Vitamin D

At a glance

Vitamin D helps your child grow strong bones. All children need vitamin D beginning shortly after birth. Breast milk usually does not provide all the vitamin D a baby needs.

Various food sources of Vitamin D, including salmon, mushrooms, eggs, cheese, etc.

What vitamin D does

Vitamin D helps your child build strong bones and prevent rickets. Rickets is a condition of softening of the bones that can occur in growing children.

When and how much a child needs

All children need vitamin D beginning shortly after birth.

  • Children younger than 12 months need 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D each day.
  • Children 12 to 24 months need 600 IU of vitamin D each day.

Making sure children get enough

Breast milk

Breast milk usually does not provide all the vitamin D a baby needs. Babies who are fed only breast milk or who receive both breast milk and infant formula need to have a supplement with 400 IU of vitamin D every day.

Infant formula

For babies who receive only infant formula:

  • Vitamin D supplementation is not needed.
  • Infant formulas are fortified with vitamin D.
  • Learn more about how to choose an infant formula.

Solid foods

For children who have started eating solid foods:

Make sure your child's diet has foods with vitamin D. Some examples of foods with vitamin D include:

  • Some fish, such as salmon or light canned tuna.
  • Eggs.
  • Vitamin D-fortified products such as:
    • Plain whole cow's milk for children 12 months and older.
    • Yogurt.
    • Cereals.
    • Some 100% juices.

A child's age matters when it comes to cow's milk

For children older than 12 months, plain, pasteurized whole cow's milk is a great source of vitamin D. Most cow's milk sold in stores is fortified with vitamin D.


For babies younger than 12 months, cow's milk is not recommended because it may put your baby at risk for intestinal bleeding. It also has too many proteins and minerals for your baby's kidneys to handle easily and does not have the right amount of nutrients your baby needs.

Vitamin D supplements can also be used if your child is not getting enough Vitamin D from their diet. Talk with your doctor or nurse about vitamin D at your child's next check-up if you have questions.

Learn more about vitamin D and sunlight for your baby.

For more information on vitamin D, check out Micronutrient Facts.

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Content Source:
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP)