Vitamin D deficiency in breastfed babies...

Sharon - posted on 08/11/2009

Oh I know. I had to LOOK for a non antibacterial handsoap for regular handwashing for our bathrooms. It wasn't easy. We also have antibacterial soap for those times if someone comes into contact with duck, rabbit, chicken, macaw, dog, cat crap!



No matter what I try to make my kids wash for a full minute under the hottest water they can stand.

Jodi - posted on 08/11/2009

Sharon, it's kind of like the "let's use anitbacterial cleaners on everything" debate, LOL :) They have their uses, but we are just creating a generation of kids whose immune systems haven't had a chance to develop. Don't get me started!!

Sharon - posted on 08/11/2009

LOL I guess its harder than we think.



Seriously why do people take things to such extremes? I'll never know. Common sense is a rare and wonderful thing!

Malinda - posted on 08/11/2009

It's so one of those cultural pendulum things. In the 70's and 80's it was all about getting that deep bronze tan and worshipping the sun, which resulted in people dying of skin cancer. Now people are scared of the sun and avoid it and slather themselves (and their children) in dioxides, causing vitamin D deficiencies. What we need is common sense - don't avoid the sun, you need it to survive. But also don't burn yourself - come inside when your skin is warm to the touch. How hard is that??

Annetta - posted on 08/11/2009

Vitamin D is in sunshine. The vitamin is absorbed through the skin. I agree that sunscreen is good if you are going to spend a long time out doors. The idea is to not get burned, not to stay lily white like they did back in the 20's. I have to wonder if over applying sunscreen might be just as harmful to the skin as over exposure to the sun.

Krista - posted on 08/05/2009

I started out breastfeeding and I was told that my son HAD to take a multivitamin for the duration of the time that I was breastfeeding because of vitamin D deficiency. The truth of the matter is that vitamin D is the ONLY vitamin that isn't in abundance in breast milk. My doctor told me a story of a child that he had to treat that became deformed because of the lack of vitamin D being breastfed.

Lovona - posted on 08/05/2009

I agree, sunscreen is great in summer but winter we should be encouring our children to get out in the sun as much as possible not only is it good for us but the fresh air and exercise is also a benefit. And putting all those chemicals that are in sunscreen on our young children's bodies is it really that good? I agree that during summer you must be wise and cover as much as possible and use sunscreen but surely in winter we can give our little ones a break and let them just be as natural as possible.

Jodi - posted on 08/03/2009

When I was a teen, it was coconut oil that was all the rage - sunscreen was a rarity!! We used to sit outside at high school putting coconut oil on and laying in the sun to get a tan. While I agree with taking care, I think it has gone absolutely overboard. We shouldn't be out roasting ourselves, but sunshine is also healthy!



Did you know, my daughter's pre-school has a policy that they have to wear sunblock even in winter??? I just don't tell them I don''t put sunblock on her at the moment (it is mid winter here), LOL. I mean, they are rugged up in clothes, they wear hats, give them a bit of sunshine if it is there!!!

Sharon - posted on 08/03/2009

Oh I know. Its funny to me that this never occured to anyone else years ago. Although I have to say I was following some links about zinc in sunblock causing cancer (ROTFL) and came across a doctors statement about people losing out on the valuable Vit D in sunlight with the excessive use of sunblock - this was a couple of years ago - so I guess the medical guys were clued in - just not given voice to.



I remember a TERRIBLE time in my teens when I let some friends talk me into rubbing outselves with crisco (an oil for frying food in) their reasoning was seriously flawed but I went ahead with it and we laid out on our roof. oy vey. lol sometimes its best to follow your instincts....

Jodi - posted on 08/03/2009

Sharon, I think the thing is, people are seeing all this craziness from being told that sun exposure causes skin cancer. So it has gone totally the other direction. There is nothing wrong with healthy balance, and I hope people can se that there is a difference between enjoying a little healthy sunshine, as opposed to going outside and laying in it to get a tan!

Sharon - posted on 08/03/2009

Its not just for breastfed babies but with todays' sun concerns - they get the least exposure and their moms get less which translates to the baby getting MUCH less sun/vit d exposure so they are impacted more, faster etc.

But the news video says in general a crazy number of people & kids are lacking in Vit D, doctors are actually seeing RICKETS in people & children. Its a crazy world....

Jodi - posted on 08/03/2009

Kylie, I think it is to do with the conversion of the vitamin through the mother's system. Formulas have a lot of added vitamins in them, but breastmilk has in it whatever the mother is converting from her own system :) But really, it is important for ALL children to get their vitamin D.

