Advise parents to ensure children have a diet that includes calcium-rich foods, as recommended by the British Dietetic Association and the Royal Osteoporosis Society, to support bone health and prevent deficiency NICE CKS.
For children aged 0–12 months, if they are breastfed or partially breastfed, recommend daily vitamin D drops of 8.5–10 micrograms (340–400 IU) from birth, especially if the mother has not taken vitamin D supplements during pregnancy NICE CKS.
Children aged 1–4 years should be given vitamin D supplements containing 10 micrograms (400 IU) daily, regardless of feeding method, to prevent rickets NICE CKS.
Children who consume more than 500 mL of fortified infant formula daily do not need additional vitamin D supplements, as formula milk is already fortified NICE CKS.
Encourage a safe amount of sunlight exposure, such as short periods on often-exposed skin, while avoiding sunburn, especially in skin not usually exposed to sunlight, and considering longer exposure for children with darker skin pigmentation NICE CKS.
Advise that vitamin D supplements can be purchased over the counter for children at risk of deficiency, and that free supplements are available through the NHS Healthy Start scheme for eligible families NICE CKS.