What season is best for calcium supplementation for babies? What season is best for calcium supplementation for children?

For many babies, as their bodies grow rapidly, they are very likely to suffer from calcium deficiency. Generally speaking, mothers can prepare more foods high in calcium in their diet. However, mothers also found that although they tried their best to supplement their children with calcium, the results were not ideal. In fact, there is a time limit for babies to supplement calcium. So, when is the best season for babies to supplement calcium?

Which season is best for calcium supplementation for babies?

The abundant sunshine in summer is a good time for babies to supplement calcium. Although babies are exposed to sunlight for a long time in summer, calcium supplementation should not be taken lightly. Although there is plenty of sunshine in the summer, the temperature is too high, even scorching hot, which limits the baby's opportunities to go outdoors. The chance of receiving sunshine actually decreases, but is only slightly more than in winter. This will lead to a reduced synthesis of the sunlight hormone - vitamin D, resulting in a lower absorption rate of calcium and causing calcium deficiency in the body.

When the weather is hot, the baby's digestive juice secretion decreases, the appetite generally decreases, and the intake of vitamin D and calcium decreases. In addition, the summer is hot, the baby's metabolism is high, and he sweats a lot, causing a large amount of calcium to be lost with sweat. The above three factors combined result in "less intake and more output" of vitamin D and calcium, which causes a decrease in the body's reserves and a "deficit", making it natural for rickets to come unexpectedly. Naturally, timely calcium supplementation has become an important measure in children's health care in summer.

99% of calcium exists in human bones and teeth. If there is a lack of calcium, it will directly affect the health of children's bones and teeth. Some parents only know to supplement their children with calcium, but they don’t know how much calcium they should supplement. Insufficient calcium supplementation is not only detrimental to the healthy growth of children, but also causes children to miss the best period for calcium supplementation and be unable to "reserve" more calcium for their bones. In order to supplement calcium for children scientifically and reasonably, we must first understand how much calcium the child needs every day so that we can pay attention to calcium supplementation for the baby in daily life.

The daily calcium intake for infants, toddlers and preschool children is: 400 mg from birth to 6 months; 600 mg from 7 to 12 months; 600 mg from 1 to 2 years; and 800 mg from 3 to 6 years.

Precautions for calcium supplementation in children

[High calcium intake will affect the absorption of other trace elements]

Infants and adolescents have the fastest bone growth and the largest calcium storage, so it is necessary to ensure calcium intake. However, excessive calcium supplementation, repeated calcium supplementation, and large amounts of vitamin D are not scientific. Not only do they affect children's appetite, they are also prone to anorexia, constipation, and bloating, and may even cause kidney stones. At the same time, high calcium intake will also affect the absorption of elements such as iron, zinc, and magnesium, and the impact will be greater for children with anemia and zinc deficiency.

[Not every child needs calcium supplementation]

Breast milk can meet the calcium needs of infants under four months old. Experts remind that, under normal circumstances, the calcium produced by breast milk every day can fully meet the physiological needs of infants under four months old. When the child is five or six months old, appropriate complementary foods should be added, such as calcium-rich foods such as dairy products and soy products. For children under one year old, 800 ml of milk per day is enough to provide the calcium needed for growth. For babies who do not drink breast milk but milk, it is recommended to take calcium supplements under the guidance of a doctor for appropriate calcium supplementation.

【Balanced nutrition and reasonable exercise guarantee】

Children's bone health experts say that although adolescents in the early and late stages of puberty have greater calcium needs than toddlers and preschoolers, calcium supplementation alone does not significantly improve height. Balanced nutrition and proper exercise are the most effective ways to ensure children's bone health. In the autumn when the temperature is moderate, children who are not obviously calcium deficient can supplement their calcium through foods such as soy products, dairy products and fish, and encourage their children to do more outdoor activities and use the ultraviolet rays of the sun to promote the absorption of calcium in the body, because sunbathing and outdoor sports are the best natural calcium preparations.

[Reduce the impact of food factors on calcium supplementation]

Because food contains many factors that affect calcium absorption and bioavailability, such as high salt content in the diet or eating a lot of protein, calcium can easily be lost in the urine, affecting the effectiveness of calcium supplementation. Foods such as spinach, rapeseed and cereal bran contain large amounts of oxalic acid or phytic acid, which can also affect the absorption of calcium in food. Appropriate protein, vitamin D in the diet, acidic amino acids and low-phosphorus diet can all improve calcium absorption and play a certain role in promoting calcium supplementation for babies.