Zinc is a nutrient necessary for your child's normal growth and development. It also contributes to immune function and the senses of taste and smell. Children who don't get enough zinc risk having stunted growth; however, zinc deficiencies are rare in the United States. It's also unlikely for a child to consume too much zinc, but it can occur, causing some adverse effects.
Recommended Intake
Children ages 1 to 3 need 3 mg of zinc a day, while children ages 4 to 8 need 5 mg daily. From ages 9 to 13, a child needs 8 mg daily, while boys, ages 14 to 18, need 11 mg and girls of the same age need 9 mg. It's easy for a child to obtain the recommended intake from diet alone. One-half of a medium broiled hamburger has 2.6 mg of zinc, while 1/2 cups of fortified breakfast cereal has 2.5 mg. Your child doesn't have to get the recommended intake every day, notes BabyCenter.com. Instead, aim for that amount as an average over several days. The tolerable upper level of zinc, which is the maximum safe amount that your child can consume, is 7 mg a day for children ages 1 to 3 and 12 mg a day for children ages 4 to 8.
Overdose Symptoms
Too much zinc can cause your child to experience nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and headaches. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements consuming the tolerable upper intake is unlikely to have adverse health effects. However, consuming too much zinc over long periods of time can lead to altered iron function and reduced immune function in your child's body.
Considerations
BabyCenter.com states that your child is not likely to get too much zinc from his diet alone. However, sources like zinc supplements and some cold medicines can result in overconsumption. When you evaluate how much zinc your child is getting, be sure to consider all the possible sources of zinc in his diet including vitamins and medications.
Recommendations
You can help keep your child from experiencing zinc toxicity by keeping supplements and medications out of reach so that she can't take too much without your supervision. If you are concerned and think that your child may be suffering from zinc toxicity, be sure to call her doctor right away.
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