What supplement is recommended for exclusively breastfed infants younger than 6 months?

Exclusively breastfed infants are typically recommended to receive vitamin D supplementation. This is because breast milk alone does not provide sufficient levels of vitamin D, which is essential for healthy bone development and to prevent rickets. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that infants who are exclusively or partially breastfed should begin receiving a daily vitamin D supplement of 400 IU soon after they are born and continue until they are weaned to fortified formula or whole milk that contains adequate vitamin D.

While iron, calcium, and vitamin K are important nutrients for infants, the specific recommendation for vitamin D supplementation arises from the particular deficiency risk in breastfed infants since their primary source of nutrition does not meet the daily requirements for vitamin D. Iron is usually not supplemented until later in infancy, around 4 to 6 months, particularly when complementary foods are introduced that may not be iron-fortified. Calcium can be adequately obtained from breast milk during the first months of life. Vitamin K is given as an injection shortly after birth to prevent hemorrhagic disease, but it is not typically administered as an ongoing supplement in the first months. Therefore, vitamin D is the specific supplement recommended for exclusively breastfed infants younger than 6 months to ensure their health and proper development