HAPPY+HEALTHY Need to know
Vitamin D ABCs We get it from the sun, but this is Canada, remember? Here’s how to ensure your kids are getting enough vitamin D.
All vitamins are important for babies and kids, so why do paediatricians seem to focus so much on vitamin D? Often called the sunshine vitamin, it helps us absorb calcium and phosphorus, supporting the development of healthy bones and teeth. Low vitamin D has been linked to autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease, mental illness and diabetes. Early studies also appear to show vitamin D may be protective against COVID-19. Don’t we get it from the sun? The body produces vitamin D naturally in response to UV radiation from the sun. But most Canadian kids don’t get enough sun exposure—particularly in the winter—to make enough. Health Canada recommends using both diet
and supplements to make sure your kid gets what they need. Is food a good source? It can be if your kid eats a varied diet. Foods like salmon, canned tuna, mushrooms, broccoli, kale and spinach are good sources of vitamin D, as are fortified foods like milk and milk alternatives. What about babies? Formula contains vitamin D, so bottle-fed infants may not require a supplement— check with your healthcare provider. Breastfed babies,
on the other hand, aren’t likely to get enough of the vitamin through breastmilk alone. “While breastmilk is an excellent source of nutrition, it is very low in vitamin D,” says Ahuva Magder Hershkop, a paediatric registered dietitian in Toronto. Most doctors recommend a vitamin D supplement for babies. What’s the story on supplements? For babies, experts recommend vitamin D in drop form. Put it on your nipple just before nursing, on the nipple of your baby’s bottle, directly in their mouth or on their pacifier, says Magder Hershkop. Older kids can take a drop under their tongue or opt for the vitamin in gummy or tablet form.
TIP: IF YOUR KIDS HATE THE TASTE OF VITAMIN D DROPS, TRY ANOTHER BRAND. MANY ARE COMPLETELY TASTELESS.
LABOUR
Planning a home birth in 2021? The Kaya Stool is made from moulded plastic and is ergonomically designed to support your body during labour. Use it for birthing positions like squatting, kneeling, stretching or rocking. $230,
STUDY
We know that almost any symptom can potentially be coronavirus in kids. But a study of kids swabbed for COVID-19 in Alberta found that the symptoms most strongly associated with a positive test were loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, headache and fever. More than a third of kids who tested positive for COVID had no symptoms at all.
BABY
Bottoms up
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todaysparent.com January+February 2021
TOYS
Rock and roll Featured as one of the top toys of 2020 by Today’s Parent toy testers, the Kidboard Balance Board is made from veneered beechwood and can hold up to 485 pounds (220 kg). Kids (and adults) can use it to practise their balance or to foster their imagination by turning it into a bridge, slide or reading nook. $100, PLAYFULMINDSTOYS.CA
GETTY IMAGES
Considering the switch to cloth diapers for your baby? The clever Try-It Kit from Esembly comes with everything you need to get started, including three organic cotton inners, one stylish and waterproof outer, a specially formulated washing powder and a simple carrying bag. FROM $135, INDIGO.CA
