In the first 1,000 days, getting enough vitamin D into your little ones diet is difficult but really important. Toddlers have a particular need for vitamin D as it is necessary for calcium absorption which helps to build healthy bones and teeth. After all they are going through a period of amazing growth and development.
Believe it or not, during the toddler stage, children grow faster than at any other time in their life. On average, they gain an astonishing 40 per cent in height and weight over the period of their first 1,000 days.
The main source of vitamin D comes from sunlight and it is for this reason that vitamin D is sometimes referred to as the ‘sunshine’ vitamin.
People who live in sunny countries get great exposure to vitamin D throughout the year; however, in more northern countries like Ireland there is a limited supply of sunny days.
For that reason the entire population, including toddlers have to depend on dietary sources of vitamin D for which there is only a selected few.
The best dietary sources of vitamin D include oily fish e.g. salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines and fresh tuna are rich. Eggs and meat provide very small amounts.
