"Nutrition During Lactation" compiled by the Institute of Medicine references 30 minutes of exposure to sunlight per week if wearing only a diaper, or 2 hours per week if fully clothed without a hat. (Specker et al., 1985)  Darkly pigmented infants require a greater exposure to sunshine to initiate the synthesis of vitamin D in the skin. (Clemens et as., 1982).  I've been trying to find out how much more sun is needed by darkly pigmented infants as pediatricians in our state (Missouri) are reporting a dramatic increase in rickets cases, primarily among African American infants.  This has prompted some pediatricians to push for routine Vit. D supplementation for all breastfed babies.

Barbara Raymond, RD, IBCLC

>>> <[log in to unmask]> 07/16/00 03:17PM >>>
In a message dated 7/16/00 9:40:54 AM Pacific Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] 
writes:

<<
 Anyone have data on how much sun exposure is needed to combat this problem.
 This article has my heart palpitations starting and I am in the middle of my
 letter to the editor.
  >>
Lisa,
This is purely from memory, but I believe 20 minutes of sunlight each day is
the MDR - hopefully, somebody else will have some research based info to
substanciate or refute that.
Gretchen Andrews, BA, IBCLC
private practice, So Calif, USA - illumination engineer in past lifetime :-)

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