Calcium is a mineral your child's body needs to not only maintain his teeth and bones but also to help regulate his heartbeat and a host of other body processes. It is vital to know how much calcium your child needs, where it comes from and how much his body can absorb.
Bone Health
Calcium is a mineral that is used to build strong bones.The bone disease osteoporosis can occur in individuals that do not get adequate calcium through their diets. Osteoporosis can lead to weakened bones and increased risk of fractures. Vitamin D aids in the bone's absorption of calcium. Infants and children with insufficient calcium and vitamin D intake are at increased risk for rickets. Rickets is another bone disease that causes the bones to soften.
Calcium Needs
Most of the calcium in the body is stored in the bones and teeth, but a small amount is maintained in the blood, muscles and body fluids. According to the National Institutes of Health, children ages 1 to 3 years need 700 mg of calcium per day, those ages 4 to 8 need 1,000 mg, and children ages 9 to 18 need 1,300 mg. The NIH also states that infants up to 6 months old need 200 mg of calcium and infants from 7 to 12 months need 260 mg daily. KidsHealth states that children of all ages need 400 IU of vitamin D each day.
Absorption
The more calcium your child's body needs, the more it can absorb. Infants and children are growing rapidly and need a lot of calcium for their growing bodies. For this population, calcium absorption can be as high as 60 percent, according to the National Institutes of Health. As children get older, their bodies will absorb less calcium from the foods they eat. Having more vitamin D in their bodies will help more calcium to be absorbed, but some other nutrients such as phytic and oxalic acid can inhibit the absorption of calcium. These acids are mostly found in plants like spinach, sweet potatoes and collard greens.
Sources
Vitamin D comes from the foods your child eats, and it is also produced in the body when sunlight shines on his skin. Dairy foods are the most plentiful sources of calcium and common examples are milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream and cottage cheese. Almonds, bok choy, rhubarb and broccoli are nondairy foods that contain calcium as well. These foods can be particularly important to people who suffer from a milk protein allergy or who are lactose intolerant. If you do not think your child is getting adequate calcium from the foods he eats, it may be helpful to give him a daily calcium supplement. Participating in regular weight-bearing activities such as walking, running or jumping rope will also help to maintain his bone strength.
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