Pediatric dietitians explain the exact amount of vitamin D one to three year olds can consume.
• Unless children are consuming a fortified milk formula, vitamin D is one of the only nutrients that doctors recommend babies, toddlers, and kids take a supplement for. Vitamin D is essential for the body to build strong bones and teeth and support a healthy immune system. It plays a crucial part in enabling the body to absorb calcium and phosphate, and without it children are at risk of developing rickets.
• There aren’t that many food sources with a high vitamin D content, which makes it one of the more difficult nutrients to get through diet alone. Kids over one year of age should get about 15 mcg (600 IU) of vitamin D per day. While the Sun is also a source of Vitamin D, location, season, and time spent outdoors, mean it doesn’t always provide a sufficient amount to support the development of children,
What’s the Safe Daily Vitamin D Dose for 3-year-olds?
• 10 mcg or 400 IU of is the safest amount of Vitamin D to give your child in a supplement. It provides enough of the nutrient to support the body’s requirements, while also allowing for additional amounts from foods and the sun to avoid overconsumption.
Can You Give a Toddler Too Much Vitamin D?
• 62 mcg (2500 IU) is seen as the absolute maximum daily amount of vitamin D for a 1 to 3 year old. Vitamin D deficiency is extremely common in children, hence why supplements are widely recommended by doctors. While it is possible to have vitamin D toxicity, the risk is extremely low.
What Are the Signs of Too Much Vitamin D?
Although it is rare for a toddler or child over 3 years old to consume too much vitamin D, symptoms such as fatigue, vomiting, poor appetite, and stomach pain can all be signs of having taken too much of the nutrient. In this case, always consult a doctor.
