The benefits of giving babies cod liver oil, at what age to begin, how to administer, and the daily dosage as recommended by the experts.
Should babies get cod liver oil as a supplement? If so, how young should this age-old traditional food be started? Are all brands of cod liver oil the same, or are there some that are vetted to be of higher quality?
The short answer is yes, babies need cod liver oil even if they are exclusively breastfed. More on this recommendation, timing, and dosages as suggested by the Weston A. Price Foundation below. (1)
Which Cod Liver Oil is Best for Babies?
Dr. Weston A. Price was very clear about the type of cod liver oil to give babies and children. It should be the high vitamin variety.
Unfortunately, almost all companies that produce cod liver oil have cheapened their manufacturing process over the years to either remove natural vitamins A/D and replace them with synthetic versions, reduce the amounts of A/D, or both.
In other words, most brands of cod liver oil are no longer considered high vitamin. Only a few quality ones remain on the market!
For example, Carlson’s brand of cod liver oil used to be recommended by the Weston Price Foundation only to be dropped from the list because the company started removing some of the natural vitamin A.
A few companies refused to cheapen their products and stopped using Norwegian manufacturers because the natural vitamin A/D was replaced with synthetic versions. A method for producing a high vitamin cod liver oil by fermenting the cod livers (not the oil!) was developed.
The resulting product is produced with no heat or solvents. However, this form of cod liver oil contains some beneficial lactic acid which can produce a mild burning sensation on the back of the throat for about 10% of folks who take it.
In those cases, extra virgin cod liver oil is a good option (such as this brand). This type of cod liver oil is raw and produced without heat or solvents. Additionally, it contains no lactic acid, which is easier for some to tolerate, especially babies and young children.
Health and Developmental Benefits
The benefits of adequate (natural) vitamin A and D from cod liver oil in a growing child’s diet are significant. Two of the most important are naturally straight teeth and improved learning at school.
Other benefits include the development of healthy bone structure, higher IQ, increased lung capacity, lowered risk for autoimmune disease, and markedly reduced risk for respiratory infection among many others. (2)
Appropriate Age and Dosage
What is the appropriate dosage for a young child given that the daily recommended intake of vitamin D has increased significantly in recent years?
When my children reached 3 months old, I started giving them 1/4 tsp of high vitamin cod liver oil daily with an eyedropper. All were exclusively breastfed. Incidentally, I was taking high vitamin cod liver oil myself on a daily basis as well. Moms need natural A/D too!
For example, Sally Fallon Morell, President of the Weston Price Foundation, told me that her grandchildren received 1/2 tsp of cod liver oil on a daily basis when they were babies. They started receiving this supplement at age 3 months and experienced no problems.
This is double the dose that I gave my own children! But, the appropriate daily dosage of vitamin D for children has increased significantly in recent years as scientists uncovered additional information about this remarkable nutrient.
Krill or Fish Oil Not a Good Substitute
It is important to not use krill oil or fish oil as a substitute for cod liver oil. Krill oil contains no vitamin D and very little vitamin A.
Similarly, plain fish oil is not a desirable substitute as it is a highly industrialized product (processed at high temperatures) and contains no natural vitamin A or D whatsoever. Â
High vitamin cod liver oil (this is the brand I’ve used since 2015) is far superior to other forms of marine oils on the market.
How to Give Babies Cod Liver Oil
There are several ways to ensure a baby is getting the proper amount of cod liver oil for optimum growth.
Eye Dropper
The easiest way to give babies cod liver oil is to put the 1/4-1/2 tsp daily dosage in a bottle of expressed Mother’s milk. You can also eye dropper it into the baby’s mouth a drop at a time if you aren’t pumping.
Formula
If you are not nursing, consider using this homemade baby formula developed by a PhD in Nutritional Sciences. It contains high vitamin cod liver oil as one of the key ingredients.
Skin Method
Another option is to apply cod liver oil to the skin. It absorbs quite well this way. For babies, try rubbing some on their bottom during a diaper change.
Note that old-time brands of diaper rash ointment used to contain cod liver oil!
Older Children Â
As children get older, a spoon can be used. My children all take high vitamin cod liver oil right off the spoon and chase with water. My youngest transitioned to this approach at weaning age with no trouble.
