7 Best Vitamin D Drops for Breastfed Babies

Vitamin D is an important nutrient babies need to develop healthy, strong bones. Breast milk alone does not provide the adequate amount of vitamin D that breastfed infants need. As a new parent, you only want the best for your baby and their health is a top priority. In this post, we go over the best vitamin D drops for breastfed babies, why vitamin D drops are important, and so much more.

Things to Consider When Choosing Vitamin D Drops for Your Baby

There are a few important things to consider when choosing the right vitamin D supplement for your baby. Some of the things on this list are a necessity while others are just personal preference. So let’s go over how to choose the best vitamin D drops for breastfed babies!

• Cost: Vitamin D drops come in a wide range of prices to fit many different budgets.
• Third-party testing: This is important to know that the product you choose to supplement your baby with is safe and accurately labeled.
• Ingredients: It’s best to look for drops that contain limited, high-quality ingredients. And avoid any artificial flavors in vitamin supplements.
• Dose per drop: Some parents prefer a single dose of one drop versus a few drops because it can make giving them to your baby much easier.
• Vitamin D only: It’s best to find a supplement that is infant specific, containing vitamin D only unless otherwise specified by your baby’s pediatrician.

Best Vitamin D Drops for Breastfed Babies

Nordic Naturals Baby’s Vitamin D3

Nordic Naturals is a high-quality brand that includes products that are non-GMO and third-party tested, surpassing the strictest international standards for purity and freshness.

The formula uses extra virgin olive oil as the carrier oil and no other ingredients. So it’s very clean and safe! It contains 400 IU of vitamin D3 in one drop, which is extremely convenient. It also includes a full year’s supply of drops for your baby in the one bottle!

Wellements Organic Vitamin D Drops

Wellements is one of my favorite baby supplement brands. Everything Wellements makes is certified USDA organic, made without the use of chemical preservatives, and bottled in glass.

This formula uses organic extra virgin olive oil and palm medium-chain triglyceride oil as a carrier oil. Each drop contains 400 IU of vitamin D3, so you only need one drop. This dropper bottle includes a 90-day supply.

Baby Ddrops Liquid Vitamin D3

You can trust that Baby Ddrops are accurate and high-quality, due to being third-party tested and NSF-certified. Their formula contains fractionated coconut oil as the carrier oil, which many parents love because they are odorless.

They have tons of 5-star reviews on Amazon and are loved by many parents. Each drop contains 400 IU of vitamin D3, so only one drop is needed.

UpSpring Baby Vitamin D3 Drops

UpSpring is a women-founded company that provides supplements for many stages of motherhood.

The formula contains fractionated coconut oil as the carrier oil, with 400 IU per drop. These drops come in an easy-to-use squeeze bottle and include a one-year supply.

Mommy’s Bliss Baby Vitamin D3 Drops

Mommy’s Bliss vitamin D drops are made in the USA and are USDA certified organic. They are also third-party tested and NSF-certified. Mommy’s Bliss creates other popular and well-loved products like gripe water.

The formula is made with medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil and contains 400 IU per drop. This bottle comes with a 100-day supply in an easy-to-squeeze bottle.

Carlson Baby’s Super Daily Vitamin D3 Drops

Carlson is a women-founded and family-owned company that offers quality supplements. Every product is tested by a FDA-registered lab for potency and quality, and they are third-party tested.

Their formula is made with medium-chain triglyceride oil from coconut as the carrier oil and contains 400 IU per drop. This one bottle contains a full year’s supply of vitamin D drops.

Mary Ruth’s Infant & Toddler Vitamin D3 Drops

Mary Ruth’s is another amazing supplement company run by a mother and daughter out of California. They have so many other supplements that are very high-quality. Their supplements are USDA-certified organic and third-party tested.

This formula contains organic olive oil as the carrier oil. You need to give 3 drops with this product to give the full daily dose of 400 IU. This can be a con for some parents who already have trouble giving their babies their vitamin D drops. But if that doesn’t matter for you, this is a great quality product!

