Vitamins and minerals are essential dietary components for anyone, but newborn babies may be at risk of missing out on some key nutrients. Some babies may become deficient due to prematurity or illness; breastfed babies also may be deficient in some vitamins and minerals. Physicians sometimes order vitamin or mineral supplements for babies at risk of deficiency to protect them from potentially harmful complications.
Vitamin D
Some babies, particularly those who are exclusively breastfed, may need extra vitamin D. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breastfeeding alone does not provide newborns with adequate amounts of vitamin D. In many cases, these babies can gain vitamin D through exposure to sunlight, but some pediatricians may recommend that nursing mothers give their babies over-the-counter vitamin D supplements. Newborns who are taking formula as their sole form of nutrition typically get enough vitamin D because formula is fortified with vitamin D.
Iron
Babies who are born prematurely may lack iron due to a condition called anemia of prematurity. This condition happens more frequently among premature infants because they may not be taking in enough iron through their feedings and also because they often have lab tests that require taking blood. Many physicians order iron supplements for babies born prematurely, particularly those who are exclusively taking breast milk; formula-fed babies often get extra iron through their diets. Iron supplements can be taken orally and mixed with breast milk, and they are typically started when a baby is a few weeks old.
Vitamin B12
A baby normally receives vitamin B12 before he is born; the vitamin comes from the mother and crosses the placenta. If a mother does do not get enough vitamin B12 in her diet, her newborn may need extra through food or supplementation. This is most common among mothers who are vegans and who exclusively breastfeed their infants. Mothers who are vegans may lack vitamin B12 because their diets exclude many foods that are often fortified or that contain the vitamin, such as beef, seafood and dairy products. When vitamin B12-deficient mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies, these newborns may have low levels, causing damage to the nerve tissues; vitamin B12 deficiency can develop within the first two weeks after birth. Physicians often order vitamin B12 supplements for babies of mothers who are vegans and who want to breastfeed exclusively.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K helps the blood clot and is important for newborn babies to avoid complications such as bleeding from vessels in the brain. According to Oregon State University, vitamin K does not easily cross the placenta during pregnancy, so newborn babies may be at risk of having low levels of vitamin K at birth. In order to avoid potentially serious bleeding complications, most hospitals have protocols to administer an injection of vitamin K to newborns at birth. The body eventually begins to reuse vitamin K through a process called the vitamin K cycle. Giving a newborn a vitamin K supplement at birth helps to provide this essential vitamin until the body takes over in the recycling process.
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