Ways To Get Your Child More Vitamin D During the Changing Seasons

Today, on Redhead Mom, I’m sharing a partnered guest post about ways to get your child more Vitamin D during the changing seasons.

Changing weather brings its own health concerns, especially for young children and their parents. You may start seeking out a children’s immune support supplement or information about vitamin D deficiency based on the challenges you and your children are currently facing. It is vitally important for infants and toddlers to get enough vitamin D, but this can be difficult, especially in the early spring.

Why Vitamin D Deficiency Is a Bigger Concern in the Springtime

The human body has the ability to make its own vitamin D. Exposure to sunlight triggers the body to start synthesizing it. This is good news because it is impossible to overdose on vitamin D that your body manufactures itself.

During the early spring months, just before daylights savings may occur, there is less sunlight available to expose the skin to for vitamin D synthesis. However, this is only part of the problem. Adults and children alike usually spend more time indoors during the colder months. When you do go outside with your children, you are probably bundled up against the chill. Unfortunately, less exposure to the cold also means less exposure to sunlight.

Furthermore, doctors don’t recommend that parents expose newborns to the sun for vitamin D synthesis because babies’ skin is so delicate. For children this young, doctors recommend infant vitamin D drops instead.

Importance of Vitamin D in Children

Vitamin D is important to everyone, but children especially need it because of the important role it plays in bone development. Calcium is the mineral that the body uses to build up bones, but vitamin D facilitates and regulates the absorption of calcium for bone development.

A vitamin D deficiency can affect the way your child’s body absorbs calcium. As a result, your child may develop rickets, a condition that causes the bones to become soft. Children with rickets can develop bowing of the long bones, especially in the legs, because soft bones are not able to withstand the pressure of muscles pulling on them as your child moves around.

How To Get Your Family Vitamin D When the Sun’s Not Out

When you and your children probably have less exposure to sunlight, you can feed your family foods that contain vitamin D. Some foods, including liver, egg yolks, shiitake mushrooms, and fish such as tuna or salmon, are natural sources of vitamin D. Other foods are often fortified with vitamin D, such as cereal or dairy products.

In some cases, you may not be able to feed your children foods rich in vitamin D because of food allergies or sensitivities. Your child’s age could make a difference; for example, children less than 12 months old should not consume cow milk. In other cases, your child may refuse to eat certain foods. Vitamin D supplements, such as those made by Wellement, may be helpful when your children can’t or won’t receive vitamin D through their diet.

Be proactive in discussing any concerns you have about your child’s vitamin D level with your physician to determine how to correct or avoid a deficiency.