The most common question parents ask is “Is my baby deficient in calcium?” . I believe that every parent consults such a question, the baby has a variety of symptoms, are suspected to the head of calcium, the heart always play on the question, is not a lack of calcium? Calcium supplements are the most unjust. In fact, babies are not so easy to lack calcium, what needs to be supplemented is vitamin D. China’s dietary guidelines for residents point out that for babies within 6 months of age, the appropriate intake of calcium is 200mg/d; from 6 months to 12 months of age, the appropriate intake is 250mg/d; from 1 year to 4 years of age, the appropriate intake is 600mg/d; from 4 years to 7 years of age, the appropriate intake is 800mg/d. These calcium requirements can be taken from breast milk, formula and milk, and are sufficient. Therefore, no additional calcium supplementation is needed. The recommended amount of milk for each month of age is 500ml-750ml per day for babies under 3 months of age, 800ml-1000ml per day for babies 4-6 months of age, 600ml per day for babies 7-12 months of age, and 500ml per day for babies 13-24 months of age. Babies of all months of age do not need additional calcium supplements as long as they can meet the above milk requirements. For babies whose daily intake is not enough for these, parents should look for the reason why the baby is not eating milk, is it in the anorexia period or where is the discomfort, or is there improper feeding? Find ways to increase the amount of milk, rather than directly supplementing calcium. Inadequate milk intake, not only calcium deficiency, long-term malnutrition, but also the baby’s development will be affected. Common calcium supplementation myths: Myth #1: Pillow baldness is calcium deficiency! The answer: vitamin D deficiency caused by rickets, the baby will have pillow baldness performance, but not have pillow baldness is the so-called calcium deficiency. The baby’s fetal hair also has a certain growth cycle and will also appear to shed. In particular, the baby’s pillow and pillow often friction, coupled with a fast metabolism, easy to sweat, often see a circle of pillow baldness on the heads of babies. Myth #2: Rib cuffs are calcium deficient! The answer to this question is that the flaring of the rib cage is a normal phenomenon in the development process. The baby’s abdominal muscles are less developed, the tension of the abdominal wall is low, so the tummy is easy to bulge or concave, plus the thin baby, it is easier to see the rib edge out. As babies grow up, this phenomenon will gradually disappear. Generally, around the age of 3, the baby’s mild rib edge will ease, there is no impact on future body shape, and rickets is not related. Myth 3: O-leg is calcium deficiency! Answer: Before the age of 2, children will have a little O-leg, and before the age of 6, they may look a certain degree of X-leg, after which they will return to normal. O-leg and X-leg are normal developmental processes and do not require special treatment. However, if the bending is severe and the O-leg still exists after 2 years old, and the X-leg still exists after 7 years old, it is recommended to go to the hospital for consultation. Myth 4: Not walking is a lack of calcium! Answer: Walking is a developmental problem, not related to calcium deficiency. If your baby is still not walking at 18 months, it is recommended to go to the pediatric department of the hospital. Myth 5: No teeth means calcium deficiency! Answer: The late teething of babies is affected by genetic factors, the addition of complementary food traits, premature birth or low weight babies, endocrine diseases, vitamin D deficiency caused by rickets and other reasons. If your baby is still not teething at 13 months, it is recommended to go to the hospital for consultation. Myth 6: Calcium deficiency in trace elements and bone density tests means calcium deficiency! Answer: As early as 2013, the National Health Planning Commission has issued a notice that trace element testing should not be used as a routine medical checkup. In addition, there are various errors in the trace element test, so the reference significance is not great. Bone density represents the state of calcium deposition in the bones. Babies are in a rapid growth stage, and their bones are lengthening and thickening, so only a relatively low bone density can make more calcium enter the bones. Therefore, low bone density is also normal. Myth 7: Sunshine is a good way to get calcium! Answer: To obtain vitamin D through sun exposure requires meeting: sufficient sunlight, sufficient skin exposure range, and sufficient sun exposure time. This is influenced by the season, regional environment and other conditions. Furthermore, babies’ skin is delicate and premature exposure to sunlight may cause damage to the skin. Therefore, it is basically impossible to obtain the amount of vitamin D through the sunlight required in the baby’s body. Therefore it is still necessary to supplement through the daily intake of 400 units of vitamin D. Although the symptoms listed above are the same as those of vitamin D deficiency rickets, not all such symptoms are rickets. The diagnosis of rickets needs to be made at the hospital, and the doctor will make a judgment based on the cause, clinical manifestations, blood biochemistry and bone X-ray. Babies need calcium to grow, but too much intake is a burden on the function of the baby’s systems. Therefore, not all symptoms should be blamed on “calcium”!