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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 Price Foundation below.
Changing Cod Liver Oil Quality
In recent years, almost all companies that produce cod liver oil have cheapened their manufacturing process to either remove natural vitamins A/D and replace them with synthetic versions, reduce the amounts of A/D, or both. 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 this brand no longer contains enough vitamin A to support robust health.
A few companies refused to cheapen their products and stopped using Norwegian manufacturers because the natural vitamin A/D was going to be replaced with synthetic versions. A method for producing a high vitamin cod liver oil by fermenting the cod livers was developed. The resulting product is produced with no heat or solvents. However, this fermented cod liver oil does contain 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. This type of cod liver oil is raw and produced using no heat or solvents either. It contains no lactic acid and is easier for some to tolerate.
These tested and vetted brands of high vitamin cod liver oil are the only ones recommended for adults -or- babies!
Should Babies Get Cod Liver Oil?
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!
Sally Fallon Morell, President of the Weston Price Foundation, told me that her grandsons received 1/2 tsp of fermented 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 more remarkable information about this nutrient has been revealed.
Krill or Fish Oil Not a Good Sub for Cod Liver Oil
Do 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 obscenely high temperatures) and contains no natural vitamin A or D whatsoever.  High vitamin cod liver oil is so far superior to anything else on the market. This is why the Weston A. Price Foundation recommends it alone.
How to Give Babies Cod Liver Oil
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 mouth a drop at a time if you aren’t pumping.
Use homemade baby formula if you are not able to nurse or have adopted a child. The homemade formula contains high vitamin cod liver oil as one of the key ingredients.
For Older Children Â
As the child gets 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 experience over the years with my own children and coaching others on Traditional Diet.
Whatever you do, please consider this very important supplement for your baby.  The benefits of adequate vitamin A and D in a child’s diet are significant and numerous. This supplement benefits 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.
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.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
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Oh THANK YOU for bringing up this issue! I believe very strongly in CLO and came to the same conclusions as you have about green pastures. I am hoping someone can help us though! My 5yo is a VERY fussy eater and I have been giving her the "gummy fish" and raspberry flavoured butter oil. It is like WWIII every breakfast time. Tears, the works and I just HATE knowing that she has such a negative view on something so healthy. "mama knows best" just isn't cutting it here. Any other parents out there have any tricks or ideas? It has to be "well chewed" according to the label… has any one had any luck switching to one of the gels? Thanks!
So you're saying that if you feed your baby the homemade baby formula (which contains the FCLO) you should still give an extra 1/2 tsp dose of it daily?
The gels have some texture issues. Not sure your child would care for it much. My kids have found it easiest to just hold their breath, take the liquid FCLO off the spoon and swallow some water (cinnamon seems to be the favorite flavor). Chasing with water seems best for some reason. Chasing with juice or milk seems to make it even harder to swallow as the mixing of the flavor of the FCLO and the juice/milk is very unpalatable.
My baby has been having green pastures clo with harmless harvest coconut water. A tiny cup of coconut water clo on top. It’s a delicious combo. I take it that way too. She loves it!
No, that is not what I meant. Thank you for having me clarify this important point. You are right, the homemade formula recipe already has FCLO in it. I think it might be more precise (to make sure the baby is getting the correct daily dosage) to make the formula without the FCLO (the oil doesn't mix well with the milk if you've noticed) and then be sure to add 1/2 tsp of FCLO to one of the baby's bottles each day or divide the dose between 2 bottles.
Does anyone have some tips for taking the FCLO as an adult? I took the cod liver oil from Green Pastures no problem before it only came fermented. I tried the FCLO and gagged every time – once I actually threw up. I was pregnant at the time though, so maybe it would be better now, but I seem to have developed a mental block 😉
I had a really hard time taking it too so I put it in the fridge to make it a little firmer, then scrape out my teaspoon- it stays congealed, and then take it like a pill while I down a cup of water. Really helps with the taste- plus the cinnamon flavor is so far the easiest to take
Hey Ashley!
I have the same problem (so I don't blame my daughter!) and actually the gummy fish I bought HER I can handle way better then the liquid. GP also has them in capsule form I think? Maybe you want to try that?
Thanks Sarah- so I will order the cinna liquid next time and get her to hold her nose or something and follow with cold h2o. It will still be a fight, sadly.. I just don't like the idea of having kids eat healthfully but ALWAYS find it distasteful. She is really picky.. I have tried all the tricks to "hide" the healthy stuff in kid friendly foods that I can find!
😉
Jani
How much should an older child take (age 11-14)? How much should an adult take?
Or…where can I find the amounts recommended for all ages? thanks!
1 tsp is appropriate for an older child and a bit more for an adult (1 1/3 tsp to equal 4000 IU vitamin D). Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should take 1 Tbl.
For nursing mothers, is that 1 Tbsp. of just the FCLO liquid? I am only taking 1 tsp. the FCLO/BO gel blend, how much should I really be taking of that particular variety?
Hehe, I’m glad I read this … I just went and took a big spoonful. I realize I’m in the extreme minority here, but I find the stuff delicious and have to restrain myself from taking too much (since it’s so expensive). 😀 The suggested serving size on the back of the bottle reads 1/2 tsp (this is the FCLO and HVBO blend) so that’s what I’ve been limiting myself to every day.
