In a breastfeeding mother and her 2-week-old infant, which vitamin supplementation is recommended for both?

• A. Vitamin C for both
• B. Iron for mother only
• C. Vitamin D for both mother and infant
• D. Calcium for baby only

Answer: (C)

Vitamin D is the nutrient best suited for supplementation in both a breastfeeding mother and a very young infant because it supports calcium absorption and bone mineralization in both people. Breast milk, while nutritious in many ways, typically provides little vitamin D, and newborns often don’t receive enough sunlight to meet their needs. Without vitamin D supplementation, the infant is at risk of rickets and poor bone development. The mother can also become vitamin D deficient during lactation, especially if sun exposure or dietary intake is limited; low maternal vitamin D can affect her own bone health and, to some extent, the amount available in breast milk. Providing vitamin D helps protect the infant’s developing bones and supports the mother’s health, making it the appropriate supplement for both. Other options aren’t routinely indicated for both in this scenario: vitamin C is usually adequate from diet, iron supplementation in a healthy lactating mother isn’t routinely needed, and calcium for the baby alone isn’t the standard recommendation.