Guidelines for calcium supplementation for nursing babies

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by BSCK II Cao Thi Thanh - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology, Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
Calcium is an important nutrient for infants and young children. Calcium deficiency causes growth retardation in children as well as the risk of many other diseases. So how to supplement calcium for nursing babies?

1. The role of calcium in the development of children

In the body calcium only accounts for about 1.5-2% of the body weight, most of the calcium is concentrated in the bones of the teeth, the rest is in the blood and extracellular fluid. Calcium is a micro-mineral that plays an important role in the development of children, calcium participates in the structure of bones and teeth, is the main component that makes up the skeleton of the body.
In addition to bone formation, calcium also plays many other roles such as nerve cell conduction, blood clotting, muscle contraction function. When the child's body is not provided with enough calcium, it will cause rickets, small bones, deformities, growth retardation, dwarfism, irregular teeth, weak teeth, prone to tooth decay. In addition, when calcium deficiency, neurotransmitter activity is inhibited, so children often have symptoms of crying at night, or startling when sleeping, even motor dysfunction.

2. Causes of calcium deficiency in children

The baby is deprived of oxygen or suffocated during birth. Sequelae of pregnancy poisoning, gestational diabetes. Diet lacking in calcium. Young children are not regularly sunbathing, leading to vitamin D deficiency (vitamin D is an important nutrient that helps the body absorb calcium well).

3. What are the symptoms of calcium deficiency in children?

Children, especially infants, when calcium deficiency will have symptoms such as:
Sweating, especially when sleeping Or crying, startling at night Severe calcium deficiency causes rickets in children, malnutrition, growth retardation, slow growth, uneven teeth, weak teeth Loss of hair into the kerchief at the back of the neck Or twisting, vomiting milk.

4. How to supplement calcium for children and babies

Although it plays a very important role, calcium is a substance that the body cannot synthesize on its own, but must use it from outside sources. The older the child, the higher the calcium requirement, so calcium supplementation for young children, especially breastfed children, is extremely important. If calcium supplements are excessive or improper, there is also a risk of serious complications for children such as constipation, bone pain, kidney calcification.
Not only calcium, but mothers also need to pay attention to adequate vitamin D supplementation to help children absorb calcium in the best way. With each stage of development, children's calcium needs are different.
Demand for calcium and vitamin D in the diet according to different age groups (MOH/VDD 2016) is as follows:

The calcium supplement for young children, especially infants, needs to be determined by a pediatrician and a nutritionist, depending on the age of the baby and the needs of each child for a reasonable calcium supplement. Parents should not arbitrarily use medicinal products to supplement calcium for children, the use of which should be under the guidance of a doctor. For infants and young children who are still breastfeeding, breast milk is the main source of nutrition. It is also an effective source of calcium supplements. Therefore, the mother's diet is extremely important. To supplement calcium for nursing infants, the first thing to do is to improve the mother's diet with calcium-rich foods such as:
Milk and dairy products (cheese, yogurt), Egg red, orange juice,... Grains and seeds: Peanuts, rice, sesame seeds, almonds, cashews, walnuts... Dark green leafy vegetables: Spinach, bok choy , kale, spinach... Seafood: Shrimps, crabs, clams, oysters, snails, mussels... Absorb vitamin D by morning sunbathing for both mother and baby. It is recommended to sunbathe for children in the morning or afternoon because this is the time when the sun provides a lot of vitamin D, so children should wear thin clothes for the most effective sun exposure. Absorb vitamin D by sunbathing in the morning for both mother and baby
According to the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, breastfeeding women need to absorb about 1000 mg of calcium per day. But due to a strict diet, there is often a calcium deficiency after giving birth. Therefore, mothers can also provide calcium deficiency with calcium supplements. However, the use of the drug needs to be under the guidance of a doctor, should not self-medicate because when lacking in some other micronutrients such as iron and zinc deficiency, children also have some symptoms such as calcium deficiency.
For children under 6 months of age, exclusive breastfeeding and regular sunbathing (this is controversial, should be abandoned) is the best measure to help supplement calcium. As for children from 7 months and older, who can eat solid foods, besides drinking milk and formula milk, mothers can prepare calcium-rich foods to add to their baby's weaning menu.
As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health System, Pediatrics Department - Vinmec International General Hospital always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering team Leading pediatricians: including leading experts, highly qualified (professors, associate professors, doctoral, masters), experienced, have worked in major hospitals such as: Bach Mai, 108.. The doctors are well-trained, professional, have a heart - reach, understand young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.

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