Do babies need calcium supplements?

A one-year-old baby took calcium supplements for half a year and actually developed kidney stones!

The child went to a hospital in Heilongjiang for a cold, and unexpectedly a peanut-sized stone was found in his urinary catheter.

In recent years, calcium supplementation seems to have become a fashion. Giving calcium supplements to babies has become the most enthusiastic thing for many parents, as if they will fall far behind others if they don't "supplement" their children. Excessive sweating - calcium deficiency, baldness on the back of the head - calcium deficiency, ugly head shape - calcium deficiency, crying in the middle of the night - calcium deficiency, walking late - calcium deficiency! With this calculation, it seems that children need calcium supplements all the time. Calcium supplementation has become a necessary part of the growth process of Chinese children. So does your baby really need calcium supplements?

Blindly giving your baby calcium supplements may cause harm to your baby's health

Under normal circumstances, there is no need to give children extra calcium supplements. However, many people do not know that excessive calcium supplementation may also harm the baby's health! Nutrition experts say that the appropriate calcium intake for Chinese infants aged 0-6 months is 200 mg/d, and the maximum tolerable intake is 1000 mg/d; the appropriate calcium intake for infants aged 7-12 months is 250 mg/d, and the maximum tolerable intake is 1500 mg/d.

Why do we get kidney stones?

This mother fed her child a lot of calcium and a lot of food containing oxalic acid for a long time. The calcium in the child's blood combined with the oxalic acid in the food or the original oxalic acid in the body fluids to form calcium oxalate, which precipitated in the tissues and organs to form calcium oxalate stones.

How old does a baby need calcium supplement?

Generally speaking, pure breast milk can meet the calcium needs of infants aged 0-6 months for physical development, and no additional calcium supplementation is needed. The development of each child is different, and it needs to be determined according to the growth of each baby. The most important thing is balanced nutrition and more exercise.

No more high-calcium foods? No more vegetables containing oxalic acid?

Calcium is an indispensable nutrient for children's growth and development. Oxalic acid is widely found in various fruits, beans, and vegetables. Oxalic acid easily combines with calcium to form calcium oxalate stones, which affects children's health. However, foods containing oxalic acid also contain other rich and diverse nutrients, which are also necessary for children's growth. If you restrict them blindly, your child's growth and development may be greatly affected.

Diet is the best way to supplement calcium

Although there are many different calcium supplements on the market, the best way for ordinary children is to take in calcium through a balanced diet. For infants and young children, breast milk is the best food source. As long as the baby can be exclusively breastfed, there is basically no need to worry about calcium deficiency. Milk and its products are the best sources of dietary calcium. The calcium content of fresh milk is between 1000-1200mg/L, and skimmed milk powder is slightly higher. If the baby does not like to drink milk or has lactose intolerance, consuming a variety of high-calcium foods is also a good source of calcium.

Vitamin D is a "good partner" to promote calcium absorption

Sunbathing can help your baby produce vitamin D. Under normal circumstances, you only need to take your baby out for more outdoor sports and get some sunbathing. You don't need to give your baby any extra vitamin D preparations. It should be noted that there are strong ultraviolet rays in the sun, and prolonged exposure to the sun can easily cause problems for your baby's delicate skin. Babies under 6 months old should avoid direct exposure to the sun, and the time spent in the sun should not exceed half an hour. Be careful to avoid direct sunlight in the baby's eyes. When parents take their babies out to the sun, it's not as simple as just hanging out downstairs. Be sure to choose a time when the sun is softer, and take sun protection measures for your baby before going out, and control the length of time spent in the sun.

References:

[1]Vitamin D and calcium intakes in general pediatric populations: A French expert consensus paper

[2] Chinese Children's Vitamin D Nutrition-Related Clinical Issues Practice Guidelines 2022