This video shows you how to give children cod liver oil based on my own experience over the years and coaching others on Traditional Diet.
If you have a creative way to get cod liver oil into your babies and children that would be helpful to share, please add in the comments section.  I would be very interested to hear of your experiences as I’m sure others would as well.
References
(1, 2) Weston A. Price Foundation: Cod Liver Oil
Allison
Would love to know if the butter oil with the FCLO is the same as high vitamin FCLO. Please advise. I cannoy find this answer anywhere and would like to begin giving it to my 4 mo old if so
Sarah
Please do not give your baby the blended FLCO/butter oil. Only plain FCLO until a year or older. Please contact the company, but I am pretty sure they are the same butter oils in each.
Stacy
i have the brand you recommended and plan to start giving it to my 6 month old. We currently give him 20ml/400 IU of Vitamin D. If we start doing 1/4tsp of this cod liver oil will that be too much vitamin D? Should we stop giving the vitamin d and only do the cod liver oil?
Sarah
I don’t personally think vitamins in isolation are a good idea. Cod liver oil supplies vitamin D as a whole food which is safer IMO.
Allison
Sarah, is the green pasture’s butter oil/fermented cod liver oil blend the same as high vitamin fermented cod liver oil? I’ve always assumed they were one in the same, but I’m considering beginning to give the butter oil/fermented cod liver oil blend to my 4 mo old and wanted to be sure this blend is also ok before beginning. My 2.5 yr olds have taken it since they were 6 mo old.
SAIDI B
how much would you recommend for a 3 & 1/2 yrs old boy? also i heard that Rosita Extra-Virgin Cod Liver Oil
is highly recommended,is that true?
thank you
Mizziz
I, as a grandparent, took CLO as a child coming up and gave it to my children. I will begin giving it to my granddaughter, who will soon be two. When I give her the CLO, I will also have an additional spoon with a bit of peanut butter on it to help with the taste and texture. That’s what I disliked about it years ago. 🙂
Cheryl corrao
My son is six weeks old one cod liver oil would you recommend for supplementation
Sarah
Cod liver oil is for babies three months and older. The dosage is 1/4 tsp according to the Weston Price Foundation. Always use plain and here is the brand I use and recommend: http://www.radiantlifecatalog.com/product/dropi-extra-virgin-cod-liver-oil/fish-butter-oils/?a=58537
Jaiden
Hi,my 6months old son has had an unclear breathing from birth told my Dr and she said it would clear up from 4months.at 4months he started having a cold so i started giving him Nature’s cod liver oil (flavoured) like 2weeks ago and I noticed his nose is running now.can it be the cod liver oil?
Sarah
This brand is not recommended. Also, flavored cod liver oil should not be used until a child is at least 1 year in age. I would switch to a recommended quality brand such as Dropi Icelandic cod liver oil (which is what I currently use). http://www.radiantlifecatalog.com/product/dropi-extra-virgin-cod-liver-oil/fish-butter-oils/?a=58537
Stephanie Cudnik
Hi, I’m looking into the Green Pastures products for my sons, ages 1 and 2 1/2. My toddler is kind of picky, so I’m pretty sure he won’t take the fermented cod liver oil without a fight. I see they have chewable cod liver oil, but could I give that to my 1 year old? The recommended dose is 4/day for a 3 year old.
My 1 year old is still breastfeeding, but he’s already getting cavities! Searching for natural remedies led me to fermented clo.
Thanks for any advice you can offer!
Emily
Is it safe to give my 4 month old the cinnamon flavored Green Pasture CLO?
Sarah
Babies should get only plain cod liver oil until at least a year old.
Cidalia
Hello from Portugal,
After reading several webpages about wether it would be a good idea to give my 5 months old baby cod liver I’ve decided to ask for it at the local pharmacy, the purest they would have.
The pharmacist in charge of the place contacted the manufacturer to make sure it would be safe to my baby and which quantity should I give. It is a brown bottle of one litre capacity and apparently is what they use to prepare manipulated medicins. The recommended dose was 0.83 ml.
I have been giving it to my baby and apparently he is ok with the flavour.