Nutrient Needs During the First Two Months of Life

Vitamins

As with minerals, unless there are special circumstances, breastmilk and/or standard, iron-fortified infant formula should meet an infant’s vitamin needs. Three vitamins of special concerns are discussed below.

vitamin K
vitamin B12
vitamin D

Vitamin K
Recommendations for vitamin K intake for infants 0-6 months old is based on the vitamin K content of breastmilk and also on the assumption that infants receive prophylactic vitamin K at birth. (IOM, 2001) Oral vitamin K is not recommended. It may not provide adequate stores in breastfed infants unless repeated doses are administered during the first 4 months of life. (AAP, 2005)

Vitamin B12
Recommended intake levels for vitamin B12 are based on the assumption that the mother’s B12 status is adequate. The breastmilk of women who are vegans or who have untreated pernicious anemia may be inadequate, and clinical signs of B12 deficiency may appear in the infant at about 4 months of age. It is recommended that infants of vegan mothers receive supplemental vitamin B12 from birth.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D available to the infant during the first 6 months of life depends on the vitamin D status of the mother during pregnancy and the infant's diet and exposure to sunlight. Because of variations in exposure to sunlight (both regional and seasonal), the recommendations were developed with the assumption that infants do not receive any vitamin D from sunlight.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all breastfed infants receive 400 IU of vitamin D (oral) beginning with hospital discharge or shortly after birth and continuing throughout breastfeeding or until the daily consumption of vitamin D-fortified formula is 500 mL(AAP 2012; Holt et al, 2011).

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Match the micronutrient to the recommended supplementation from birth to two months of age: