Baby vitamins
Vitamin drops, liquids and powders dosed for babies. You will find vitamin D from birth, A, C and D combinations from six months and infant probiotics, plus our guidance on dose, form and when formula already covers it.Read more →
Filters
Availability
Brand
Form
Diet
Goal
Price
Choosing baby vitamins: forms, doses and the age on the label
Baby vitamins are supplements dosed for very small bodies. In the UK the guidance is specific about which nutrients matter: vitamin D from birth for breastfed babies, and vitamins A, C and D daily from six months up to five years. Most other ingredients are optional and depend on how your baby is fed.
Vitamin D is needed for normal growth and development of bone in children. It also contributes to the normal function of the immune system in children. Babies make little of it themselves, because they spend most of the day covered or in the shade. That is why drops are a year-round habit here, not a winter one. If you want single-nutrient options for the rest of the household, look at vitamin D3 for adults as well.
The forms are not interchangeable
- Oil-based drops: vitamin D3 in olive or sunflower oil. Given on a clean spoon, the nipple or a bottle teat. Usually suitable from birth.
- Multivitamin drops and syrups: vitamins A, C and D together, normally labelled from six months or from weaning.
- Sprays: one spray inside the cheek. Handy for babies who push a spoon away, though the amount per spray differs per brand.
- Powders and sachets: mainly used for live bacteria supplements, stirred into cooled milk or food.
Taste decides more than parents expect. Plain oil drops have almost no flavour. Sweetened syrups go down easily from a spoon but often carry added sugars. Both only work if they are actually given every day.
How we choose the baby range
We look at three things: the form, the dose and whether the combination makes sense for the age printed on the label. For babies we prefer plain vitamin D3 drops delivering 10 micrograms per dose in a simple oil base, so you know exactly what your baby gets. We are careful with baby products that stack many nutrients at once, because vitamin A adds up quickly when two supplements are used side by side. We buy directly from the brands, and every product passes our compliance team before it goes live. Read how we select our brands.
Who this collection is for
Breastfed and mixed-fed babies, babies who are weaning and drinking less formula, and parents who would rather have one clear product than three. If your baby drinks more than 500ml of infant formula a day, you can skip vitamin drops for now, because formula is already fortified. Many parents start their own supplement at the same time, which sits in the mum and baby section.
Vegan families should check the source of the D3. Most vitamin D3 comes from lanolin, the grease from sheep's wool, or from fish oil. Lichen-based D3 is the plant alternative, and we state the source on the product page so you do not have to ask.
Effects here are not something you notice from day to day. Daily drops are a nutritional safety net during a period of fast growth, not a product that changes how your baby sleeps or feeds. Keep to the dose on the label and avoid giving two supplements that both contain vitamin A, such as cod liver oil alongside multivitamin drops.
Frequently asked questions
What vitamins does my baby actually need?
In the UK, the Department of Health and Social Care advises a daily vitamin D supplement for breastfed babies from birth, and daily vitamins A, C and D for all children from six months to five years. Babies having more than 500ml of infant formula a day do not need extra drops, because formula is already fortified.
| Age and feeding | Daily vitamin D |
|---|---|
| Breastfed, 0 to 12 months | 8.5 to 10 mcg (340 to 400 IU) |
| Formula, over 500ml a day | No supplement needed |
| Formula, under 500ml a day | 8.5 to 10 mcg (340 to 400 IU) |
| 1 to 4 years | 10 mcg (400 IU) |
My baby is formula fed. Do we still need drops?
Not while your baby drinks more than about 500ml, roughly a pint, of infant formula a day. Formula already has vitamins A, C and D added, and doubling up can push intake too high. Once your baby starts weaning and formula drops below that amount, a daily supplement becomes relevant. Mixed feeding follows the same rule: count the formula, not the breastfeeds.
How do I give drops to a newborn who cannot use a spoon?
Most oil-based drops can go straight onto a clean nipple or bottle teat, so your baby takes them during a feed. From around six months you can put the dose on a clean spoon or into a small amount of cooled milk or food. Do not add drops to food or drink that will be heated, as heat degrades the vitamins. Give them at the same moment each day so it becomes routine.
Which form should I choose: drops, spray, syrup or powder?
The form that gets taken daily is the right one. Oil drops are the default under one year because the dose is small and the taste is neutral.
| Form | Typical age | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Oil drops | From birth | Feeding on nipple or teat |
| Spray | From birth or 3 months | Babies who refuse spoons |
| Syrup | From 6 months | Weaning, spoon feeding |
| Powder or sachet | From birth or 6 months | Live bacteria, mixed in food |
Always follow the age range printed on the pack.
Can I give a vitamin D drop and a multivitamin at the same time?
Better not, unless a pharmacist or health visitor says so. Multivitamin drops for babies usually already contain vitamin D, so two products mean a double dose. The bigger concern is vitamin A, which builds up in the body. The NHS specifically warns against combining cod liver oil with vitamin drops for this reason. Pick one product that covers what your baby needs and stick with it.
Are there vegan baby vitamins?
Yes, but you need to read the source. Vitamin D3 is normally made from lanolin, the grease from sheep's wool, or from fish oil, so it is not vegan by default. Lichen-derived D3 is the plant-based version and is used by a growing number of brands. Vitamin D2 is also plant-based. Free Healthy Start drops are suitable for vegetarians but not for vegans, which is why many vegan families buy their own.
How much vitamin D is too much for a baby?
Baby drops are dosed low on purpose, and problems come from stacking products rather than from one correct dose. The NHS lists these upper limits.
| Age | Daily upper limit |
|---|---|
| Under 12 months | 25 mcg (1,000 IU) |
| 1 to 10 years | 50 mcg (2,000 IU) |
| 11 to 17 years | 100 mcg (4,000 IU) |
Never give an adult supplement to a baby, and keep to the dose on the label.
Source: NHSWhat about probiotics, iron or omega-3 for babies?
Only vitamins A, C and D are officially recommended for this age group in the UK. Live bacteria drops and infant omega-3 are popular with parents, especially around weaning, but they sit outside the national advice. Iron matters from six months and normally comes from food such as meat, lentils and fortified cereal. Ask your health visitor or GP before adding an iron supplement, because too much iron is not harmless.
How long do we keep going, and what changes after the first birthday?
Vitamin D continues: from one to four years the advice is 10 micrograms a day, all year round. Vitamins A, C and D are advised up to five years. What changes is the practical side. Toddlers often refuse drops, so many parents move to a syrup or a chewable, and portion control matters more once sweetened forms come in. You will find age-appropriate options in our range for young children.
