If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. Find out more in the Healthy Start section below.
It recommended that everyone over one year of age should take a 10 micrograms of Vitamin D supplement daily including pregnant mothers. Find out more in the Vitamin D section below.
If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.
If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops.
Please contact your Health Visiting team and visit the NHS Healthy Start website for more information.
Vitamin D is essential for health bones, teeth and muscles.
It recommended that everyone over one year of age should take a 10 micrograms of Vitamin D supplement daily including pregnant mothers.
Women with dark skin or those who always cover their skin when outside may be at particular risk of Vitamin D insufficiency and should consider taking a daily supplement of vitamin D all year including during pregnancy. Read more on the NHS website.
Breastfed babies
And as a precaution, breastfed babies from birth up to one year of age should also be given a supplement of 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D every day. Read more on the UNICEF website.
Formula-fed babies
Babies who are formula-fed do not require Vitamin D supplements if they are having 500ml per day of infant formula or more.
Why is Vitamin D important?
Vitamin D supplementation is important because we and our children are unable to get enough Vitamin D from sunlight in this country, or from diet alone. You can find out more from the NHS website, the British Dietetic Association website or speak to your Health Vsiting team.
Where can I get Vitamin D?
You can buy Vitamin D supplements from most supermarkets and pharmacies.
You can find details of local food banks on the Surrey County Council website and the Trussell Trust website.
Families can get food bank vouchers by telephoning our Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line or contacting the Trussell Trust by emailing helpdesk@foodbank.org.uk.
In order to get help from a food bank you will need to be referred with a food voucher. The voucher is then exchanged at the food bank for a food parcel.