photo from Carlson Labs

By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies who are being exclusively or partially breastfed be given 10 micrograms (400 IU) per day of vitamin D as a supplement. This should be started shortly after birth (1, 2). We recently had a question from a VRG member whose pediatrician told her to give vitamin D drops to her baby. She wondered if there were vegan vitamin D drops for babies.

We did a search for “infant vitamin D vegan” and found several products that claimed to or appeared to be vegan, were for infants, and supplied 10 micrograms (400 IU) of vitamin D. Please note that this was not an exhaustive search and that there may be other acceptable products. We recommend checking with your baby’s doctor before using a supplement that is different from the brand that they suggest.

Here are products that we found:

Cymbiotika – https://cymbiotika.com/products/infant-d3 (note that the vitamin D3 is vegan; it is derived from lichen)

Carlson Labs – https://carlsonlabs.com/babys-plant-based-super-daily-d3/ – although the website says the product is “vegetarian” and does not say “vegan” this product contains vitamin D3 derived from algae which is considered vegan and does not appear to have non-vegan ingredients. Note that only 1 drop of this product has 400 IU of vitamin D

Mary Ruth’s – https://www.maryruthorganics.com/products/infant-toddler-vitamin-d3-organic-liquid-drops

To read more about nutrition for vegan infants see:

Feeding Vegan Kids

Vegan Nutrition in Pregnancy and Childhood

References

1. The American Academy of Pediatrics. Where we stand: Vitamin D & iron supplements for babies. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Vitamin-Iron-Supplements.aspx. 2022.
2. Wagner CL, Greer FR, American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Breastfeeding, American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition. Prevention of rickets and vitamin D deficiency in infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatrics 2008;122:1142-52.

The contents of this website and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal and Vegan Journal, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient information from company statements. It is impossible to be 100% sure about a statement, info can change, people have different views, and mistakes can be made. Please use your best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.