Kylie - posted on 08/03/2009

why is there only a deficiency in the breastfed babies? You get vitamin D from sunlight so does that mean the formula fed kids are getting outside more? That article says bf babies should be taking a vitamin d supplement..but i have never seen vitamins at the pharmacy for children under 2.
For Mums and their LO's getting outside in the fresh air and sunlight is important for mental and physical health and the vitamin d is a bonus!

Carianne - posted on 08/03/2009

very interesting... i wondered why my son's Ped told me to get some sun! wish he would have explained. I assumed he just thought i looked like i needed to get out :-). thanks for the post! not that i'm gonna to be going to extremes like the woman on the site :-).

Nicole - posted on 08/03/2009

I figure all the incidental sun exposure we get from going to and from the car and walking around outside every day is enough! I'm on the fence about vitamins for my baby: if he's breastfed (the "perfect food") and eating fresh, whole fruits and veggies (I make most of his baby food), why does he need the extra vitamins?

Jodi - posted on 08/03/2009

Ranjeea, you can't get sufficient Vitamin D through food. Most foods do not contain Vitamin D. It is in oily fish, but the best natural source is sunshine. And as Lisa says, it only needs to be a small amount of sunshine every day. Vitamin D is important to assist the right diet because it is essential for the absorption of other vitamins and minerals in the body. For instance, without Vitamin D, you body cannot absorb calcium. So you can take in a high calcium diet while you are pregnant or breast feeding, and it won't be used efficiently by the body unless you have enough Vitamin D, same with baby.

Ranjeea - posted on 08/03/2009

The moms should supplement themselves. Babies have stored iron for at least 6 months.
Vitamin d is important but right diet should do it. Added Vitamins are extremely dangerous. Moms shd read abt it first. It is the American way...you dont need to eat well just take a bunch of pills or foods like cereals with added vitamins and that will do. Then eat Mc and other junk.

Minnie - posted on 08/03/2009

I think it panders out to a peasly peasly 30 minutes total, unlcothed per week for an infant/toddler. Is it that hard for a child that age to get that much during the warm months? And it's stored for the colder months.

People just need to get out of their houses.

Jodi - posted on 08/03/2009

Also, just remember that sunscreen blocks the Vitamin D too. So you have to find a balance and not slather yourself with sunscreen every time you are in the sunshine to get adequate Vitamin D. I have always allowed my kids playtime outside without their sunscreen - in the warmer weather, I am careful on the time of day that they go without it, and for how long, but not sure if if everyone is aware that sunscreen impacts vitamin D absorption.

Mary - posted on 08/03/2009

Thanks!! This actually makes me feel better...am still breastfeeding at almost 9 months, but Am not worried about the vitamin D for us...I walk the girl and our 2 dogs at least 3 miles every day in the Bjorn....and over the course of time, she has developed a little bit of a "farmer's tan" on her arms & legs. SHe has NEVER surned, or been on the pool w/o sunscreen, but more than a few people have made dispariging remarks about her bit of color...which in turn made me paranoid. I have ALWAYS maintained that a moderate amount of sunshine is necessary for MY happiness & well being, (it's how I was raised) and this just verifies what we were already doing!! Again, thanks!

Cathralynn - posted on 08/03/2009

Sharon, sometimes you rub people the wong way, but lots of times I really love your language! I try to just get the gist of what you say and not read into tone, but you make me laugh! Have a good day!

Sharon - posted on 08/03/2009

I think a lot of people have lost track of the fact that the sun is where they used to get a lot of the vit. d. We're inside cooking, cleaning, scrapbooking, sewing and watching our favorite tv shows - the the kids have gymnastics, ballet, karate - all indoors.



Its a friendly reminder - if it doesn't pertain to you or you don't give a crap - then don't bother.

Tammy - posted on 08/03/2009

I breastfed all of my kids and I have never even heard of this. I told them to stick the iron supplements where the sun doesn't shine. The iron in breastmilk is much better absorbed and the supplements just interfere with it. We've always been the type to go outside a lot so vitamin D is not an issue for us. I do think the "sitting on their ass" indoors people are the ones who have to worry about this.

Cathralynn - posted on 08/03/2009

So pays to read before you speak! Supplementing moms an even better idea! And sun, sun, sun. Within reason of course.

Cathralynn - posted on 08/03/2009

I didn't read the links, shame on me. But my doc advised me to give my daughter vitamin d supplements from birth if she didn't have more than 500ml of formula a day. Since she was breastfed we gave her infant vitamin drops. Most infant vitamins also have iron, so that helped after six mo when her iron stores were depleted too!