Vitamin D | ExpatWoman.com
 

Vitamin D

270
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 June 2012 - 10:30

Hi there,

My pediatrician prescribed my 2 months old baby vitamin D but he also said - 'it is up to you whether or not you give the drops to your baby. Alternatively you can put your son next to the window at home when the sun rays are coming through'.

I am generally against anything is not natural so I am not giving my baby any vitamin D drops and I put him every day next to the window plus when we go out during the day I try to expose him to the sun. This is generally not more than 5 minutes (that is how far I live from the metro station). I also take him to the pool but when the sun is gone, so I don't think that counts as vitamin D intake.

Any experiences on the above? Any article you would recommend reading on the matter? (Vitamin D intake for babies in the UAE - google does not find anything for me)

270
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 June 2012 - 16:59
Thanks ladies for all your help! Kellymom has a very good chapter on D vitamin, this is was I was looking for. With weather getting hotter and more humid it is difficult to go outside, however I will be travelling soon home where baby will be able to sunbathe that is why I am going to avoid the artificial D vitamin drops.... Why is the doctor telling me to put baby next to the window if the right UV don't go through????? I never thought about Vitamin D which is prescribed for babies could have parabens!!!! The more I read about all these stuff the more scared I am...
1530
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 June 2012 - 16:37
just reading the Biocare ingredients now : Extra virgin olive oil, medium chain triglycerides, Vitamin D. Best of luck with that
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 June 2012 - 15:51
Final verdict seem to be pending as there is no conclusive evidence. If you are breastfeeding check www.kellymom.com for updated research. One thing if you DO give them, check ingredients. The brand I was given had parabens as no 1 ingredient. Ped was even rude and arrogant when I pointed it out so no longer giving him my money ;-).
179
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 June 2012 - 15:34
I had a very reasonable midwife tell me that if I was able to get my lo outside into the sun for half an hour per day he didn't need the drops but if not she recommended them. Ds was born in April so I gave him the drops till we went home for the summer and from that point on just had him outside. This baby will be born in June so we're stuck here for the summer and it's too hot to take a nb out so I will give her the drops till it cools off, probably October. The drops available here aren't great IMO, they have parabens in them so I asked my mother to bring some from France. If you are planning on using something not aimed at newborns check with your dr about the dose. Breast fed babies don't get enough vit d on their own, you really do need to either get outside or give drops.
2782
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 June 2012 - 15:29
you need to open the window, through the glass won't work, and strip them as naked as possible. I didn't give the drops but I gave his bath outside (in the shade) every day and then laid him down naked on a towel for another 20 minutes kick time outdoors. i think I read somewhere 10 minutes direct sun or at least 30-40 minutes indirect sun daily but don't quote me on that. Darker skinned babies generally need more exposure than very pale babies. The drops are recommended by many major health bodies though, vit D deficiency is being found to be more and more common and even though it is so sunny here, because of the heat children spend a lot of time indoors and in cars, rather than walking/playing outside.
1530
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 June 2012 - 14:23
if you decide to buy Vit D I can recommend a brand called Biocare sold at the Dubai Mall organic shop. A homeoapath/ naturapath friend of mine in the UK says its the best brand and I brought lots of it back to Dubai only to find they are selling it here. The Vit D comes in a small tube with tasteless drops and I only take 4 drops per day so your baby may need only a drop perhaps. I always find it amazing that I (and so many others) can be Vit D deficient in Dubai !!! I didnt have it when living in much colder, cloudier countries
1996
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 June 2012 - 12:58
Pretty sure the amount of Vitamin D you get through glass in very low-did a Google search which seems to confirm this. Also if your windows at home are tinted (like mine) doubt there is much benefit at all
1381
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 18 June 2012 - 12:50
I am giving my 2 month old baby vit D but that is because i was extremely deficient during pregnancy and still taking meds. also my baby had little jaundice so i am still exposing him to early morning sunlight (which comes on his bassinet) for 5-10 min ( mostly on legs and back) here dr's give vit D to everybody without testing because of the low exposure to sun. if you don't want to give and is exposing your baby daily to sun(without sunscreen) then no need. do check your baby for legs pain.
1530
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 June 2012 - 10:49
did they do the blood test to see if he is deficient in any way? I am on vit D drops but I am a grown up with a medical history etc whereas he is a new perfect little baby and surely has all that he needs and cannot be deficient so young? Allergies etc yes are common but vitamin deficiencies are rare in babies I think. Certainly just being indoors in Dubai he is probably get more vit D than most people living in scandanavia, alaska and even Ireland :-) <em>edited by hilsbils on 18/06/2012</em>
 
 

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