When do you take AD drops and how old are you

Vitamin AD drops are generally recommended to be taken from 2 weeks after birth and continue until 2-3 years old. The supplementation of vitamin AD drops needs to be adjusted according to factors such as the growth and development stage, sunlight conditions, and dietary structure of infants and young children. The main influencing factors include premature or low birth weight infants, breastfeeding status, progress of complementary food addition, seasonal changes, and doctor's evaluation results.

1. Premature or low birth weight infants

Premature or low birth weight infants have insufficient reserves of vitamin AD in their bodies and need to start supplementing earlier. This type of baby usually needs to be taken under the guidance of a doctor within one week after birth, and the dosage may be appropriately increased. Due to the weak gastrointestinal function of premature infants, it is recommended to choose the form of drops for easy absorption and regularly monitor growth and development indicators.

2. Breastfeeding Status

Infants who are exclusively breastfed must continue to supplement with vitamin AD, as the vitamin D content in breast milk is lower. Infants fed with mixed or formula milk need to calculate the daily vitamin AD content in formula milk. If the daily requirement of 400IU vitamin D is not met, further supplementation is still necessary. Even if complementary foods are added after 6 months, breast milk remains the main source of nutrition and should not be discontinued without authorization.

3. Progress of Supplementing

After adding complementary foods to infants and young children, if the intake of foods rich in vitamin AD such as animal liver, egg yolk, and deep-sea fish is sufficient, the supplement dose can be reduced as appropriate. However, in areas with insufficient winter sunshine in northern China, or in cases where young children are picky eaters, it is recommended to maintain supplementation until the age of 3. After the age of one, the daily vitamin D requirement for young children increases to 600IU, which needs to be met through a combination of diet and supplements.

4. Seasonal changes

In summer, when there is sufficient sunlight, the skin can synthesize sufficient vitamin D through sunlight, and supplementation can be temporarily suspended in southern regions. However, in the autumn and winter seasons, the sunshine duration is short and the ultraviolet rays are weak, especially in areas with frequent rainy weather, which requires continuous supplementation throughout the year. Children with insufficient outdoor activity time should maintain the lowest dose of supplementation even in summer.

5. Doctor's evaluation results

During regular child health check ups, doctors will determine whether to adjust the supplementary plan based on indicators such as blood calcium and alkaline phosphatase. Children with high-risk factors for rickets, recurrent respiratory infections, or delayed growth and development may require extended supplementation until pre-school age. Unauthorized discontinuation may lead to risks such as vitamin D deficiency induced hand and foot twitching. During the supplementation of vitamin AD, it is recommended to choose capsule drops that are stored in a light shielded manner to ensure stability and avoid taking them together with calcium supplements that may affect absorption. After the age of 2, young children can gradually obtain nutrition through fortified foods such as AD calcium milk and vitamin D-fortified grains, but still need to ensure a total daily intake. Parents should record the dosage and time of supplementation, regularly evaluate the height, weight, and fontanelle closure of their children, and seek medical attention for follow-up examinations in a timely manner when symptoms such as excessive sweating and night startle occur. Daily intake of natural foods such as salmon and cheese can be appropriately increased, combined with 1-2 hours of outdoor activity to promote vitamin D synthesis.