Best vitamin D drops for infants

Jennifer Shu, M.D., pediatrician, and former chief pediatric resident of University of California, San Francisco recommends these drops for her infant patients. Despite the addition of coconut oil, the formula is flavorless, so it’s unlikely your baby will object to the taste. It's also clear, so it won't stain bottle nipples or your skin. 

Parents particularly like the way Baby Ddrops are dispensed: You turn the bottle upside down, and gravity makes one drop fall. You have to be patient since you can't squeeze the glass bottle, but since you're not applying force, you can be sure that you're getting the correct amount.

Fans also appreciate the note on Baby Ddrops' packaging that says the drops can be kept at any temperature between 40 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, no refrigeration needed. That's a broad temperature range that's more reassuring than the "no refrigeration needed" or "store in a cool dry place" notices found on most vitamin D drop packaging. 

Heads up

The Baby Ddrops bottle contains 90 servings and comes only partially filled, which is confusing to some parents. 

Parents say

"We use Baby Ddrops. No issues here."

"Baby Ddrops have no artificial color or flavor. Baby doesn't seem to mind them."

"My pediatrician gave me this brand as a sample. I used it and the little one doesn’t mind it at all so I purchased it. Easy to use as well...just a drop on the nipple immediately prior to breastfeeding."

Specs

• Supply: 60 or 90 days
• Dosage: 1 drop daily

Parents feel good about the ingredient list on Mommy's Bliss vitamin D drops: Vitamin D and organic medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, which some believe helps with vitamin absorption. Besides the pristine ingredients, parents love that Mommy's Bliss has a one-drop dosage. "I put it right on my nipple and [my son] didn't even seem to notice," says Sarah Darby, BabyCenter Senior SEO Content Strategist. 

Sarah started with a supplement that required a full dropper dosage, but found Mommy's Bliss much easier to use. She also appreciated that she could find it easily in stores and “just grab it when I needed it!"

Heads up

Mommy's Bliss comes in a squeeze bottle, so you must be careful not to squeeze out more than one drop. 

Parents say

"We use Mommy’s Bliss. It’s a single drop per dose and I put it on my nipple before she nurses. Not a fan of the unnecessary ingredients or having to give a full dropper so I like these."

"I use the Mommy's bliss vitamin D drops and just put a drop on my nipple when breastfeeding."

Specs

• Supply: 100 days
• Dosage: 1 drop daily

Vegetarian families will rest easy knowing that the vitamin D3 in Nordic Naturals' vitamin D drops is sourced from lanolin obtained from shorn sheep's wool; other parents appreciate that the dropper bottle makes dosing a cinch. Best of all? A single bottle contains a 365-day supply, so you’ll only need to buy it once. 

Parents say that their babies didn't object to taking their drops: "No taste, just dropped them in [my daughter's] milk bottle and there were absolutely no issues," says Olivia DeLong, BabyCenter Senior Health Editor. Alexandra Bisonó, Senior Art Director for Everyday Health Group echoed these thoughts, adding that she appreciated the wide availability and ease of use. 

"We bought this one in particular because it was available at our local CVS and since our pediatrician recommended the one drop formulations to make it easier on us parents,” Alexandra says, “Our truly amazing pediatrician even went on to suggest I place the drop on my nipple right before breastfeeding or on top of the bottle nipple before bottle feeding. Always worked like a charm!"

Heads up

The formula is unflavored, but the extra virgin olive oil in the formulation can have a more assertive taste compared to other carrier oils.

Parents say

"The Nordic naturals brand of baby vitamin D has only 2 ingredients. Olive oil and vitamin D."

Specs

• Supply: 365 days
• Dosage: 1 drop daily

Dosing your child with D-Vi-Sol is different from using the one-drop formulations. Instead of dispensing a single drop that you place on a nipple or pacifier, you fill the included dropper and feed it right into your baby's mouth, or mix with their food, milk, or formula. Parents feel secure about both the dosage and the delivery, and they say their babies absolutely love the taste (cherry flavor). “If parents prefer using a dropper for dosing, this is what I recommend, and insurance will even cover it sometimes," says Dr. DeZure

Heads up

Some parents don't like that these drops contain polysorbate 80, caramel color, and artificial flavor. 

Parents say

"Also use emfamil and baby loooooves then! We give them straight from the dropper."

"I also bought the Enfamil brand. I just add it to her milk in the mornings and no biggie."

"Well I give the Enfamil straight from the dropper…. He loves it. I usually give it during bath time or if we have an especially fussy change of diaper…. he enjoyed it so now I look forward to giving it to him."

"I buy the Enfamil drops from Walmart.  About 9 bucks or so. I usually find them in the medicine aisle."

Specs

• Supply: 50 days
• Dosage: 1 milliliter dropper daily