Vitamin D for babies and young children
Why is vitamin D important?
Vitamin D is important for developing and
maintaining strong bones. In childhood, vitamin D
plays a role in protecting against rickets, a
condition in which bones become soft, often
leading to bowlegs and other bone problems. New
research also suggests vitamin D may have a role in
protecting against long-term diseases such as some
types of cancer, diabetes and immune disorders
such as multiple sclerosis.
Where does vitamin D come from?
The sun: Vitamin D is often called the sunshine
vitamin because skin uses sunshine (UV light) to
make vitamin D. In Canada, sunlight is not a reliable
source of vitamin D for many months during the
year.
Supplements: Liquid vitamin D is available in
droplet form at pharmacies or grocery stores.
Some babies may prefer brands that have no taste.
Make sure that you give your baby the vitamin D3
version. Other vitamin D products, including
vitamin D2 are not recommended for babies. Cod
liver oil also has vitamin D but is not recommended
for babies because it is high in vitamin A, which can
cause serious health problems in babies and
children.
Food: There are only a small number of foods that
naturally contain vitamin D, such as fatty fish (e.g.
salmon, sardines, herring) and egg yolks. In Canada,
vitamin D is added to cow’s milk and margarine and
the industry has started adding vitamin D to plantbased beverages (e.g., soy and almond), juices and
some breakfast cereals. The following chart is a list
of common food sources of vitamin D. Include
these foods in your diet and your child’s as they
begin to eat solid foods.
Common food sources of vitamin D
Food
Serving Size
Vitamin D (IU)
Salmon
1 oz/28 g
103
Cow’s milk*
Goat’s milk*
8 oz/250 mL
8 oz/250 mL
100
100
Soy beverage*
8 oz/250 mL
100
Almond milk*
8 oz/250 mL
100
Orange juice*
4 oz/125 mL
50
Margarine*
1 tsp/5 mL
25
Yogurt*
3.5 oz/100 g
60
Some cereals*
¾ cup
50+
Egg yolk
1
25
*Fortified
Source: Dietitians of Canada (2014)
Why does my child need a vitamin D
supplement?
All breastfed children under 24 months of age need
extra vitamin D because they:
 Usually do not get enough vitamin D from
breastmilk, other drinks or food.
 Are not exposed to direct sunlight. Babies under
a year have sensitive skin and should be kept
out of direct sunlight due to their increased risk
of skin cancer. Sunscreen should only be used
after six months of age.
How much vitamin D should I give my baby?
The recommendation is that breastfed babies and
young children receiving breastmilk get 400
International Units (IU) of vitamin D each day until
they are 24 months old or their diet contains 400
IU of vitamin D.

Get minimal sun exposure due to long articles
of clothing.
Here are some tips to help you and your
family get enough vitamin D:




Follow Canada’s Food Guide.
Eat fatty fish (e.g., salmon, sardines, herring)
two times a week or more.
Drink two cups (500 millilitres) of milk, fortified
soy or almond beverage each day.
Choose yogurt or other foods that have vitamin
D added.
Choose non-hydrogenated margarine instead of
butter.
When pregnant or planning a pregnancy, take a
daily prenatal multivitamin containing vitamin
D.
Babies who only drink commercial infant formula
do not need vitamin D supplements because it is
already added to the formula. If you are not sure if
you should give your baby a vitamin D supplement,
talk to your child’s health care provider.

Can a breastfeeding mom take a vitamin D
supplement instead of giving it to her child?
Speak to your health care provider about the
amount of vitamin D you and your child should
take.
There is not enough research to recommend that
breastfeeding mothers take a vitamin D
supplement instead of giving it directly to their
child. Current recommendations suggest that it is
safe and more effective to give the vitamin D
supplement directly to the child.
Vitamin D during pregnancy
Vitamin D is passed on to babies during pregnancy.
Babies who are born to mothers with low vitamin D
are at increased risk for vitamin D deficiency. It is
important that during pregnancy, moms-to-be eat
a healthy diet and take a prenatal multivitamin
supplement.
Additional vitamin D supplementation may be
needed for pregnant women who:


Have dark skin.
Do not drink milk or fortified plant beverages
(e.g., soy beverage).

For more information about vitamin D, you can
speak to a registered dietitian at no cost by calling
EatRight Ontario at 1-877-510-5102 or by going to
www.ontario.ca/eatright.
For additional nutrition resources see our Feeding
Young Children section at www.york.ca/nutrition
May be reproduced without permission provided source is
acknowledged. 2014.