For decades, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Institute of Medicine have suggested the breastfed babies receive vitamin D drops – beginning within days after birth and spanning the entire time you breastfeed.
The problem is that many parents don’t see the need give their healthy, breastfed baby any kind of supplements. So, compliance is low and vitamin D deficiency prevails.
By some reports, roughly ½ of babies and toddlers aren’t getting enough vitamin D. And of that group, 32% show signs of bone demineralization.
But nature didn’t get it wrong. Breast milk can – and does – provide babies with enough vitamin D as long as mama gets at least 10 times the current recommended amount, which is 400 – 600 IU each day. According to Professors Bruce Hollis and Carol Wagner from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Children’s Hospital,
We have shown in various vitamin D studies that mothers are more likely to take their own vitamin D supplement than to give their infants a supplement.
One of the major reasons why vitamin D deficiency is so common in babies and toddlers is because mamas aren’t getting enough vitamin D while pregnant and while breastfeeding. This has to do with less time spent outdoors, less sun exposure, and a shift away from unprocessed foods that are naturally high in vitamin D.
But a recent study shows how a breastfed baby can get enough vitamin D.
In short, researchers found that when mama takes 6400 IU of vitamin D each day, her exclusively breastfed baby has the same levels of vitamin D if she had given her baby daily vitamin D drops.
Vitamin D matters because it supports the development of your baby’s immune system, with low levels possibly playing a role in the development of allergies, asthma, eczema, and autoimmune disease. Vitamin D also protects against intestinal infection. And of couse, there’s bone health.
According to Hollis and Wagner,
During lactation, a woman needs about 20% extra vitamin D intake, as about that much is excreted daily into her breast milk.
For everyone who scrolled to the bottom of this post, the message is this: Pregnant mamas, take at least 4,000 IU per day – here are seven good reasons why. And while breastfeeding, aim for at least 6,000 IU every day.
If you prefer to use drops instead, make sure it also contains vitamin K2. Like this one from Seeking Health.
Great article! Is that the only brand you recommend?
Hey Irene,
I would check the ingredients. For example, if you do a quick search on Amazon a brand called Zarbees pops up. The packaging is really cute but in the ingredients, it says agave nectar, which a baby (especially a newborn) doesn’t need.
Thank you SO much Megan for those links! My ped rec’d Carlson’s Vit D and was curious what your thoughts were. Thanks!
Hi Megan, which brand do you recommend for nursing mamas? I’ve been taking extra virgin cod liver oil but after reading Dr Mercolas update on CLO (vit A vs D imbalance), I recently stopped taking it. I’m hesitant on vit D supplements because so many are synthetic so I’d like to hear any suggestions you may have for us. Btw I’m tandem breastfeeding a 2 yo and 11 mo, is the dosage different for me?
Hey Sandy,
Cod liver oil doesn’t offer enough daily vitamin D and prenatals also tend to be low so I like to supplement when breastfeeding. I would look for a vitamin D3 supplement that also contains vitamin K2, like Seeking Health https://amzn.to/2BQry3Z or Thorne Research >> vitamin K2 helps vitamin D do its job and supplementation transfers to breast milk.
xxo!!
Are the D3+K2 drops you recommend for baby or mom? If for mom, does the K2 transfer into milk? Thanks
Both! Depending on whether or not mama breastfeeds. D3 and K2 do transfer to breastmilk.
xxo!!
What dosage would you recommend for a nursing mother? I believe packaging says 500 IU per drop. So would I take 12 drops a day? Thanks
Hey CT! Right, depending on if you’re taking a prenatal and how much is in that, I would aim for overall 6500 iu.
xxo!!
What about the risks of overdosing vitamin D on the mother? That has negative effects to that would seem to outweigh the inconvenience of giving the baby the supplement…. https://www.thespec.com/living-story/9338374-vitamin-d-too-much-or-too-little-can-lead-to-health-problems/
Hey Julianna,
This is blog post is pulled from a 2015 study published in Pediatrics. Researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina Children’s Hospital and the University of Rochester reported that 6400 IU of vitamin D3 is a safe dosage.
xxo!!
Hi there. I’m exclusively breastfeeding my 4 month old baby and of course the doctor highly recommended vitamin d drops. I’m not comfortable giving my baby those. I would rather take it myself. What do you recommend I buy? Is there a certain brand? What do I do?
Hey Chasity,
YES, you can take vitamin D3 yourself and it will transfer to breastmilk. You want to take around 6400 IU total, so if you’re taking a prenatal also – I would take that into account.
I really like the brand Seeking Health for their D3/K2 combo. Hope this helps! xxo!!
Thank you!! Where do I find a Vitamin D3 that has that many IU’s? I am not taking a prenatal.
I know! 6400 IU is the dosage that’s been studied but most supplements offer 500 IU per drop.
If you’re not taking a prenatal, I would roughly aim for 6000-6500 IU per day. That said, the best way to know the dosage that’s right for you would be to have vitamin D levels tested.
Hope this helps! xxo!!
6400??
The seeking health vit d3 and k2 has 50mcg of vit k2 per drop. I am reading you should take no more then 300 mcg of k2 a day… that being said the 12 drops to reach just 6000 iu of vit d would equal out to be 600mcg of k2.. I cannot find information supporting a daily amount of k2 this high… I already received my seeking health drops and really don’t want to waste it. Has anyone had problems taking this amount?
Hey Brittany!
There is no upper level for vitamin K1 or K2 supplementation. This is well documented and easy to confirm via Google or any other search 🙂
My first foods class does cite some research on vitamin K2 transferring through breast milk, dependent on mother’s intake. In one study in particular, diet was looked at. And in Japan, vitamin K2 rich foods (natto) are regularly consumed.
Ideally, you’re also taking a prenatal. So I would look at the values on the label and then aim for roughly 6000 IU daily. Hope this helps xxo!!