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Dr Helen Crawley, Public Health Nutritionist
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Dr Helen Crawley is the founder First Steps Nutrition. She is a dietitian and public health nutritionist with over 30 years experience in public health nutrition across the lifespan.
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Introducing solids

Vitamins and iron

Breastmilk or infant formula provide all the nutrition a baby needs in the first 6 months of life, but after this additional energy and nutrients are needed from food to supplement those in milk and those babies have as stores from birth.
Video Tutorial
In Short
The Department of Health and Social Care recommends:

Babies from birth to 1 year of age who are being breastfed should be given a daily supplement containing 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D to make sure they get enough. This is whether or not you're taking a supplement containing vitamin D yourself.

Babies fed infant formula should not be given a vitamin D supplement if they're having more than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day, because infant formula is fortified with vitamin D and other nutrients.

Children aged 1 to 4 years old should be given a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D.

Our video is presented by Melissa Little, Paediatric Dietitian

If families are eligible for the Healthy Start scheme then they will receive vouchers for Healthy Stat vitamins for mums and babies. In some areas of the country, Healthy Start vitamins are given free to all families. Check with your health visitor what the advice is in your area around vitamin D supplementation for babies.

Do older babies need extra vitamins and iron?

After 6 months of age babies will get additional vitamins and iron from food, and offering a wide range of foods will ensure they obtain enough of these nutrients as they transition to a mostly solid diet. The best way of ensuring that your baby gets a good range of nutrients is to offer simple unprocessed foods: vegetables, eggs, meat, fish, pulses, dairy foods, fruits and starchy foods like potato, rice, and pasta. Avoid ultra-processed foods – if a food has more than a handful of ingredients on the packet, put it back. Commercial baby foods do not have to provide a good range of nutrients – often they are ultra heat treated and may have low amounts of important nutrients. Occasional use is not a problem, but on the whole, try and offer simple foods that your grandmother would recognize.

The Department of Health and Social Care recommends:

  • Babies from birth to 1 year of age who are being breastfed should be given a daily supplement containing 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D to make sure they get enough. This is whether or not you’re taking a supplement containing vitamin D yourself.
  • Babies fed infant formula should not be given a vitamin D supplement if they’re having more than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day, because infant formula is fortified with vitamin D and other nutrients.
  • Children aged 1 to 4 years old should be given a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D.
DISCLAIMER
This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Essential Parent has used all reasonable care in compiling the information from leading experts and institutions but makes no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details click here.