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Is it necessary to give vitamin D to babies at the dacha: doctor’s opinion
Sunny days and so many – if you often walk, does the newborn need additional doses of vitamin D? We deal with it together with the doctor.
Even 20 years ago, young mothers knew about this vitamin only that it helps to prevent rickets in children. And now literally everyone is puzzled by the question of whether the baby has enough vitamin D, who needs to take it and how to give it to babies at different times of the year. The topic has become not only relevant – it has become fashionable.
Let’s clarify right away: vitamin D is a whole group of biologically active substances. One of its components is cholecalciferol, or vitamin D3. So it is that useful vitamin that is formed in the skin as a result of exposure to ultraviolet rays, it is even called the solar vitamin. The main purpose of this organic compound is to regulate calcium-phosphorus metabolism in the body, to participate in the work of the immune system and other important physiological processes.
In order for the vitamin to begin to be synthesized in the body, the sun’s rays of the B range must fall on the skin at a certain time of the day. But our country is located above the 42nd geographic latitude, in a risk zone in terms of the amount of necessary sunlight received. That is, the sun shines at us at such an angle that the only sense from it is a tan. Therefore, it is not surprising that the inhabitants of even the southern regions may have a deficiency of the solar vitamin. And the more this substance is necessary for the growth and development of a newborn baby.
“Based on the recommendations of the Union of Pediatricians of Russia, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics, all babies, especially in infancy (the period of a child from birth to a year), should receive vitamin D, regardless of the region of residence and the number of outdoor walks. This also applies to the time spent in the summer at the dacha, vacation on the seaside. ”
The doctor pays special attention: to give a prophylactic dose of the drug to the baby is necessary for any type of nutrition: breastfeeding, artificial adapted formulas, after 6 months, when solid food will be added to the diet. In breast milk, as well as in milk formulas, there is not enough vitamin D. During pregnancy and lactation, the mother is also shown preventive intake of cholecalciferol.
But in no case can you calculate the dosage yourself, prescribe drugs yourself, too! This entails separate risks, read about this below.
What does a newborn need vitamin D for?
In the thoracic period, the rate of growth and development of the body is the highest in a person’s entire life. The kid grows quickly, gains weight, his organs develop, systems are formed. At this stage, it is important that the baby is getting all the nutrients. Because their lack can affect the health of the baby in the most unfavorable way.
Most of all, the lack of cholecalciferol is reflected in the formation of bone (the risk of developing rickets), immune and endocrine systems. In 2014, Russia completed a large study on vitamin D deficiency in young children “Rodnichok”. The findings of the scientists make one think: for example, children who receive a prophylactic dose of vitamin D and have a normal level of cholecalciferol in the blood, two times less likely to suffer from respiratory diseases than their peerswho do not receive the vitamin and have a low level of it.
There is also a link between the vitamin and the baby’s good sleep. Children who were given vitamin D slept more calmly and longer, and had no problems falling asleep.
What foods contain vitamin D
It is possible to partially replenish the body’s needs for cholecalciferol through proper nutrition, but this is an insignificant dose. In addition, the vitamin is destroyed during thermal processing. In the list of healthy foods that contain vitamin D, in the first place are fish and seafood (cod liver, fatty herring, chum salmon, catfish, trout, pink salmon, shrimp). There is also a high indicator of vitamin D content in meat, beef liver, chicken yolks, fatty dairy and fermented milk products (cheese, butter, cottage cheese).
Why vitamin D is not enough in summer
Vitamin production peaks at noon, when the sun is at its zenith. Getting such sunbathing is dangerous for an infant. In summer, the delicate skin of the baby, on the contrary, needs to be protected from aggressive rays, put the stroller in the shade, choose clothes suitable for the weather.
For older babies, mothers should apply sunscreen to the skin, it blocks ultraviolet light. For walks, it is recommended to choose a time before 10:00 or after 16:00.
But even if the baby runs around the sea or dacha without clothes, he does not receive a sufficient amount of vitamin D. Therefore, you do not need to rely on walks in the sun, trips to the sea, it is better to contact a pediatrician for a vitamin prescription.
How to give vitamin D to babies? A course for preventive or therapeutic purposes can only be prescribed by a pediatrician. And not in absentia, but only after the examination of the child and the laboratory tests carried out – a blood test.
The doctor knows the rate for each age period and will tell you which drug to choose. Vitamin D is available in the form of a medicinal product and the form of dietary supplements; it can be water- and fat-soluble. Being independent in this matter is dangerous for the health of the baby! An overdose of a substance can have serious consequences: vomiting, convulsions, respiratory failure, refusal to eat, etc.