At 3 drops per dose, this product will last you for 80 days.

Why are Vitamin D Drops Important?

Vitamin D is an important nutrient needed to build strong bones. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium and phosphorous, which are vital to bone health.

Our bodies need sunlight to produce vitamin D. However, it is recommended that infants not be in direct sunlight, especially before 6 months of age. You should keep children less than 6 months of age in the shade with appropriate protective clothing and hats. After 6 months, your baby can wear sunscreen but you should still continue the use of protective clothing and hats.

Because of this, your baby will not get enough vitamin D from the sun and will need supplementation.

If your baby has low vitamin D levels it can cause rickets, a condition that causes weak or deformed bones. According to the CDC, vitamin D deficiency rickets is rare among breastfed infants but can occur if an infant does not receive additional vitamin D from a supplement, from foods, or from adequate and safe exposure to sunlight.

Do All Babies Need Vitamin D Drops?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all infants receive a vitamin D supplement unless they are consuming more than 27 ounces of commercial infant formula with a vitamin D supplement added.

Babies who are exclusively breastfed (whether by nursing at the breast or through pumped breast milk) should be given 400 IU (international units) of vitamin D per day until they are 12 months old.

Babies who are combo fed (breast milk and formula) should also be given 400 IU of vitamin D per day until they are 12 months old. Unless they are drinking 27 ounces or more of formula.

Formula-fed infants do not need vitamin D supplementation as long as they are consuming 27 ounces of formula or more.

You should double check with your pediatrician, but most commercial infant formulas contain the proper amount of vitamin D supplement if they are drinking more than 27 ounces.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to give my baby vitamin D drops?

The best way for your baby to get their vitamin D drops is by either applying the drops to your nipple if nursing, or on a clean finger and placing it in your baby’s mouth. This ensures your baby gets the full daily dose.

You can also put the drop in your baby’s bottle of breast milk or infant formula. Or in their solid foods as they get bigger. However, this method is not as reliable because it’s possible they may not finish the bottle or the food. And then they will not get their full dose.

Are all vitamin D drops safe?

Not all vitamin D drops are created equal. Look for a vitamin D supplement without a lot of extras and that contains high-quality ingredients. You’ll also want to check that the product you choose has been third-party tested to ensure safety.

What are vitamin D drops?

Vitamin D drops are a liquid vitamin D supplement made for infants. They are given by a liquid dropper and the formula is condensed so you can give your baby a very small amount, like one drop!

How old should my baby be before taking vitamin D drops?

Your baby can start taking vitamin D drops right away after their first few days of life. If your baby is breastfed, whether through pumping breast milk or by nursing, your baby’s pediatrician will recommend vitamin D supplementation at one of their first visits.

How do you administer vitamin D drops to babies?

Vitamin D drops come in either a drop bottle that you tip over and it releases a single drop at a time, or with a liquid dropper that you squeeze to release a drop.

They can be placed directly on the mother’s nipple before breastfeeding, on a clean finger to place in your baby’s mouth, or in your baby’s bottle of breast milk or formula.

How will I know if my baby needs vitamin D drops?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), all infants should receive a vitamin D supplement unless they are consuming more than 27 ounces of infant formula per day.

This means that all breastfed babies should receive a vitamin D supplement. Unless you are combo feeding, in which case you would need to determine how many ounces of formula they are taking a day.

Can babies receive adequate vitamin D from sun exposure?

Babies cannot receive adequate vitamin D from sun exposure. The AAP recommends babies less than 6 months of age stay out of direct sunlight and use protective clothing and hats. After 6 months of age, your baby can wear sunscreen. But because of this, they will not receive enough vitamin D from the sun alone.

Do babies get enough vitamin D from breast milk?

The CDC states that breast milk alone does not provide enough vitamin D for infants. Breast milk provides so many amazing benefits and nutrients to your baby. However, vitamin D supplementation will be needed.

I hope after reading through the best vitamin D drops for breastfed babies, you found the one that works perfectly for your family! You truly can’t go wrong with any of these on the list!

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