The American Academy of Pediatrics recently doubled the amount of vitamin D recommended for infants in their first few days of life.  The organization now recommends that all infants, children and adolescents receive 400 IU (international units) of vitamin D everyday.  This is an update from the 2003 recommendation that required infants to receive only 200 IU during their first two months of life. Vitamin D is different from most vitamins because it comes from sun exposure.  It’s difficult to know how much sun is needed because it changes with each individual person, location and time of year, said Dr. Jennifer Bryan of Glenbrook Pediatrics in Glenview. People with dark skin absorb less of the UV rays needed to make vitamin D, so they would need to stay in the sun longer.  Also, the sun is less potent in the north, especially during the winter months, making it more difficult to receive the needed vitamin D. Bryan discourages sun exposure as the primary source of vitamin D because the risk of skin cancer. Vitamin D can also be found in foods that children don’t normally like, for example sardines, salmon and cod live oil. Many items such as milk, soymilk, rice milk and some cereals and orange juices are fortified with vitamin D.  However, to receive the recommended 400 IU a child would have to drink 32 oz of milk, which is about four cups each day. Doctors recommend that all infants that are breastfeed receive supplements of vitamin D.  Although breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for a baby, breast milk is often deficient in the amount of vitamin D needed. Once an infant is one year, they can start drinking cow’s milk, which is fortified with vitamin D.  At this point the child doesn’t need supplements if they are getting enough vitamin D in their diet.  However, most children will not be able to consume the recommend amount and are encouraged to take supplements.