The lack of nutrients in the child's body leads to a number of serious complications, and infants are at risk due to unformed metabolic processes. One of the most important is vitamin D for infants, since it is he who affects the physical development and condition of the bones. From food, newborns cannot get it fully, so an alternative option in the form of vitamin supplements will be the way out of the situation.
Benefit
Vitamin D is essential for a number of reasons:
- promotes timely bone growth
- normalizes the production of peptides, which in turn improve immunity, strengthen the nervous system and stabilize blood pressure
- prevents the development of diabetes
In the body of a child, it is produced under the influence of sunlight, but the main factor for its appearance is clean air. Therefore, in megacities and polluted cities, there is an increased number of children with rickets.
Deficiency leads to:
- decrease in the level of calcium in the body, which is fraught with rickets
- excitability
- loss of appetite
- the appearance of bald patches on the back of the head in a newborn
- bone deformities
- dysfunction of internal organs
- slow growth of teeth
In cases of acute vitamin deficiency in a child, development may be delayed. The softening of the bone tissue leads to the curvature of the legs, which may in the future affect the girl's ability to endure and give birth to a healthy child. Therefore, it is necessary to give vitamin D as prescribed by a doctor.
When and what to take
In the summer, babies are usually not given vitamin D, as their body synthesizes it on its own. The exception is premature babies, who are prescribed drugs year-round. As well as newborns living in northern regions with a shortage of sunlight. An overdose is undesirable at such an early age, so a doctor's consultation is first necessary.
There is a wonderful cheat sheet for parents on when to give vitamin D. Its intake is mandatory in those autumn and winter months, in the name of which the letter "r" is present. The dosage of prophylactic administration is 500 IU, when a doctor prescribes a treatment volume, a week-long break is taken every month. A vitamin preparation is given to children from the second month of life to 3 years inclusive, and sometimes the period is extended individually.
There are signs in which even the norm of vitamin D3 is not needed:
- lack of initial signs of rickets
- accommodation in the southern region
- light skin baby
- the weather conditions of the area allow frequent sunbathing
- mother's diet contains foods with vitamin D
Under these conditions, there are no indications for the additional use of drugs.
Modern pediatricians prefer to prescribe an aqueous solution of vitamin D:
- increased absorption rate
- longer lasting effect
- exclusion of accidental overdose
Instructions for use of the oil solution warns:
- the drug should not be given to children who have problems with the intestines and stomach
- also contraindications are kidney disease and mineral metabolism disorders
- oil drops cannot be dosed with pinpoint precision
The aqueous solution is not highly toxic, so pediatricians prescribe it when it comes time to support the child's body. However, more effective and physiological is oil - provitamin D.
Drops can adversely affect the effect of other drugs, so it is advisable to consult a pediatrician so as not to throw money away. It is better to give the vitamin in the morning during breakfast or immediately after it. To do this, just drop the solution into a spoon, add water and offer the crumbs.
How much to take
If the baby was born on time, a vitamin D solution is prescribed from 5 weeks, for premature babies, acquaintance with a useful supplement begins at 2 weeks. In the latter case, preference is given to an aqueous solution, since it has a more gentle effect on the body.
The dosage may be changed by the pediatrician if signs of rickets are present. With increased doses of the vitamin, it is better to give an aqueous solution with a number of advantages:
- minimal toxicity
- fast absorption by the body
- long duration
However, do not forget to take a week break every 4 weeks of taking the drug in order to avoid accumulation of the vitamin and subsequent overdose.
Differences in nutrition
When visiting a pediatrician, it should be noted what kind of nutrition the newborn receives. Mother's milk contains the right amount of substances necessary for development and health, but vitamin D in it is minimal. Adapted modern milk formulas include a sufficient amount of the vitamin, which does not require its additional intake during artificial feeding.
Excess vitamin D leads to an overdose, which is fraught with:
- damage to internal organs
- painful sensations
- loss of appetite and weight
- prolonged constipation and nausea
The norm of the drug and the need for its appointment is always determined by the doctor.
What to apply
Infants are prescribed drops, as this is the safest and easiest way to give the baby vitamins:
- California Gold Nutrition, Infant Vitamin D3 Drops, the active substance in the composition has the form most absorbed by the body - cholecalciferol. Drops can be taken from infancy. There is no alcohol in the dietary supplement. There are no other ingredients that can harm children's health.
- Aquadetrim. It is prescribed from 4 weeks of life, if the doctor has not recommended an earlier date. Vitamin is contained in the form of D3, one drop contains 500 IU of the active substance.
- Vitamin D3. It is prescribed from 2 weeks, the dose contains 625 IU. Sometimes there is no special dropper in the bottle, so the dosage is determined using a pipette.
- Vigantol. It is prescribed from 2 weeks, contains 667 IU. Instructions for use will acquaint you with the necessary information.
There are also foreign analogues, such as the Finnish oil Devisol, containing vitamin D3. It is prescribed to stimulate the production of vitamin by the child's body. An aqueous preparation called Jecovit can be given to normal newborns and premature babies as a preventive measure for rickets.
In the video, a well-known doctor, Dr. Komarovsky, will tell young parents about rickets and how to treat this disease in infants.
