6 minYour baby's first year is an exciting time! During these months, your child will make enormous strides in growth and development. To optimally support this development, it is important that your baby gets the right vitamins. That is why our experts have compiled a handy Vitamin Guide. In this guide, you can read exactly which vitamins your baby needs and how this can vary depending on age.
In this article, you will learn
- The role of vitamins D and K for newborns
- How much vitamin D and K your baby needs
- The importance of vitamin C and the recommended amount
- Why a multivitamin can be useful for your baby's growth
- Practical tips for giving vitamins to your baby
Why are vitamins so important in the first year?
The first 12 months form the basis for healthy growth, strong bones, a well-functioning immune system and optimal development of organs and brain. Because babies grow rapidly during this phase but do not yet get all the vitamins and minerals they need from food, supplements are often indispensable.
By giving your baby the right support from the start, you reduce the risk of deficiencies and lay a strong foundation for a healthy future.
What vitamins does my child need?
For newborns (0-3 months)
#1 Vitamin D for strong bones
Vitamin D is very important for newborns:
- The growth and development of strong bones and teeth
- Supporting a healthy immune system
- Promoting cell growth
At birth, babies only have a small amount of vitamin D in their bodies. This is not sufficient for their development, which is why a vitamin D supplement is recommended. The reasons for this are:
- With the amount of sunshine in the United Kingdom, especially in the winter months, mothers do not get enough vitamin D. As a result, there is also not enough vitamin D in breast milk.
- It is not recommended to leave babies in sunlight, which means that babies themselves cannot produce enough vitamin D.
Vitamin D drops for your baby are therefore a good supplement to breast milk or formula.
How much vitamin D?
All babies and children up to the age of 4 need 10 micrograms of vitamin D per day, in the form of supplements. It does not matter what your child eats, the advice always applies!
#2 Vitamin K for blood clotting
Vitamin K is good for several processes in your baby's body:
- Promoting bone formation
- The absorption of minerals in the bones
- Maintaining strong bones and healthy blood vessels
A newborn baby does not produce vitamin K itself in the first few months. Only after 3 months can they do this themselves. That is why it is important to give vitamin K in the first 3 months. Vitamin K supports good blood clotting and prevents bleeding.
How much vitamin K?
A baby who is breastfed every day, or receives less than 500 ml of formula, therefore needs extra vitamin K every day during the first three months. Give your baby 150 micrograms of vitamin K every day. Vitamins K and D can be given in a single supplement. Our Vitamin D and K supplement has been specially developed for newborns and is easy to add to formula.
Read our article on the importance of vitamin D + K for babies.
For babies (3 months - 1 year)
#1 Vitamin C for immunity
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin. Babies (and adults) cannot produce this vitamin themselves, so nutrition is very important in getting enough vitamin C!
Vitamin C plays an essential role in:
- The development of healthy teeth and bones
- Supporting strong blood vessels
- Reducing inflammation
In short: plenty of reasons to make sure your baby gets enough vitamin C!
From three months onwards, your baby can start to get to know solid foods. This means that your baby will discover different foods. By letting your baby eat different fruits and vegetables, he will get enough vitamin C.
If your baby does not yet eat many different foods, does not eat enough of the right foods or has low resistance, a vitamin C supplement can be a good addition for your baby.
How much vitamin C?
For babies aged 0 to 5 months, the Health Council has not set a specific Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for vitamin C. From 6 months to a year, it is recommended that your little one gets at least 20 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C per day.
It is important to know that any excess vitamin C is excreted in the urine. This is because vitamin C is water-soluble and the body does not store it. At the same time, this means that vitamin C must be replenished daily, as it does not remain in the body for long. An excess of vitamin C is generally not dangerous. It is difficult to consume too much vitamin C from food, but it is important to carefully follow the recommended dosage on the label of a vitamin C supplement.
#2 Vitamin D for strong bones
Although solid food becomes increasingly important for vitamin intake after 3 months, it remains necessary to give vitamin D daily as a supplement until the age of 4, in order to build strong bones.
How much vitamin D?
For babies between 3 months and 1 year old, it is recommended to give them 10 micrograms of vitamin D from a supplement every day. Our drop-shaped vitamins make it easy to add the vitamin to food. This also applies to the vitamin D supplement for babies and children.
#3 Multivitamins for growth and development (from 6 months)
A multivitamin is an easy way to give your baby a large part of the 13 essential vitamins (and minerals). This can be especially useful when you notice that your baby needs extra support due to a less than optimal diet. A good multivitamincontains important nutrients, including various vitamins and minerals that contribute to a healthy immune system, growth and development.
How much multivitamin?
It is recommended that you only start giving your baby a multivitamin supplement once they have completely transitioned to solid foods (around 6 months).
Some parents are hesitant to give their baby a multivitamin supplement because there is a chance that their baby will exceed the recommended daily allowance. High doses of vitamin A and vitamin B11, for example, can be harmful to your baby. This does not mean that giving a multivitamin is impossible! But it is therefore extra important to understand what your baby specifically needs before simply giving them a supplement.
Practical tips for giving vitamins
- Use drops for easy dosingDrops are ideal for newborns and young babies, as they can be easily mixed into formula or expressed breast milk. You can also give the drops directly on a spoon or drip them onto the nipple when breastfeeding.
- Give vitamins at a fixed time of dayChoose, for example, the first morning feed or the nap time after lunch. By giving it a fixed place in the routine, it is less likely to be forgotten.
- Combine vitamins D and K if possibleMany supplements contain both vitamins in one product, so you only need to give one dose. This makes it easier and reduces the chance of missing a dose.
- Pay attention to the quality of the supplementChoose natural supplements without unnecessary additives. Always check the list of ingredients and the dosage to make sure it is suitable for babies.
- If in doubt, consult an expert
- If you are unsure whether your baby needs extra vitamins, or if your child has special nutritional needs, it is wise to seek advice from a professional. With the right vitamins, your child will get exactly the support they need for a healthy start. Our experts are happy to help you choose the right supplement.
