Patient's question:
In 10 months, I have been feeding my baby with formula milk, and he has never been sick or had a fever since birth. He is as lively as ever. Now, I just want to ask the experts if, at 10 months, he only needs to supplement with calcium and cod liver oil? What kind of assistance do you need: calcium and fish...Doctor's answer:
Calcium should be supplemented two weeks after birth, and full-term infants should start taking it after one month. It is recommended to continue supplementation until the age of 2 or 3. Calcium supplementation is not only about absorption; even if you take more, it will be wasted if it is not absorbed. At the same time, digesting AD (cod liver oil) can help with calcium absorption and prevent rickets. Sunlight exposure also aids calcium absorption, and it is essential to be outdoors rather than through a glass window, as ultraviolet rays cannot penetrate glass. Additionally, the immature gastrointestinal system of infants can interfere with absorption. It is recommended to supplement calcium while also consuming probiotics such as Mimi Ai and He Sheng Yuan (don’t worry, probiotics are not medicine and are beneficial in excess). The immature gastrointestinal system is also the root cause of infantile eczema, so stabilizing the gastrointestinal system is key to most childhood illnesses.Advice:
Yes, but there are also important considerations regarding how calcium is utilized in the body. Its absorption and utilization are affected by various factors and channels. For children who do not appear to be calcium-deficient, they can obtain calcium through foods like soy products, dairy products, and fish, while also combining it with the effects of sunlight’s ultraviolet rays. Sunlight and outdoor activities are the best natural calcium supplements, with the most effective times being 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Crushing calcium tablets and mixing them into milk or food to feed children is not advisable. Generally, calcium tablets mixed with food are only about 20% absorbed, with the rest being excreted. If calcium tablets are given during feeding, they can easily combine with milk to form clumps, making it difficult for both calcium to be absorbed and milk to be digested. The correct method is to give calcium tablets 1–2 hours after changing the diaper, when the stomach is mostly empty. Note that calcium supplements should not be mixed with milk, as mixing calcium powder with milk can cause the milk to curdle and hinder absorption. Calcium and cod liver oil should be taken 30 minutes after feeding.
After the age of 2 or 3, children’s growth slows down, and outdoor activities increase, so they generally no longer need vitamin D supplementation.