CHILDREN OF THE SUN

Dear readers.

Our new series, ‘Infant Nutrition,’ has once again highlighted its importance in its field. We are proud of the overwhelming interest you have shown. Over the past four weeks, we’ve focused on internal feeding in infants. This week, our topic is external feeding.

I think I can hear the voices. What exactly is this external feeding thing?

Imagine an organism as a giant building. Cement is the external nourishment of that building, because it holds the structure together. The substance we will use instead of cement is much more functional. We call it Vitamin D. The biggest rule of external nourishment is storing Vitamin D. In addition to its biological effects, Vitamin D has many psychological benefits and positively contributes to the mental state of individuals of all ages. Vitamin D, which we call the backbone of health, is of serious importance in the development of babies. It also reduces the risk of Type 1 diabetes (diabetes seen in childhood). It is essential that your baby receives 400 units of Vitamin D per day until at least the age of 1. One liter of breast milk contains 12-60 units of Vitamin D, but as you can see, this amount does not meet the daily dose needs of babies. The highest quality and organic source of Vitamin D for your baby is undoubtedly the sun. In particular, at least 8% of the body, including the face and palms of the hands, needs to be exposed to direct sunlight for 30 minutes every day without any obstacles in between. You can do this between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM.

However, the particularly advantageous time slot during the summer months is between sunrise and 10:00 AM at the latest. As you well know, most of our cities have beautiful parks where you can sunbathe year-round. They are practically designed for your health. If you sunbathe regularly in these parks, you can easily reserve your and your baby’s 6-month supply of Vitamin D.

Don’t forget that you, as a mother, need vitamin D just as much as your baby does. This important detail is often overlooked.

We also observe that families, especially in winter, tend to keep their children indoors and opt for clothing that protects them from sunlight, such as swaddling. This is a serious mistake. Besides medical support, healthy exposure to sunlight can eliminate the risk of many health problems before they even begin.
WEEKLY AWARENESS NOTE

Your baby’s daily vitamin D requirement must be met under a doctor’s supervision. The most effective solution for your baby in this case is vitamin D drops with a dosage determined by specialist doctors. Observe your baby closely for symptoms such as restlessness at night, excessive sweating, paleness, loss of appetite, and listlessness. If these symptoms are present, your baby may be experiencing a vitamin D deficiency. For children in their developmental years, the most important dietary sources are egg yolks, liver, fatty fish, fish oil, cocoa, butter, and milk.

Uğur Uğural