The recommendation in Aotearoa New Zealand is for all exclusively or partially breastfed pēpi to have vitamin D supplements. Supplements should begin by 4 weeks and continue until pēpi are 1 year old. 

Vitamin D supplements come in drops.

Drops can either be:

• put on your nipple before your baby latches on
• given directly into your baby's mouth using a dropper