I realize this is an older post but isn’t the WAPF recommendation for pregnant and nursing mothers only 2 tsp? I am having a hard time getting even the 2 down!
My 2 yr. old loves to help me juice in the morning, so when she is almost done with her "green juice" as she calls it I add the FCLO, which she endearingly calls her "yucky vitamin". The funny thing is that she gets excited for her "yucky vitamin" and always "reminds me" to add it to her juice. We use the unflavored kind.
I am wondering how much high vitamin butter oil to give. Is it a one-to-one ratio? Currently, we do 1/4t. of both (clearly I need to increase her doesage). What about for adults and the butter oil?
If the mother is eating a healthy diet and taking CLO, would there not be enough vitamins passed through the mother's milk to her baby?
In the Green Pastures blended products (FCLO/BO together), the ratio is 3:1, so I assume this is the right ratio if you are taking them separately.
With regard to a Mother's diet, the baby should still get a FCLO supplement as many Mothers have gut and absorption issues they may not be aware of so it is best to give the supplement to baby directly starting at 3 months. Mothers seem to be especially low in vitamin D – so much so that for a long time, it was assumed that breastmilk didn't even have vitamin D in it. Turns out, it was just the Mother's that had such low levels of it.
Our method of taking fclo has helped several to get it down easier…especially some men who thought they could only take capsules (which is costly in the long haul). Close off the back of the throat with the tongue and to slightly tip back the head. Fill the syringe provided by GP to the appropriate dosage and aim it to the back of the throat and dispense. Swallow and immediately follow with a swallow or two of milk, milk kefir or coffee with cream. It seems the fat in the milk/cream picks up the oil in the milk and helps wash it down, lessening any burn. My children like to follow with elderberry syrup or gum with xylitol, which is a nice treat for taking something difficult.
For those with older children who are reluctant to take it, I would encourage you to lay down the law in a diplomatic way. Sit down with them at a time that is not full of the tension that surrounds dosing time. It would be ideal for both parents to be on the same page if possible. Explain that some things in their life are negotiable, but this is not. Be honest and tell them that you think it is pretty nasty, too, but that you know what the benefits are, so that makes it easier for you. Let them help come up with a solution to getting it down. I feel strongly enough that this is one of the most important things we take that I would be willing to offer some reward or compensation…a quarter for their bank, a treat of some sort, so much praise they are overwhelmed, mom standing on her head, whatever! Take the fight out of it, and don't let it become a battleground. You may have to think about a plan for a few days before you come up with the best solution, but there is always something you can POSITIVELY leverage with children. If all else fails, make a deal with them that they can take the capsules every third day if they take the liquid on the other days with no fight. Stick to whatever plan you agree to, because children will lose respect for a weakly executed agreement.
I know this is long, but am praying it helps someone.
the spicy orange fermented skate liver oil is a great alternative to the FCLO if you're a gagger. i find a glass of raw milk is the best way to take it. my kids take it neat.
Help! I've been to the Green Pastures site four or five times and I don't know what to order. I'm a 39 y.o. mother of a 9 month old. I am in the process of changing our diet and overcoming a sugar/grain addiction which I believe has robbed me of physical and mental health and vitality most of my life. I haven't had either in over six weeks! I know we need this supplement but there are so many options: with butter oil/without, cod liver or skate, flavors, ghee, liquids, caps and gels…. I don't know where to start! Any suggestions for my first order?? Thank you!
Hi Michelle, congratulations on your healthy change in lifestyle! If the fermented cod liver oil is for your baby, get the antioxidant free liquid. If it is for you, either mint or oslo orange liquid is great. I would also suggest taking the butter oil .. we take the capsules in our family (2 per day per person). Hope that helps!
Thank you, Sarah. That is very helpful. If you have time, why the antioxidant free for my baby and for how long would we need a different type?
Babies should always get plain. You can transition to a flavored one at about 12-18 months old.
Thank you for clarification as to what the burn in the back of my throat is all about. I was a little concerned that maybe I was sensitive to it. So glad to realize it's just lactic acid. Maybe I'll follow up with some butter (yum) since I can't do other forms of dairy.
We have the licorice (because it was on clearance, lol) and my boys, 4 and 6, just take a squirt to the back of the mouth followed by a small spoon of honey. They've done this for the past few years.
I started giving my little one FCLO when he was 2. He didn't care for it the first week or so – but I think when starting at an age like that, it's all about the reactions. If you wait or hesitate, or watch them take it, they are apprehensive about it! I'd take a small baby spoon, put a bit on it, serve and walk away without notice. After a couple weeks he started asking for it! I started giving it to my next baby at about 6 months and at 18 months she asks for more each time. 🙂
Personally I take the capsules! Though I've heard a small amount of honey on the spoon helps the gel go down easier.
What about mixing it in with OJ? I have done this, and it tastes a little fishy, but if I just chug it down it’s okay. It does leave an oily texture in my mouth. I hid some in some fruit juice for my son too. He drank it all, no problem, but I wonder if the sugar in the juice would negate the benefits of CLO.