Are you pregnant and the arrival of your child is expected in a few months? Are you concerned about preparing their room, buying their first clothes, stroller, crib, diapers, first toys and their diet? This is perfectly normal! But how many of us plan to give them a vitamin D supplement from birth?
In fact, giving a vitamin D supplement is essential and recommended for all children from day one. Although vitamin D is found in many foods and we can produce it through exposure to the sun, recent studies estimate that up to 24% of children are deficient from it. In particular, breastfed children are the most at risk. Indeed, although breast milk is the best for your child, the need for vitamin D of nursing mothers is very important and the vast majority of mothers do not get enough. In consequence, there is not enough of it in breast milk. Other factors also contribute to increasing the risk of impairment. Pediatricians recommend, with good reason, not to expose our baby directly to the sun and to apply sunscreen from the age of 6 months. This therefore reduces the chances of producing it naturally and in sufficient quantity. Also, our long winters contributes to much higher risks since exposure to the sun is very limited for a long part of the year.
What are the consequences of a vitamin D deficiency?
A vitamin D deficiency can have serious short and long-term consequences in the development of our child. Vitamin D is not only useful for their immune system and the development of their bones and teeth, but it also plays an essential role in their metabolism. A lack of vitamin D can cause teeth malformations, more frequent cavities, growth retardation, more frequent infections, a higher risk of autoimmune diseases, a general delay in their development and even a more frequent onset of diabetes in your child.
As the signs of deficiency are difficult to observe in a baby, it is therefore preferable to act in prevention and to give a vitamin D supplement every day. Health Canada recommends that all healthy term infants receive a vitamin D supplementation of 400 IU daily.
Among the supplements available, the Land Art brand is the only one to offer a vitamin D3 for baby that is certified organic. Available in the best natural health product stores as well as online, this great Canadian product contains 490 doses and only one drop a day is enough! Unflavoured and preservative-free, this vitamin D can be taken directly on the tongue, on the mother’s breast, or even mixed with the baby’s food. Its affordable price, unique organic certification and convenient dropper make Land Art’s Certified Organic Vitamin D3 for Baby the perfect product!
For more information on the different vitamins D3 offered by Land Art, visit our web page dedicated to these vitamins.
By Nicolas Martineau, B.Sc. Nutrition
References :
https://cps.ca/documents/position/vitamin-d
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20229973/