Baby pillow bald? Don’t sleep soundly? Sweaty? Cramps?
As long as these problems occur to children, many parents feel that this is calcium deficiency and calcium supplement is required.
With the help of traditional cognition and various advertisements, many parents are very concerned about calcium supplement.
Then, let’s talk about the calcium supplement for children.
Does the child need calcium supplement?
First of all, it needs to be made clear that healthy children do not need routine calcium supplement.
According to the latest 2013 edition < < Reference Intake of Dietary Nutrients for Chinese Residents > >, the appropriate intake of calcium for infants is:
- 0 ~ 6 months: 200 mg 7 ~ 12 months: 250 mg 1 ~ 3 years: 600 mg 4 ~ 6 years: 800 mg
Generally speaking, breast milk contains about 35 mg/100 mL of calcium, but the absorption rate of calcium is relatively high. Formula milk contains more calcium, about 50 mg/100 mL, but the absorption rate of calcium is not as good as breast milk. Ordinary pure milk contains the most calcium, which can reach 100 mg/100 mL.
From this point of view, as long as a reasonable diet, ensure sufficient milk, pay attention to vitamin D supplement to help calcium absorption, children will not lack calcium, do not need to eat extra calcium tablets.
Does China’s Children Seriously Lack Calcium?
However, the actual situation may be different. According to the national survey conducted by the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 2007, the dietary calcium intake of children aged 2-3 in China is seriously insufficient.
The most likely reason is that children drink too little milk.
Because in our country’s eating habits, the consumption of milk is very low. Many parents do not have the habit of drinking milk every day. When their children grow up and eat with adults, their parents often neglect to let their children insist on drinking milk.
Therefore, if the milk is insufficient, the child will also have the possibility of calcium deficiency.
If you eat like this, your child will not lack calcium.
0 ~ 6 months
Ensure intake of 200 mg of calcium every day, which is actually equivalent to the calcium content in 600 mL of breast milk or 400 mL of formula milk.
As long as the child is breastfed normally, the child can easily reach this requirement.
Besides, the calcium requirement of infants within 6 months old is calculated from the calcium content of breast milk. As long as the baby is full of breast milk, there will be no calcium deficiency, and there is no need to supplement calcium indiscriminately.
7 ~ 12 months
Babies in this age group need 250 mg of calcium every day. This is actually very good, just need to drink 700 mL of breast milk or 500 mL of formula milk every day.
As long as the milk is sufficient, there is no need to supplement calcium.
1 ~ 3 years old
After one year old, many children gradually began to eat with adults.
On the one hand, children should continue to drink milk. It is best to insist on breast-feeding. If not, it is also recommended to drink enough formula milk or milk (400 ~ 500 mL per day) every day.
On the other hand, the diet should be as diversified as possible and eat more calcium-rich foods, such as bean products, green vegetables, sesame paste, etc.
4 ~ 6 years old
It is still recommended to drink more than 300 mL of milk every day. At the same time, it is also necessary to balance nutrition, try not to be picky about food, and eat more calcium-rich foods.
These foods are rich in calcium
1. Milk and dairy products
High calcium content is also very beneficial to human absorption and is the most ideal source of calcium for children. Pure milk and yogurt are very good, and cheese can be eaten occasionally.
2. Beans and bean products
In particular, soybeans and black beans are rich in calcium. Add bean products to the menu, such as brine tofu, gypsum tofu, dried tofu, etc. If you eat them instead, your children will not get bored with them.
3. Dark Green Vegetables
For example, rape, spinach, kale, etc. In addition to calcium, it is also rich in vitamins and minerals. Children should cultivate the good habit of eating vegetables every day from an early age.
4. Sesame paste, nuts, shrimps, etc.
Although sesame paste and nuts are good, they have high calories, so the amount should be controlled when they are given to children. Shrimp skin contains very high calcium content, but it is generally salty, so it is good to put a small handful when cooking soup.
Excessive calcium supplement is not feasible.
Some parents think that calcium is a tonic and there is no harm in eating it. But in fact, children of every age group have a ceiling on calcium intake. Exceeding this amount may affect children’s health.
For healthy babies within 6 months old, the daily intake of calcium should not exceed 1000 mg;. For children aged 7 months to 3 years old, 1500 mg; It was 2000 mg for 4 ~ 6 years old.
Diet alone is generally not excessive, and the human body will not absorb more. However, if you do not lack calcium and eat calcium tablets or other health care products at random, it may lead to constipation in children, affect the absorption of iron and zinc, and increase the burden on the kidney.
Summary
Don’t always worry about calcium deficiency in children. In fact, many so-called [calcium deficiency] are normal physiological phenomena.
For example, pillow baldness is a physiological phenomenon caused by children’s renewal, not what, nor calcium deficiency. However, most babies who sweat a lot are normal, which is related to vigorous metabolism during growth and development, but care should also be taken not to wear too much for their children.
In a word, don’t give your child calcium supplement by yourself. What parents need to do is:
- For babies under 6 months old, ensure adequate breast feeding; After 6 months, continue to ensure the baby’s milk consumption and reasonably match the baby’s diet; At the same time, children should be supplemented with 400 IU of vitamin D every day from two weeks of birth.
If you really suspect that your child lacks calcium, you should also ask a professional doctor to judge and listen to the doctor’s advice.