3 minIn order to develop properly, a baby needs various nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Most of these vitamins and minerals can be obtained from breast milk or formula. In addition to breast milk or formula, there are two vitamins that are extremely important for babies to receive as supplements: vitamins K and D. Read this article to find out why these vitamins are essential!
In this article, you will learn
- Why vitamins D and K are important for your child
- When and how much vitamin D and K your baby needs
- Tips for easily administering vitamin D and K drops
- Why natural supplements are better for your baby
Why is vitamin D important for babies?
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that performs several essential functions in the growth of babies:
- Bone health: vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus from food, which is crucial for the development of strong bones and teeth. It also prevents rickets, a condition that can lead to weakened bones and deformities.
- Immune system: this vitamin plays a role in strengthening your baby's immune system, making them more resistant to infections and diseases.
- Growth and development: vitamin D is involved in cell division and your baby's overall growth. It plays a role in the development of various body tissues.
The most effective form is vitamin D3.
Why give vitamin D?
Vitamin D is often called the “sunshine vitamin” because our bodies can produce it themselves when the skin is exposed to sunlight. However, direct exposure to bright sunlight is not suitable for babies because their skin is very sensitive. This means they can hardly produce any vitamin D themselves.
Newborn babies also have only a small supply of vitamin D at birth. They do get some vitamin D through breast milk or formula, but this is often not enough to meet their full needs. The risk of a deficiency is greater in the autumn and winter months in particular, because there is less sunlight available and mothers often have lower vitamin D levels themselves.
Because vitamin D is so important for the absorption of calcium and thus for the development of strong bones, teeth, muscles and a properly functioning immune system, the Health Council recommends that babies and children up to the age of 4 be given an extra daily supplement of 10 micrograms of vitamin D, in addition to the nutrition they already receive. This helps to prevent a deficiency and supports healthy growth and development.
Why is vitamin K important?
Vitamin K is vital for blood clotting. It ensures that the body can form clots to stop bleeding. Vitamin K also supports bone metabolism and contributes to strong bones. Vitamin K is particularly important for babies, as a deficiency can lead to serious complications, such as spontaneous bleeding or even cerebral haemorrhages.
Newborn babies are born with low vitamin K levels, putting them at greater risk of bleeding, especially in the first few days after birth. That is why most babies are given a vitamin K injection immediately after birth. This injection temporarily replenishes vitamin K levels and maintains blood clotting.
However, the effect of the injection only lasts for about a week. To ensure that your baby continues to get enough vitamin K after that, it is important to give vitamin K drops every day.
Why and when should vitamin K be given?
Adults produce vitamin K themselves with the help of intestinal bacteria. In babies, however, this process does not yet work properly in the first few months after birth. Only from around 3 months of age can a baby produce sufficient vitamin K itself. That is why it is important to give extra vitamin K in the first months of life.
Is your baby breastfed? If so, it is recommended to give 150 micrograms of vitamin K daily in the form of drops from day 8 after birth until he or she is 3 months old.
If your baby drinks more than half a litre of formula per day during this period, extra vitamin K is usually not necessary, as formula is already enriched with this vitamin.
How can you recognise a vitamin D or K deficiency in your baby?
A vitamin D deficiency in babies can manifest itself in weak muscles, delayed tooth development or abnormalities in bone growth (rickets). A vitamin K deficiency can cause unexplained bleeding, such as blood in the stool, bruising or bleeding in the brain. Because these deficiencies can have serious consequences, it is important to administer the supplements correctly from the outset.
Vitamin drops for babies
Because both vitamins are important for your baby, VitaminFit has specially developed this vitamin K + D formula. If your baby is bottle-fed, vitamin D alone may be sufficient.
Drops are generally much easier for babies and small children to take than (chewable) tablets. Mix the vitamin drops into breast milk or formula, drip them onto the nipple when breastfeeding, or give them separately on a spoon. You can simply mix the drops into breast milk (in a bottle that you have expressed earlier). If you are bottle-feeding, the vitamin drops can also be added to the formula. Make sure you add the vitamin drops after you have warmed the bottle. This ensures that no vitamins are lost.
When your child starts eating a little food, you can add the vitamin drops to the thick juice or fruit puree.
Vitamin D without E numbers
You want the very best for your baby. This applies to both food and supplements. Nowadays, there are many dietary supplements available on the market. There is a lot of difference between the supplements, so it is important to look carefully at the list of ingredients.
It is best to choose a natural variant, as these do not contain any artificial additives. Read this blog about the difference between natural and synthetic vitamin supplements.
It is especially important that vitamin D has been thoroughly tested. Did you know that synthetic vitamin D is not always safe for babies? VitaminFit supplements have been extensively tested and are completely safe. See which dietary supplements are most suitable for your baby.
Conclusion
What an adventure it is to care for your little one! We have discussed the importance of vitamins D and K, two superheroes for your baby's growth and development. Vitamin D is like the sun for strong bones and a well-functioning immune system, while vitamin K ensures that everything runs smoothly when it comes to blood clotting and bone health.
Make sure you give your little one 10 micrograms of vitamin D and 150 micrograms of vitamin K every day for the first three months. It's a small effort that makes a world of difference to their health. And with our handy vitamin drops, administering them is a piece of cake!
