Vitamin D - Houston,TX

yes, mine were both born in the Winter in the UK and were given the drops since there was very little sunlight.

Ours did. We didn't do it with our almost 4yr old & we're not doing it now. He hasn't pushed it. Just told us its the recommendation. He also said that since we live in FL and the sun is out more often than not, he can get it from that - just don't keep him in the sun long enough to sunburn. This was also the same advice he gave us for our oldest.

Yes and it was recommended again with in the past week by my daughter's doctor. It helps the immune system, as well as other areas. My daughter has had colds and similar all winter long and this past week he said to up the vitamin D (also can get it from the sun but during the winter if in an area where you spend most of the time inside you get a lot less Vitamin D).

Yes we did the TriViSol. I don' t see a downside to giving it. From what I hear, it's nearly impossible to get the Vitamin D you need if you are diligent about protecting from sunburn even living in Texas.

Hi C.,

Five minutes of sunshine is all that is needed to get your vitamin D. I KNOW in Houston, you're probably overdosing, lol...just by walking to and from the car. My doctor didn't recommend it for my little ones. He said we had plenty of sunshine in GA.

M.

yes, its new dosage recommendation is 600 iu, and 800 iu for all healthy adults too...

Pediatricians generally recommend that, because the vast majority of people in America are Vitamin D deficient. It's pretty standard practice, since vitamin D is so hugely important, and breastfed babies rely on their mother's for Vitamin D. Since most woman are deficient, the baby also will be.

Here is more information on how to determine if your baby is at risk for deficiency:
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/vitamin-d.html

Yup. I gave all my babies 400 IU daily and I still give the older girls the drops every morning with their chewable multi-vitamin and vit C. Vit D is so important to bone developement, energy levels and general health. You can get vit D from the sun, but only *without* sunscreen, and it's also added to milk.

It is recommended to us that we give our children vit. D drops until they are 4. I do it during the fall, winter and early spring and did it when they were newborns as they are not in direct sunlight so much, also if they go out with sunblock on you are hindering the vit. d from being absorbed through the skin so you may need to continue during the summer months as well. I have recently read a study that shows the benefits of continuing until your children are 18 and then most adults are deficient (I myself take vit. D everyday). I take larger doses during the winter and it helps with the winter blahs. I don't know how it is during winter by you but I live in Sweden and it's terribly dark most of the day, so it's quite normal not to get the recommended amount..