Extra Vitamin D Urged for Breast-Fed Babies

The American Academy of Pediatrics says all exclusively breast-fed infants should receive vitamin D supplements to prevent rickets, a bone-weakening disease doctors fear may be becoming more common.

Breast-fed infants should receive vitamin supplements beginning at 2 months of age and until they begin taking at least 17 ounces daily of vitamin D-fortified milk, the academy says.

The new recommendation, being published in April’s issue of Pediatrics, was prompted by reports of dozens of cases of rickets nationwide in recent years.