Vitamin D is known as the 'sunshine vitamin' because our bodies can make it from the sun. When the skin is exposed to sunlight, the ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from the sun are used to make vitamin D.
Babies can't safely get the vitamin D they need from the sun. Their skin is very sensitive and should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
Breastmilk is the ideal and recommended food for your baby but it is not a good source of vitamin D.
Scroll down the the Cancer Society website's page about being sunsmart [1]. They have advice about babies and sunscreen.
Your baby is at high risk of vitamin D deficiency if they are breastfed and:
Babies who are born preterm with low body weight may be vitamin D deficient.
Babies who are breastfed over winter months in New Zealand may also be vitamin D deficient by late winter/spring.
If your baby is at high risk of vitamin D deficiency, talk to a health professional such as your doctor, midwife or dietitian. Your doctor can prescribe a vitamin D supplement that comes in drops.
Drops can either be:
Go to the bottom of the Ministry of Health's page on vitamin D and your baby [2]. There you can find information in English, Māori, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Cook Islands Māori, Hindi, Korean, Samoan, Tagalog, Tongan.
Vitamin D and your baby. Ministry of Health [2]. [Accessed 14/12/2020]
This page last reviewed 12 October 2021.
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Links
[1] https://www.cancer.org.nz/cancer/reduce-your-risk-of-cancer/sunsmart/
[2] https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/pregnancy-and-kids/first-year/helpful-advice-during-first-year/vitamin-d-and-your-baby
[3] https://kidshealth.org.nz/companion-statement-vitamin-d-and-sun-exposure-pregnancy-and-infancy-nz?language=zh-hans
[4] https://kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fkidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F1284%3Flanguage%3Dzh-hans