I think nature probably 'expects' us to spend a lot of time outside, 
in all seasons, all climates and all weathers, from infancy, and not 
necessarily wrapped up from head to toe, either. I think in far 
northern latitudes we find traditional diets include comparatively 
high levels of Vitamin D which bf mothers will pass on to their 
nurslings.

Modern lifestyles have changed, and so nature's 'expectations' are 
somewhat thwarted....how on earth is a baby gonna get the sunlight he 
needs going from house to car to nursery care or supermarket and back 
again, with just his nose peeping out his clothing? Ditto his mother.

In the UK, this issue is surrounded by confusion. Reading the 
literature it seems clear to me that here, where there are no massive 
extremes of climate, some bf babies over 6 months  (whose intake of 
breastmilk and therefore Vitamin D *may* be lowering, as mothers 
introduce solids) who don't get the chance to be outside often 
enough, will benefit from supplements....which may be easier to 
introduce than a change of lifestyle. Official guidance is that all 
bf babies of 6 mths should be offered these, but because of poor 
training, it's often presented as breastfeeding not being 
enough....which is sort of true, because breastfeeding cannot be 
expected to make up for every  'gap' in modern-day behaviour. Give us 
a few more thousand generations and it might adapt, of course :)

As a result of the poor marketing, some bf supporters and mothers get 
very irate at the idea of supplements, which should simply be offered 
alongside education and a good explanation, IMHO.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc,  tutor, UK

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