https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 25 May 2026 11:30:04 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1468335 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 22:45:48 +0000 daniellemybelle 1468335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Espion: That's interesting!</p> <p>Even after posting this thread, I haven't remembered to give them to her :( I need to set a reminder on my phone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1467015 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 15:02:32 +0000 swurlygurl 1467015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did when I remembered, but she was also 1/2 FF so I didn't stress too much about it. I also tried to take her out in the sun when possible (but she was born in January in the Midwest, so it wasn't too often before 4-5 months!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1467011 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 15:01:19 +0000 mrsjyw 1467011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we had a winter baby and live in MI and bf, so we did. we eased up in the summer months, and haven't this year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1467007 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 15:00:31 +0000 lamariniere 1467007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a winter baby and live in a dreary winter place. It seems to be standard practice here that all babies get vitamin D drops until they are 18 months! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1466954 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 14:50:16 +0000 Espion 1466954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is what I learned from this morning's lecture by a pediatric endocrinologist, reported from the source with no editorializing on my part:</p> <p>Babies should get Vitamin D drops whether they are formula fed or breastfed! The 400 IU of vitamin D in formula is if you are feeding them a liter of formula a day! (I was surprised!) 400 IU is the recommended amount to give. </p> <p>You CAN get vitamin D in breastmilk, but momma would have to be super topped up, and even then it is not likely enough. (She said in an average mom, the transfer is only something like 30 to 40 IU.) It seems like the normal adult dose is 600 IU a day, but she had a mom who refused any medications for her child, so as an adjunct, she recommended that mom take 1000 IU of vitamin D a day to try and boost levels in breastmilk.</p> <p>Sun exposure south of 37 degrees latitude has adequate UVB rays to convert vitamin D from the inactive to active form. Anywhere above that, the UVB rays are not strong enough. </p> <p>To get conversion of vitamin D from the sun, you have to expose large surface areas to the sun, like the trunk. Face and hands won't cut it. It also won't convert if you are wearing sunscreen. </p> <p>It is hard to get adequate amounts of vitamin D from the diet, but the best sources seem to be fortified milk, organ meats (liver), egg yolk, and oily fish (sardines, salmon).</p> <p>The risk of vitamin D deficiency is bad bones because the body will conserve calcium levels at all costs. It was interesting to hear that rickets and vitamin D deficiencies are having a resurgence due to the "indoor culture" of video-game playing/TV watching kids. </p> <p>Deficiencies are also linked with multiple sclerosis and certain cancers. But the bone growth is the most immediately apparent and can be debilitating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461444 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 13:15:54 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1461444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were doing them everyday until I ran out- I need to order more. Living in Minnesota means that 9 out of the 12 months of the year, vitamin d levels are low. J just had his labs done at his 2 year visit and I feel badly that his vitamin d was low :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461422 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 13:01:23 +0000 sandy 1461422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live in the Pacific NW where we severely lack vitamin D most of the year. I kept it on the nightstand next to where I nursed and gave it to her after our first nursing session. She got used to it quickly </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461385 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 12:31:44 +0000 Espion 1461385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Vitamin D is important in latitudes north of Norfolk, VA. (Our latitude is considerably far north of Norfolk. And despite the length of our days in the summer, the angle of the sunlight cannot convert Vitamin D to its active form.) But I'm actually going to a lecture on Tuesday about Vitamin D deficiency in children on Tuesday. I'll try to remember to report back! I'm interested in what they think about the link between MS and Vitamin D levels. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461376 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 12:24:26 +0000 MrsH 1461376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No because we only part time Bf. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461317 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 11:42:38 +0000 ALV91711 1461317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to every day and totally forgot they existed until I saw this thread. I probably haven't since about 9 months and he is 11 months now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461222 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 10:15:00 +0000 catlady 1461222@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to remember but I'm bad at it these days. Our pedi always reminds us too. :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461219 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 10:12:53 +0000 jedeve 1461219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MoonMoon: same here. We are so far north that I do. But I did end up forgetting about it for a good chunk of winter which makes it worse! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461203 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 09:56:59 +0000 hilsy85 1461203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was pretty good about it til he was 1. SInce then I rarely remember! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461202 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 09:56:15 +0000 Mrs. M 1461202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I only forgot a few times...probably because she was obsessed with the drops. I often saved giving them to her until she was upset. They always calmed her down. Weird! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461200 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 09:55:30 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1461200@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. It was never even recommended to us &amp; we EBF! BUT we do live in a warmer climate area so maybe we get enough outside/sun time </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461160 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 09:15:29 +0000 cyan 1461160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We give Baby D drops... when we (well, really "I"... My husband has proved useless with this!) remember. I was really good about it for the first 3-4 months. Since then, it has slowly been dropping off... I'm not too concerned about it. We try to get outside for a bit when it's nice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461158 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 09:12:20 +0000 lemondrop 1461158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, but we do get outside frequently where we live so our pediatrician doesn't recommend them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461150 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 09:05:35 +0000 MamaMoose 1461150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did every day but my daughter was EBF and a winter baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461147 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 09:02:49 +0000 MoonMoon 1461147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, he's EBF, we live in a northern latitude. However, I didn't like the artificial ingredients or taste of the di-vi--sol (sp??) So we switched to the natural drops. </p> <p>I don't think that a good diet/sunshine/etc realistically provides all the vitamins we need, there is definitely a place for supplements. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461103 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 07:50:13 +0000 yellowbird 1461103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never did. Our pediatrician actually never mentioned it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461098 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 07:46:34 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1461098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We give them most nights, but I do forget occasionally. They're important for us, because I am Vitamin D deficient, and its awful grey winter for 6-8 months of the year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461092 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 07:30:58 +0000 Silva 1461092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've gotten better about this lately because it's the dead of winter. I probably remember most days of the week, but in the summer/fall it was really only maybe once a week. Oops.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461079 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 07:15:46 +0000 delight 1461079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When she was first born I bought a bottle of 90 drops which should have lasted 3 months. I just finished the bottle at 6 months. Whoops. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461078 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 07:13:52 +0000 erwoo 1461078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interesting how majority of the votes are "when I remembered." I was one of those... I just try to get the kids out more when the weather is nice and make sure they drink their milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461074 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 07:11:50 +0000 avivoca 1461074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never given her the drops. I try to make sure she gets plenty of sun time on sunny days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461069 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 06:53:44 +0000 Jewel664 1461069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our pediatrician recommended drops at our LOs 1 month check up. We started a few days later as she is EBF. She is now 6 months old. We use Carlson D drops- initially used Enfamil V-Sol, bc we had a free sample. LO hated the taste of those drops and it made her poo stink. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461064 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 06:49:13 +0000 Beyond2 1461064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oscarthegoon: that's interesting. My midwife said that if the mother maintains higher than normal levels the breastmilk will transfer a sufficient amount. I know my son's levels are good and he's never received any supplements, but maybe it's coincidence? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461062 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 06:45:00 +0000 Charm54 1461062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I remember but LO is 1/2 formula 1/2 BM </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461059 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 06:38:29 +0000 oscarthegoon 1461059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Beyond2: my pediatrician said vitamin D is not adequately found in breast milk so breastfed infants need the drops. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diddo-you-give-vitamin-d-drops#post-1461058 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 06:31:10 +0000 bushelandapeck 1461058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I EBF and was recommended to give it to LO daily from 2 mos on I think. I tried to remember everyday but definitely forgot sometimes. </p>