A couple of cases is not a reason to treat everyone, but to encourage
pregnant women to develop a healthy life style.

Why do breastfed babies not need extra vitamin D?  Because they get
adequate stores during the mother's pregnancy to last them until they
are starting to eat food besides breastmilk.  The mother gets vitamin
D from food, often from enriched milk, which many in many cultures do
not drink.  They can also get it from the sun.

If the baby is born in summer, he should get outside exposure (which
they often do not with this hysteria about sun).  Sunlight is not
necessary as ultraviolet gets through clouds.  If the baby is born in
winter, the mother should have had plenty of vitamin D through being
pregnant in summer.

Where does nature fall down?  When women cover up completely (as in
many Muslim cultures) and/or do not get adequate vitamin D in their
diets.  When babies are not taken out or covered with sunscreen.
Vitamin D can be supplemented in the pregnant woman's diet.

The current recommendations for fluoride from the Canadian Pediatric
Society have changed many times.  The dentists have seen more and more
fluorosis (a problem with teeth caused by fluoride).  Thus, the
recommendation has changed so that children should not get
supplementation of fluoride until two years of age in areas where
there is no fluoride in the water.

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC