A liquid vitamin D source is very convenient. With no pills to swallow, its easy to take. But
the Food and Drug Administration recently alerted the public that some liquid Vitamin D dropper products could lead to excessive dosing of Vitamin D in infants. Some of the droppers may hold more than 400 IU of vitamin D per dropper, and this could lead to incorrectly giving a larger amount of vitamin D to infants.
As a parent, buying high-quality, affordable vitamins and supplements for your infant should be a top priority. Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin, is a fat soluble vitamin necessary for the development of healthy, strong bones. When you buy vitamins and supplements, ensure that you are buying a brand that you can trust. When you buy liquid vitamins, check to see what kind of dropper comes with the product. Ensure the dropper is clearly labeled and that you understand that dosage instructions.
The FDA issued several recommendations in their press release:
- Ensure that your infant does not receive more than 400 international units (IUs) of vitamin D a day, which is the daily dose of vitamin D supplement that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends for breast-fed and partially breast-fed infants.
-
Keep the vitamin D supplement product with its original package so that you and other caregivers can follow the instructions. Follow these instructions carefully so that you use the dropper correctly and give the right dose.
-
Use only the dropper that comes with the product; it is manufactured specifically for that product. Do not use a dropper from another product.
-
Ensure the dropper is marked so that the units of measure are clear and easy to understand. Also make sure that the units of measure correspond to those mentioned in the instructions.
-
If you cannot clearly determine the dose of vitamin D delivered by the dropper, talk to a health care professional before giving the supplement to the infant.
-
If your infant is being fully or partially fed with infant formula, check with your pediatrician or other health care professional before giving the child vitamin D supplements.
Source: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm214343.htm