Supplement calcium in your babys diet

During childhood and adolescence, a baby's body uses calcium for strong bones. This is a lengthy and complete process towards the end of your baby's teenage years. The calcium in your bones begins to decline in adulthood, and bones will gradually lose as we age. When your baby has enough calcium and adequate physical activity during childhood and adolescence, he will have strong bones when he reaches adulthood.

Calcium also plays an important role in ensuring that the muscles and nerves work well and hormones and enzymes in the baby's body are released. So, if the calcium level in the blood is too low, the body will take calcium from the bones to make up for this deficiency.

The harmful effects of calcium deficiency

If adolescents, especially girls, have a diet that does not provide enough nutrients to develop bones, your baby will be at risk for osteoporosis and their fractures will also be higher.

Children who do not get adequate calcium and vitamin D supplements (this vitamin helps calcium absorption) will have a higher risk of rickets . Rickets is a disease that softens bones, worsens growth and sometimes causes muscle pain and weakness in babies.

How much is your child's calcium needs?

1–3 years: 700 mg per day

4–8 years: 1,000 mg per day.

Your child doesn't have to get the recommended amount of calcium each day. Instead, set an average goal for a few days or a week for your baby.

Food sources of calcium

Dairy products like milk, yogurt and cheese are the best sources of calcium. However, you can also find calcium in some sources you may not expect. Here are some calcium-rich foods that your baby can try:

60g raw tofu contains 217 mg of calcium sulfate. The calcium content of tofu varies widely and depends on how it's processed. For the exact amount of calcium, check the product label

120g yogurt: 207 mg

120g of fruit yogurt: 122–192 mg

120g calcium fortified orange juice: 133–250 mg

60g ricotta cheese: 167 mg

120 ml of milk: 150 mg

120 ml of milk chocolate: 144 mg

120g frozen vanilla yogurt: 102 mg

15g cheddar cheese: 102 mg

1 slice of whole wheat bread: 24 mg

15g mozzarella cheese: 103 mg

60g of cruciferous vegetables: 66 mg

60g homemade pudding (mixed or prepared): 76 mg

1 tablespoon sesame seed butter: 64 mg

60g broccoli: 50 mg

60g spinach: 60 mg

120g calcium-rich cereals (ready-to-eat): 51 mg

120g calcium-rich oral soybeans: 40 to 250 mg.

The amount of calcium in the same food sometimes varies widely depending on the brand and size of the foods. Children may be able to eat more or less the theoretical amount of calcium, depending on their age and taste. So estimate the nutritional content that is right for your child.

Calcium supplements can sometimes cause health problems. For example, too much calcium supplements can increase a baby's risk of kidney stones and constipation.

You should note: If your baby loves to drink milk, make sure he or she doesn't get too many calories from milk or drink too much milk, leading to a loss of appetite for other healthy foods.