One way to keep your child healthy during the school year is by ensuring they have enough vitamin D. Adding kids multivitamin gummies to their morning routine is one suggestion. Here are additional ideas to increase your child’s vitamin D level.
Why Is Vitamin D Important For Your Child?
Vitamin D helps your child’s growth and bone strength and helps ward off illness by increasing their immune system. Vitamin D assists the body in absorbing calcium and phosphate from food appropriately, which in turn aids in developing healthy bones and tissues. An adequate amount of vitamin D can help prevent rickets, a softening or weakening of the bones, in children. Signs of vitamin D deficiency include depression, muscle cramps, fatigue, bone pain and muscle weakness.
Ways To Raise Vitamin D Levels In Your Child
You now know why vitamin D is vital for your child. Here are suggestions on how to increase the levels.
Sunlight
An easy way to get extra vitamin D is to spend between 15 to 30 minutes in the midday sun, especially during the spring, summer and fall months. When the sun hits exposed skin, it produces vitamin D. You will never overdose on vitamin D when obtained through the sun. Always protect your child with sunscreen, though, when they are outside. Doing so might result in less vitamin D production, but it will reduce the chance of other problems later in life.
Food
Another way to raise your child’s vitamin D level is through food. Unfortunately, only a few foods contain vitamin D, and not all children will eat them. Examples of natural vitamin D foods are:
- Fish, such as tuna fish, sardines and salmon
- Eggs, particularly the yolks
- Shiitake mushrooms
There are also foods fortified with vitamin D. Most are dairy products, such as milk and yogurt. Not all dairy products have added vitamin D, so check the labels. Here are fortified food examples.
- Milk
- Cereal
- Orange juice
Even with the added vitamin D, children do not normally consume enough fortified foods to reach the recommended amount. Food is still the preferred way to get vitamin D.
Supplements
If your child does not get enough vitamin D through other means, supplements, such as vitamin drops for toddlers, are a great option. Check the labels for added inactive ingredients, such as sugar, to ensure the risks don’t outweigh the benefits. Also, look at the amount of vitamin D they contain. While vitamin D deficiency is not healthy, neither is getting too much vitamin D. The recommended daily allowance for children from infants to age 18 is between 10 and 15 mcg. Healthcare providers usually recommend between 15 and 25 mcg for children over age 1. This amount is equal to 600 to 1,000 IU.
Since the majority of children do not get a sufficient amount of vitamin D from the sun or food, supplements are beneficial. Even infants need vitamin D, so check out Wellements vitamin D drops to help your baby’s growth and develop strong bones.
