Four major misunderstandings about calcium supplementation for babies

When taking care of their babies, many mothers will prepare a lot of high-calcium foods for their babies in order to prevent them from suffering from calcium deficiency. Although some foods can be very helpful for calcium supplementation, many mothers often fall into misunderstandings because they do not know how to supplement calcium scientifically and fail to achieve the ideal calcium supplementation effect. Mothers should pay attention to the four common misunderstandings about calcium supplementation for babies.

What should babies eat to supplement calcium?

Calcium supplements are divided into organic calcium and inorganic calcium. Organic calcium is gently absorbed and is suitable for small babies, while inorganic calcium relies on stomach acid for absorption and is suitable for older babies.

Common types of organic calcium include calcium lactate, amino acid chelated calcium, calcium gluconate, calcium citrate, milk calcium, etc. Common types of inorganic calcium include calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, activated calcium, etc. However, active calcium is highly irritating and is not recommended.

Calcium supplementation can also be taken indirectly by taking cod liver oil and AD drops. The VD content of cod liver oil is relatively low and it is used for daily nutritional supplementation. It is suitable for babies who are not seriously calcium deficient. AD drops have a high VD content and are suitable for babies with severe calcium deficiency.

Note that since baby formula, breast milk, complementary foods and other foods are also rich in calcium and VD, the calcium and VD content of calcium supplements can be about half of the recommended amount.

When should babies supplement calcium?

Generally speaking, if your baby is still in the breastfeeding stage, there is no need to supplement calcium within 6 months. Breast milk contains only 34 mg of calcium per 100 ml. Although cow's milk contains up to 125 mg of calcium, the ratio of calcium to phosphorus in breast milk is 2:1, which is most suitable for calcium absorption.

Babies over 6 months old need calcium supplements, but a little extra calcium is enough, mainly by adding calcium-containing rice flour and other complementary foods. If the child does not show obvious signs of calcium deficiency, then there is no need for calcium supplements. And don't just rely on the baby calcium supplement product rankings to supplement your baby's calcium, because those vary from baby to baby.

Four major misunderstandings about calcium supplementation for babies

Determine if there is a need

When supplementing calcium for your baby, you must first make sure whether calcium supplementation is needed. Not all babies need calcium supplementation. If a bottle-fed baby consumes 700 to 750 ml of formula milk every day, the calcium intake is sufficient. Generally, breastfed babies can supplement calcium. In addition, babies diagnosed with calcium deficiency by a doctor should take calcium supplements.

Understand the basics of calcium supplementation

Parents should understand some basic knowledge about calcium supplementation, for example: cod liver oil and calcium powder do not have to be taken at the same time. Generally, cod liver oil can be taken with breakfast, and calcium preparations are generally taken before going to bed, or between lunch and dinner to reduce factors in food that affect calcium absorption. You can learn about it through books and the Internet, or consult a doctor.

Young parents should not buy calcium products themselves

Some calcium products contain very low calcium content, such as calcium gluconate; some contain more heavy metals, such as products made from marine oyster shells; and some are more irritating to the stomach, such as calcium carbonate. It is recommended to consult a relevant specialist and listen carefully to what the doctor says before purchasing. Don't listen to the experience of people around you, but give your baby calcium supplements based on his condition.

Be familiar with some factors that promote and inhibit calcium absorption

When you eat too much fat, the free fatty acids produced after digestion cannot be absorbed in the intestines in time and are easily combined with calcium and excreted with the feces, reducing calcium absorption. Excessive intake of dietary protein will increase the excretion of calcium in the urine. Therefore, we should pay attention to a reasonable dietary structure and avoid excessive intake of fat and protein. In addition, when dietary fiber is consumed too much, the components in it will combine with calcium and reduce calcium absorption. Therefore, it is not recommended for children to eat too much coarse grains.