Wednesday 6 September 2017

THE SUNSHINE VITAMIN

Taking the right amount of Vitamin D is extremely important for everyone and more so for babies. 
Baby V and I love being in the sun. While baby skin is extremely sensitive & can burn easily, yet there is no better way to consume Vit D than direct sun exposure (newborns should take indirect sunlight to even bring down jaundice). 

Paediatricians prescribe taking in atleast 400 IU of Vit D daily through supplements like Sunsips/Vitanova/Uprise etc., which is a must given our lifestyle of minimal sun exposure, but nothing beats the power of the sun. 


☀️ Why is Vitamin D required for babies?
- Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin, can be produced in the body with mild sun exposure or consumed in food or supplements. Vitamin D has multiple roles in the body, like- maintain the health of bones and teeth. Support the health of the immune system, brain and nervous system.
- Vit D is required to absorb Calcium & phosphorous in the body, which are needed to build and maintain bones. 

- Lack of Vit D leads to lactose intolerance (even to mother's milk)
- Insufficient amount of Vit D can lead to rickets (brittle bones)



☀️
How much Vit D is required?
- Direct exposure to sun is required for 10minutes each day for fair skin & slightly longer for wheatish skin. 

- Skin should be directly exposed to the sun. It cannot permeate clothes and glass windows. 


☀️How to keep the baby safe in sun?
- Babies should not get direct sunlight in their eyes since their eyes are very sensitive. I try to turn V away from the sun so that his lower half gets max sun. - Ensure baby is well hydrated to be able to sit in the sun for these 10mins. 

- Best time for sun bathing is 9:30-11:30am

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