Vitamin d drops
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Generally you should. Formula can mostly cover vitamin D needs if baby is consistently drinking above a certain threshold daily, but if combo feeding, it means they aren't getting the full amount of formula, and should probably get the drops in combination. That said, if you forget, it's probably ok. It just never hurts to be covered, as vitamin D is so critical for growth and bone formation, especially if you're in a northern climate.
@Liz that’s not how you define vitamin D deficiency or lack of.
Evidenced based answer: If baby is having more than 500ml of formula a day - no need for drops. If they are having less, you need to supplement.
@Aggs what evidence is that? No baby or toddler drinks 500ml of formula in a day? At most by 12 months they can have up to 180-240mls? So you're saying that even exclusively formula fed babies should have the drops?
500ml is equal to 16oz. If your baby is purely formula fed, they definitely would be drinking more than 16oz in a day. My first son was on formula and he averaged about 32oz a day so he never needed vitamin d.
@Liz OP asked whether they need to give the drops. Your comment suggests that not doing so equals healthy baby or “being fine” when nothing from your comment actually relates to vitamin D intake. It’s directly relevant here.
@Leslie exactly as stated here.
@Leslie sorry I misread on Google, it's been a few years since I exclusively formula fed my first baby lol
My husband and I would be just formula feeding at night (unless I don't feel like pumping 😅) would that be enough technically if he's eating 3-4oz every 2-3 hours? I can't do the math in my head to figure it out lol
Lol I hear that OP! My oldest is 9 and so much has changed since I had him. Shit so much has changed since my second kid and he's 5! He was the combo fed but most of his feeds were formula so they never told me to give him drops either. With my newest baby the majority of his feeds are breastmilk so they told us to give him drops but they also told me not to mix it in the breastmilk but the bottle says I can mix it? It's so freaking confusing lol. I try to keep the drops where I can see them so I don't forget but when it's the middle of the night and I'm a zombie trying to make a bottle, adding vitamins is like the last thing I'm thinking of LOL
@Liz that still isn’t relevant here but thank you for sharing.
Lol we commented at the same time op 🤣🤣 if they're 3 oz bottles that would be about 12oz at night of formula so you'd need to add drops, if it's 4oz bottles that would you get you to 16oz which wouldn't need drops.
I never gave them to my second son who was combo fed either. I always forgot. I forget them for my new baby now too. He gets them once a week if I'm lucky 🤣