Verified by Edna Skopljak MD
Edna Skopljak is a medical doctor and an editor at BJBMS medical journal. She graduated from the University of Sarajevo School of Science and Technology.
It is recommended for babies, especially those that are breastfed, to start taking vitamin D within the first few days of life. A study done by the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that most infants do not receive adequate vitamin D and recommend giving your baby 200 to 400 IU daily. If your baby resists taking vitamin D drops, these may be a few reasons why.
Baby doesn’t like Vitamin D drops – Reasons
Reason 1:
Vitamins and supplements typically don’t taste that great, and children’s ones are no different. Plain and simple, your baby might just not like the taste of vitamin D drops.
No one is really a fan of taking their vitamins, so you can’t blame your baby for spitting something up that doesn’t taste very good. If they cough, squirm, or spit up every time they take vitamin D drops, this is an indication they don’t like them.
Reason 2:
The delivery method of the drops might not appeal to your baby, and a different approach might be a better option.
Putting the drops directly in the baby’s mouth may be too potent of a delivery method. A gentler approach may be the key to helping them take their drops with ease.
Solution 1:
A great place to start is to try a different brand of vitamin D drops. There are even some brands out there that are tasteless so you could try one of these. If your baby responds to a different brand without fussing, you will have an easy solution to your problem. However, if they do not, you could consider feeding them formula as it has higher vitamin D content than breastmilk.
Solution 2:
You can mix the vitamin D drops into a little bit of expressed milk and feed your baby through a bottle to hide the taste. Some women have success by placing the recommended drops directly onto the nipple before breastfeeding, so the baby ingests it as soon as they latch on. Another approach would be to give them the drops during bath time since they are distracted and may take them without really noticing.
What happens if I don’t give my baby vitamin D drops?
Vitamin D is necessary for babies because it is crucial for the development of bones, teeth, brain, and immune system health. Although our bodies make vitamin D when we are exposed to the sun, this is not recommended for a baby’s sensitive skin, and vitamin D drops are a safer option.
How do I get my baby to take vitamin D drops?
You can get your baby to take vitamin D drops by placing the drop directly on your nipple before breastfeeding or by choosing a different vitamin D supplement.
You can test out the methods we listed in our solutions section above should help you with finding a way that works for you to give your baby vitamin D drops.
Do formula-fed babies need vitamin D drops?
While formula does contain vitamin D, the dose is not high enough for younger babies, especially newborns. Until your baby is taking 32 ounces of formula per day, they should be taking vitamin d drops as a supplement to get their recommended dose.
Vitamin D drops for babies – how to give.
To give your baby vitamin D drops, you can follow these steps:
● Consult your pediatrician or healthcare provider about how much IU of vitamin D you should be giving your baby.
● Shake the bottle well before each use and measure the correct amount of drops using the dropper provided.
● Place the drops onto a clean object, such as a spoon, and place it into the baby’s mouth to suck on. You can also put the drops directly into the baby’s mouth – careful not to squirt it into their nose or eyes.
Vitamin D drops are an important aspect of your baby’s health, and while they may not always like them, you need to ensure they are getting enough. Whether this is by testing different delivery methods or adding formula into the mix, we are confident you will find a way that works best for your child.
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