Reasons for calcium supplementation:
Infants and young children grow fastest, and the development of bones and muscles requires a lot of calcium, so the demand for calcium is very large. If it is not supplemented in time, infants under 2 years old, especially those under 1 year old, are prone to calcium deficiency. In addition, premature infants, twins, and babies who often have diarrhea or are prone to respiratory infections are more prone to calcium deficiency.
Calcium supplementation strategy:
1. Babies are a special group. Whether breastfeeding or mixed or artificial feeding, milk should be the main body of diet. The daily intake of calcium for infants aged 0-5 months is 300 mg. As long as they drink 600-800 ml of breast milk or formula milk every day, they can meet their needs for calcium.
From February to June, the baby began to add complementary food, and the daily milk quantity gradually decreased. The calcium intake of 5- 1 1 month-old infants has increased to 400 mg per day, so it is necessary to supplement calcium from now on.
3. 1-3 years old, calcium intake increased to 600 mg per day. But their diet mainly comes from milk and gradually transitions to cereals. The survey shows that the dietary calcium of infants aged 1-3 in China is still not up to the required amount. Therefore, the baby should supplement 150-300mg of calcium every day, and milk and dairy products are still indispensable ingredients in the diet. It is best to drink about 400 ml of milk every day, and pay attention to arrange calcium-rich foods such as dairy products, bone soup, shrimp skin and fish.
4. Premature infants and twins should start to supplement VD at 1-2 weeks after birth, and normal full-term infants should start to supplement VD at 2-4 weeks after birth. Infants under 6 months are supplemented with 400 international units every day, and infants over 6 months are supplemented with 400-600 international units every day.
5. The supplementation of 5.VD and calcium should last for two to two and a half years. After two and a half years old, children's outdoor activities increase and their diets gradually diversify. At this time, there is no need to supplement VD and calcium.
6. More sun exposure is an important way for infants to supplement calcium. Because the main reason for their calcium deficiency is insufficient intake of VD, and the content of VD in food is very small, and the baby's diet is monotonous, so they can only get very little VD from food. Sunbathing can promote the transformation of a substance in the skin into VD, which is the safest supplement and will not cause VD poisoning.
Eight principles of calcium supplementation for infants:
Calcium supplementation is very important for today's babies, and parents also attach great importance to it. In my blog, there are always mothers asking various questions about calcium supplementation. They told me that as long as they feel that the baby is short of calcium, they will try their best to supplement calcium for the baby.
Fortunately, there are many ways to supplement calcium, which can be supplemented by various foods, dairy products and calcium supplement products. A few days ago, I specifically talked about how to supplement calcium in autumn baby food, but there are still some special babies who can't get enough calcium from food in a short time. Especially when the baby has calcium deficiency symptoms, or premature babies, twins and other babies who are prone to calcium deficiency, we need special calcium supplement products.
Calcium supplementation includes calcium tablets, calcium agents and even liquid calcium. When taking them, there are also some stresses.
First, don't let calcium meet oxalic acid.
Spinach, cabbage, amaranth, water spinach, bamboo shoots, onion, water bamboo, edamame, etc. They all contain a lot of oxalic acid, which is easy to combine with calcium and affect absorption. Therefore, it is best to use hot water to cook vegetables or take calcium products 2 hours before meals or 3-4 hours after meals.
Second, don't mix calcium with the main meal.
Even if oxalic acid is not much, if you take calcium products at meals, it will still affect the absorption of calcium. Calcium mixed in food can only absorb 20%. As long as the stomach is stuffed with too many things, the effect is not very good. Calcium supplementation should be separated from breakfast, lunch and dinner for more than half an hour. Don't mix with milk.
Third, let the baby eat calcium tablets before going to bed.
During sleep, it is the time when the body grows the most, and it is also the time when the bones absorb the most calcium. Many people have experienced calcium deficiency cramps, usually in their sleep, so it is obvious that calcium should be supplemented when sleeping. You can give your baby calcium supplements before going to bed to fully absorb calcium.
Fourth, supplement enough vitamin D.
Some calcium products need vitamin D supplementation, while others can be absorbed without supplementation. No matter what kind of food you give your baby, you should supplement vitamin D in moderation, preferably with complementary food, sunbathing or taking cod liver oil. Don't let your baby take pure vitamin D directly to prevent excessive vitamin D poisoning. Sunlight is the natural raw material of vitamin D. If the baby basks in the sun, for example, one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon, there is no need to take vitamin D orally. Sunlight will directly promote the production of vitamin D in the body.
Fifth, the choice of calcium supplement products is particular.
Choose some special calcium products for infants with good calcium source, good absorption, good taste and no irritation to the stomach; It is best to choose a single element calcium product; Choose well-known calcium products, but don't blindly follow the advertisement, but see clearly the content, absorption rate and solubility of calcium. It is best to consult a doctor before choosing calcium supplement products.
6. Don't choose calcium carbonate.
Calcium carbonate is alkaline, and the baby's stomach acid is still very little, so calcium carbonate calcium supplement products will affect the digestion of newborn babies. Four-month-old babies are most suitable for eating calcium gluconate. In addition, calcium lactate is also a good choice. Both calcium gluconate and calcium lactate are better than calcium carbonate.
Seven, the number of uses is small.
The absorption rate of calcium is the highest when the human body ingests less than or equal to 50 mg of calcium every time. Therefore, every time you give your baby calcium supplements, you can eat less and take it several times, which can ensure calcium supplements many times a day. If you eat a lot at a time, you will waste a lot of unabsorbed calcium.
Eight, don't eat too much calcium.
Many babies with excessive calcium will have anorexia and constipation. In severe cases, they will suffer from "grimace syndrome". Babies have flat noses, big mouths, strange expressions and many diseases. Excessive calcium can also lead to premature maturity of bones, which will also affect the baby's future height.
Calcium supplementation should be a fine-tuning process for babies. Mothers must not be treated simply and rudely, nor can they be treated with too little calcium. If parents are really not sure whether the baby is calcium deficient or calcium excessive, it is best to go to the hospital for a trace element examination, so as to control the degree and quantity of calcium supplementation.