Many parents know that vitamins are very important and worry about their children’s lack of physical development, poor immune function, gastrointestinal malabsorption, etc. What vitamins are they lacking? What is the best food to eat? Do you need to give your child vitamin preparations? Parents should know that vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin C, and vitamin B1 are all vitamins that are easily deficient in children. This time, let’s talk specifically about vitamin D and answer questions for parents! Q: What does vitamin D do? What will happen if I am deficient? A: Vitamin D can increase intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorus and renal reabsorption of calcium and phosphorus, which is conducive to the deposition of bone calcium, mineralization, and ultimately promote the maturation of bone tissue and bone development. And a serious deficiency will lead to nutritional vitamin D deficiency rickets in babies, there will also be low calcium-induced hand and foot twitching syndrome. Q: How do I know if my baby is deficient in vitamin D? A: Nutritional vitamin D deficiency, within 6 months of age, especially in small babies within 3 months of age, can be non-specific, but there are some manifestations that need special attention: irritability, fussiness, restlessness at night, sweating and frequent head shaking and even “pillow baldness” (the hair at the back of the head is rubbed out). If it continues to develop, there will also be skeletal deformities (“square box” head shape, chicken chest, O-leg, X-leg ……) and other signs of vitamin D deficiency rickets. Q: How can I prevent my baby from getting vitamin D deficiency? A: From 2 weeks after birth, it is recommended that babies need 400 IU of vitamin D. Since skin light synthesis is also an important source of vitamin D, babies can be exposed to outdoor sunlight gradually after 1 month of life, even in winter, to ensure 1-2 hours of outdoor time daily (but do not hope to rely on daylight alone to supplement! Sunlight intensity, skin exposure range, and exposure time are difficult to master!) ), while 400 IU of vitamin D per day is sufficient for complete non-sun exposure. Vitamin D supplementation is recommended until at least 2 years of age. Q: Do babies need vitamin D supplementation if they are breastfed/formula fed? A: Breast milk contains very little vitamin D, only 22 IU/liter, but formula (400 IU/100g) is sufficient for vitamin D intake and no supplementation is needed. Therefore, if your baby is exclusively breastfed, or if the formula does not meet the requirements, you need to take additional supplements. Q: Does my baby still need additional vitamin D supplementation now that he or she has added complementary foods? A: Natural foods contain very little vitamin D. Although the main food sources are cod liver oil, liver, egg yolk, unless the baby eats this way: 16 eggs per day, or 1 pound of chicken liver, or 1 pound of cream, or 1 pound of canned tuna …… otherwise, all need to be supplemented. Q: Vitamin D dosage form so many, which is better, how to give the baby to eat it? A: The dosage forms are mainly capsule-type drops, solution-type drops, etc. Before breastfeeding, for capsules, you can melt one end with hot water and drop the contents into the baby’s mouth; for solutions, just drop directly into the mouth according to the amount. Q: I am already taking cod liver oil, can it replace vitamin D? A: Cod liver oil is not a vitamin D supplement, its main supplement is DHA and EPA (polyunsaturated fatty acids), and the vitamin D content does not reach 400 IU, so it is not recommended to replace vitamin D with cod liver oil. Q: I want my baby to grow better, is the more vitamin D supplementation the better? A: It is not necessary. 400 IU is enough to meet the growth needs of babies. Parents must give their babies a quantitative vitamin D supplement, and carefully observe and detect early signs of possible vitamin D deficiency!