Poly-Vi-Sol with Iron is a liquid multivitamin drop designed for infants and toddlers. Made by Enfamil, it combines several essential vitamins with supplemental iron in a single 1 mL daily dose, and it’s one of the most commonly recommended supplements for breastfed babies. Pediatricians typically suggest it to fill nutritional gaps that breast milk alone can’t cover, particularly vitamin D and iron.
What’s in Each Dose
The standard Poly-Vi-Sol formula delivers nine vitamins per 1 mL serving: vitamin A (750 IU), vitamin D (400 IU), vitamin E (5 IU), vitamin C (35 mg), thiamin (0.5 mg), riboflavin (0.6 mg), niacin (8 mg), vitamin B6 (0.4 mg), and vitamin B12 (2 mcg). The “with Iron” version adds supplemental iron on top of this vitamin profile, typically 10 mg of elemental iron per dose.
That 400 IU of vitamin D is significant because it matches exactly what the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends for all babies under one year old. The iron component addresses a separate but equally important nutritional need.
Why Pediatricians Recommend It
Breast milk is nutritionally complete in most ways, but it falls short in two areas: vitamin D and iron. The AAP recommends vitamin D supplementation for any infant who isn’t drinking at least 27 ounces per day of commercial formula (which already has vitamin D added). Since most breastfed babies don’t hit that threshold, they need a supplement.
Iron is the other gap. Babies are born with iron stores that begin running low around four months of age. The AAP recommends that partially or completely breastfed infants receive 1 mg per kilogram of body weight per day of oral iron starting at four months, continuing until they’re eating enough iron-rich solid foods. Babies born premature, at low birth weight, or to mothers with diabetes may need iron supplementation even earlier, sometimes starting in the first month.
Poly-Vi-Sol with Iron bundles both of these needs into one dropper, which is simpler than giving separate vitamin D and iron supplements.
How to Give It
The dose is 1 mL per day, delivered with the dropper included in the bottle. You can place the drops directly into your baby’s mouth or mix them into formula, breast milk, fruit juice, or food. Mixing can help if your baby dislikes the taste, which is a common complaint since liquid iron has a strong metallic flavor.
One important thing to know: liquid iron can stain your baby’s teeth a grayish or brownish color. To minimize this, try placing the drops toward the back of the mouth rather than letting them pool around the teeth, and gently brush or wipe the teeth after giving the dose. Regular brushing helps reverse any discoloration that does occur.
Common Side Effects
The iron in this supplement is responsible for most side effects. The most noticeable one is a change in stool color. Your baby’s poop may turn greenish or grayish black. This looks alarming but is completely normal and harmless.
Other possible side effects include stomachache, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and mild cramps. These are all typical reactions to supplemental iron in children. If your baby seems unusually fussy after doses or develops persistent digestive issues, giving the drops with a feeding rather than on an empty stomach can help.
Iron Safety and Storage
Iron supplements are one of the leading causes of poisoning in young children. A dose that’s appropriate for daily supplementation is safe, but accidental ingestion of a large amount is a medical emergency. Early symptoms of iron overdose include vomiting, diarrhea (possibly bloody), and drowsiness, and they can appear within 30 minutes to an hour. Keep the bottle tightly closed and stored well out of reach of children, ideally in a locked cabinet.
If you suspect your child has swallowed a large amount, bring the bottle with you to the emergency room so providers can estimate how much was consumed.
When Babies Transition Off the Supplement
Around six months of age, most babies start eating solid foods. The CDC recommends introducing iron-rich foods at this stage, including iron-fortified infant cereals, pureed meats, and beans. As your baby’s diet expands to include enough iron from food sources, the need for a separate iron supplement decreases. Your pediatrician can help you decide when your baby is eating enough iron-rich foods to stop the drops.
Babies who drink sufficient amounts of iron-fortified formula generally don’t need Poly-Vi-Sol with Iron at all, since formula already contains both iron and vitamin D. The supplement is primarily designed for breastfed infants or those on a mixed feeding approach who aren’t getting enough from formula alone.