You can help protect your child from the effects of rickets by understanding their risk for vitamin D deficiency and taking steps to prevent it.
Look at our chart for recommended amounts specific to your child's age:
Here are some some common sources of vitamin D that can increase intake:
References
1. National Institute of Health (June 2014). Vitamin D Factsheet for Health Professionals. Retrieved from: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
2. U.S. National Library of Medicine (April 2015). MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia:Rickets. Retrieved from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000344.htm
3. Mayo Clinic (1998-2015). Diseases and Conditions: Rickets. Retrieved from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rickets/basics/symptoms/con-20027091
Sources of Vitamin D
There are not many natural food sources of vitamin D, but here are some foods that you can include vitamin D into your child's diet:
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Oily fish (sardines, mackerel, salmon, tuna and herring)
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Liver
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Egg Yolks
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Fortified Foods (foods with vitamin D added) such as milk, some orange juices, margarines, cereals, yogurt, and baby formula
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Some mushrooms also contain a form of vitamin D
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Supplements - consult with your child's doctor or a registered dietitian about whether your child might need supplements
Having a sensible balance of sunlight exposure provides an abundant source of vitamin D for your child:
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The recommended amount of sunlight each day ranges from 10 -30 minutes with exposure before 10am and after 3pm each day (from September to April) and two to three hours of sunlight exposure over the week (May to August).
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During peak UV hours, protect your child's skin with clothing, sunscreen, shade, and/or sunscreen.
top left: fortified orange juice, top right: egg yolk
bottom left: salmon, bottom right: fortified cereal
