How to add calcium effectively to your baby

Calcium is an essential nutrient for your baby's development, especially for bones and teeth. This mineral also plays an important role in maintaining the function of the nervous system and muscles, helps stop bleeding and activates several enzymes in the body. Up to 99% of calcium in the body is stored in bones and teeth. Want your child to develop, grow tall and healthy, the mother needs to provide enough calcium for your child's bones. So which foods contain a lot of calcium, how much calcium is enough for the baby and how much is too much?

How much calcium does your baby need per day?

Depending on the age, the baby has different calcium needs. Children aged 1 to 3 need 700 mg of calcium per day; while babies from 4 to 8 years old need to increase calcium intake to 1000 mg / day.

You do not have to add calcium every day to your baby, but just make sure the average calcium intake for your baby per day is within the recommended level above.

Which foods are rich in calcium for children?

Of course, milk and dairy products are still the richest sources of calcium. In addition, in these products there is also vitamin D , a substance that also plays an equally important role in your baby's bone development.

You can refer to some calcium sources below:

¼ cup of tofu: 217 mg (however this amount varies depending on the amount of calcium sulfate additive used to make tofu);

½ cup of yogurt: 207 mg;

1 tablespoon molasses: 172 mg;

½ cup of fruit yogurt: 122 - 192 mg;

½ glass of milk: 150 mg;

½ cup of milk chocolate: 144 mg;

¼ cup cooked spinach (spinach): 60 mg.

The above amount of calcium is for reference only, it also depends a lot on the type of product, the size of the product, ... The amount of calcium that the baby receives also varies depending on the age and absorption of the baby.

The calcium content of milk is not affected by the fat present in milk. However, fat requirements vary by age. Babies under 2 years old need a lot of fat for the development of the body and brain. Children over 2 years old need less fat, so skim milk will be a good choice for babies in this age group.

How to provide enough calcium for the baby?

Many experts believe that there are many attractive drinks and foods on the market that make your baby forget to drink milk, leading to a calcium deficiency. Here are some tips to help you encourage your baby to eat or drink dairy foods.

Parents should encourage babies to drink milk instead of cocoa, soup, or cereals. Alternatively, you can use condensed milk instead of pasteurized fresh milk, as condensed milk has twice as much calcium as pasteurized fresh milk. Add fresh milk to foods like fruit salads, nonfat powdered milk for baking, sauces and smoothies, add cheese to vegetables, sauces and mashed potatoes to make your baby more attractive.

Parents should buy juices, breads, cereals with calcium supplements, vitamin D to help support the baby's body absorb calcium better. In addition, every day, you should add to your baby about 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D for your baby to develop fully and healthy.