Childhood Nutrition
Feeding children to support growth and establish lifelong eating patterns.
Last revised
Key takeaways
- Vitamin D, 1-4 years: 10 micrograms daily, all year
- Vitamin D, breastfed babies: 8.5-10 micrograms daily from birth
- Most useful single change: Give vitamin D drops to under-fives as advised.
- Commonest mistake: Sugary drinks in bottles or sippy cups.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.
Why it matters
Vitamin D and free sugar are the two areas where UK children most consistently miss the mark.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Vitamin D, 1-4 years | 10 micrograms daily, all year |
| Vitamin D, breastfed babies | 8.5-10 micrograms daily from birth |
| Free sugar, ages 4-6 | no more than 19g a day |
| Free sugar, ages 7-10 | no more than 24g a day |
| Whole cows' milk as a main drink | from 12 months |
What helps
- Give vitamin D drops to under-fives as advised
- Offer water or milk between meals rather than juice
- Offer new foods repeatedly without pressure; acceptance takes many exposures
- Eat together where you can; modelling works better than instruction
What to avoid
- Sugary drinks in bottles or sippy cups
- Whole nuts before age 5, because of choking risk
- Adding salt to food for under-ones
- Honey before 12 months, because of infant botulism risk
Where to go next
- Understanding Childhood Nutrition: A Plain-English Explainer
- Childhood Nutrition: What to Do, in Order
- Children and Screens: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
- Childhood Activity: What the Evidence Actually Says
When to get help
See a GP or health visitor for faltering growth, persistent food refusal, or if a child is losing weight. Seek urgent help for choking, and for a child who cannot keep fluids down or shows signs of dehydration — fewer wet nappies, dry mouth, sunken eyes or unusual drowsiness.
Where this comes from
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.