Vitamin D and Bone Health

V itamin D is a vitamin that helps the body absorb and use calcium. Calcium and vitamin D help the bones grow and keep them strong. Most children get vitamin D from 3 potential sources: 1. Sunlight: Sunlight helps the body make vitamin D. Playing outside in sunlight about 15 minutes a few times a week helps the body to make vitamin D. 2. Fortified milk and juice: Most milk and many juices today have vitamin D added to them to make them “fortified” with vitamin D. 3. Foods: Only a few foods contain naturally occurring vitamin D; these include cod liver oil, egg yolks, and fatty fish such as salmon. Vitamin D is needed by children of all ages, from newborn babies to adolescents. The current recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics is for all children to get 400 IU/d of vitamin D each day.