Babies and children
What the NHS, NICE and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health advise on vitamin drops, vitamin D amounts and upper limits for babies and children.
The NHS advises a daily vitamin D supplement for breastfed babies from birth, and vitamins A, C and D every day for all children from 6 months to 5 years, except babies having more than 500ml of infant formula a day. NICE's guidance for health professionals says the same, and families on the NHS Healthy Start scheme can get the drops free. Children over 4, like adults, should consider 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day in autumn and winter. The NHS says the Department of Health and Social Care recommends only supplements containing vitamins A, C and D for young children; the British Dietetic Association adds that vegan children need vitamin B12 supplements.
NHS: Your health visitor can give you advice on vitamin drops and tell you where to get them.
Each line below is a short summary of what the named source says, with a link to read it in full. None of it is medical advice.
Advised
Vitamin D
A vitamin the body makes when skin is in sunlight; a few foods have some. Drops are sold for babies and young children.
- NHS: Breastfed babies: 8.5 to 10 micrograms a day from birth to 1 year.
- RCPCH: Children aged 1 to 4: 10 micrograms; consider the same over 4, especially in winter.
Also covered by NHS (Vitamin D; Your baby's first solid foods), NICE and NHS Healthy Start.
Vitamins A, C and D drops
Vitamin drops made for babies and young children, with vitamins A, C and D together.
- NHS: Daily vitamins A, C and D for every child from 6 months to 5 years.
- NHS: Not for babies having more than 500ml of infant formula a day.
Also covered by NHS, NICE and NHS Healthy Start.
Vitamin B12 for vegan children
A vitamin found almost only in animal foods, and added to some plant drinks and breakfast cereals.
- British Dietetic Association: Vegan children will need B12 supplements; ask a dietitian or health visitor for advice.
Also covered by NHS.
What vitamin B12 for vegan children is, and the forms it comes in
Limited evidence
Omega-3
Fats found in oily fish, and in some plant oils, nuts and seeds; supplements come from fish, krill or algae.
- British Dietetic Association: For the UK general population, the evidence on supplements is inconclusive.
- NCCIH: Research in ADHD has had conflicting results; any difference to symptoms is uncertain.
Also covered by British Dietetic Association.
Children's multivitamins
Tablets, gummies or liquids with a wider mix of vitamins, and often minerals, sold for children.
- NHS: Only supplements with vitamins A, C and D are recommended; ask a pharmacist which suits.
- RCPCH: Few children's multivitamins give the recommended 400 IU of vitamin D a day.
Also covered by British Dietetic Association.
No good evidence
Advised against
Things to check
- NHS: Babies under 12 months should not have more than 25 micrograms (1,000 IU) of vitamin D a day.
- NHS: Children aged 1 to 10 should not have more than 50 micrograms (2,000 IU) of vitamin D a day; 11 to 17, 100 micrograms.
- NHS: Keep to the dose on the label, and do not give a child two supplements at the same time.
- NHS: Do not give cod liver oil as well as vitamin drops: cod liver oil also contains vitamins A and D.
- British Dietetic Association: Choose an omega-3 supplement made for the child's age: children need less than adults.
- NHS: Very high doses of iron can be fatal, particularly for children: keep iron supplements out of their reach.
- NICE: Herbal colic remedies have been linked to vomiting, sleepiness and constipation in babies.
- MHRA: Undeclared melatonin, a prescription-only medicine, was found in a brand of children's magnesium gummies sold online as a food supplement.
If you take medication, are pregnant, or have a health condition, check with a pharmacist or GP first.
Sources
- Vitamins for childrenWhich vitamins babies and young children should have, and where to get them.
- Vitamin DHow much vitamin D babies, children and adults need, and the most each age should have.
- Your baby's first solid foodsStarting solid foods from around 6 months, including which vitamin supplements babies need.
- Getting vitaminsFree vitamin drops for eligible families, for children from birth to their 4th birthday.
- Maternal and child nutrition (NG247), recommendationsNICE's guidance for professionals, including vitamin supplements for babies and children under 5.
- Daily doses of vitamin D important for child health say doctorsThe college's statement on daily vitamin D doses for babies and children.
- Few multivitamins contain recommended dose of Vitamin D, reveals new studyThe college's response to a survey of the vitamin D in children's supplements sold in the UK.
- Complementary feeding (weaning)Starting solid foods, vegetarian and vegan weaning, and the supplements babies need.
- The vegan dietPlanning a vegan diet, including for a baby or child, and vegan sources of vitamin B12.
- Omega-3Omega-3 fats, where they come from, fish advice and supplements, including for children.
- Omega-3 Supplements: What You Need To KnowThe research on omega-3 supplements, including for ADHD in children and adolescents, and their safety.
- Diet, behaviour and learning in childrenHow children's diet relates to mood, behaviour and learning, and the evidence on supplements.
- IronWhere iron comes from, how much people need, and how much is safe to take.
- ColicSigns of colic, soothing a crying baby, and the remedies sold for colic.
- Colic - infantile: Scenario: Management of infantile colicNICE's summary for GPs on managing infant crying and colic, including what not to recommend.
- Common questions about melatoninQuestions about melatonin, including whether it can be bought as a supplement in the UK.
- Parents and caregivers advised to stop all use of specific brand of kids' magnesium gummies due to the presence of an undeclared prescription-only medicineThe regulator's warning after it found undeclared melatonin in children's gummies sold as a food supplement.
Sources checked 28 September 2026. Prices checked 20 October 2026, ranked purely by price per dose. Which sources these pages use.