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A 2 months old baby needs 200-300 mg of calcium every day. The baby is still quite young and weak. He needs all the vital nutrients necessary for good health and a strong physique. Breastfeeding is the simplest way of meeting the child’s calcium needs.
Unfortunately, some mothers can’t breastfeed due to health issues or lack of milk supply. Therefore, they feed formula milk to soothe the baby’s hunger cravings. Do formula milk-fed babies suffer from calcium deficiency? Is mixed feeding make a baby’s bones weaker? Can you feed a 2 months baby calcium supplement? Continue reading to reveal answers!
Does Your 2 Months Old Baby Need Calcium Supplement?
Health experts across the globe believe that a 2-months old baby needs 200-300 mg of calcium each day! Do you feed enough to meet your child’s calcium needs?
Babies usually feed 6-8 times when they are two months old. Breast milk provides 225-250 mg of calcium every day. Thus, a breastfed baby does not need a calcium supplement. He is already receiving the required dose of this mineral.
The problem occurs when the child is suffering from congenital hypocalcaemia. Some babies also don’t consume enough milk to meet their nutritional needs. Such babies need calcium supplements.
Parents should not start feeding a supplement without knowing the problem. Look for the symptoms of calcium deficiency and then feed the supplement. A top-quality supplement will meet your child’s daily calcium needs and aid in his rapid growth.
What Are the Symptoms of Calcium Deficiency in A 2 Months Old Baby?
It can be quite risky to feed calcium supplement to a healthy child. It can cause hypercalcaemia, which is an excess of calcium in the human body!
Many parents do not know how to diagnose calcium deficiency in newborns. There are some symptoms that you can assess to recognize this issue and provide proper treatment to the child.
- Irritability is the most common symptom of hypocalcaemia. Babies seem sad and upset most of the time when they have a calcium deficiency.
- Excess sweating is another sign of calcium deficiency. You can spot sweat stains on the pillow, bedsheet, or your child’s clothes that indicate calcium deficiency.
- Babies with calcium deficiency also have twitching and tremors. The child can also have seizures if the problem gets worse.
All three symptoms indicate your baby is not healthy. It is the parents’ job to ensure the child is healthy, happy, and comfortable. So, notice these symptoms and take your child to the doctor if you can’t assess the health issue!
Do Breastfed Babies Have Calcium Deficiency?
Breast milk offers a rich supply of calcium every day. Most breastfed babies do not have calcium deficiency if they get the food on demand. Mothers, who try mixed feeding too early, may have babies with such health issues.
A baby needs 200-300 mg of calcium until he is 6 months old. Breast milk provides the required amount of calcium. Lack of calcium in babies can occur if they are ill for a long time and not breastfeeding regularly.
Your baby won’t suffer from calcium deficiency if you can make his tummy full whenever he wants. He may experience health issues when you don’t meet your child’s food demands.
Do Breastfeeding Mothers Need Extra Calcium?
A breastfeeding mother needs up to 1300 mg of calcium every day. She needs to produce 500-800ml of milk per day to feed the 2 months old child. Milk contains a lot of calcium and it is extracted from bones when there is a lack of calcium supply in the body.
A breastfeeding mother should choose her food carefully. It should be nutrient-rich and contain calcium-rich foods. Dairy products, soybean-based products, and many such foods are rich in calcium. Make them a part of your daily diet. Thus, you will never experience calcium deficiency.
Breastfeeding mothers can get weaker if they do not take care of their health. You not only need calcium but also vitamin D to absorb the consumed calcium from your food. Go out in the sunlight and enjoy the warmth for 5-10 minutes. Thus, you will get an ample amount of VD to absorb the calcium you are getting from your food.
Should You Be More Careful When Picking A Calcium Supplement For A 2 Months Old?
A 2 months old baby is still growing. His gastrointestinal tract is weak and his kidneys, liver, and other organs are still developing. The infant is not capable of processing all the supplements available in the market. Therefore, parents should choose a calcium supplement with a great absorption rate. It should be designed specifically for 2-5 months old infants.
Calcium deficient babies can also have vitamin D deficiency. Therefore, it’s important to take the child in the sunlight for a while. It will increase the calcium absorption rate and cure calcium deficiency quickly.
How to Prevent Vitamin D Deficiency in A 2 Months Old Infant?
Vitamin D is quite essential to ensure your baby will never have a calcium deficiency. It is also important to fight infantile rickets. A 2 months old baby can get vitamin D in two simple ways, which are:
Through the sunlight
Sunlight is the largest source of energy and vitamin D. When ultraviolet rays interact with human skin, they convert 7-dehydrocholesterol into vitamin D. It is a free and simple way of supplementing vitamin D.
A calcium deficient infant can sweat a lot. Parents should keep a smooth tissue with them when taking the child in the sunlight. Keep his feet exposed in the sunlight for 5-8 minutes and cover the rest body. Thus, you can reduce the adverse effects of sun exposure and provide ample sunlight to your child.
Through food and supplement
A 2 months old baby should breastfeed exclusively. Unfortunately, breast milk provides a tiny amount of VD. It alone cannot meet your child’s VD needs. Therefore, you should choose vitamin D fortified baby formula for your child.
You can also consult with the doctor and get a VD supplement for your child. A top-skilled doctor won’t recommend this sort of treatment though! He would simply suggest you take your child out in the sunlight. It’s a simple and the most effective way of increase VD levels in the body.
What Do Most Parents Don’t Know About Vitamin D Supplementation?
Most people believe they can cure calcium deficiency just by taking calcium supplements. Very few people know that Vitamin D is quite crucial for calcium absorption. VD supplements play an important role in curing severe calcium deficiency. Therefore, you should know a lot more about it.
When does your 2 months child need a vitamin D supplement?
Whether it is vitamin D, calcium, or other nutrients, you should supplement it only when the child is diagnosed with a deficiency. Excess of any nutrient can cause health problems in the child. Look for the symptoms of VD deficiency, consult with a pediatrician, and then feed the VD supplement.
When your baby can take a VD supplement?
Babies can start taking vitamin D and calcium supplements two weeks after birth. The child can take 400 IU of VD supplement in case of severe deficiency.
Does the baby need a vitamin D supplement if the mother is taking it?
Breastfeeding mothers take VD supplements to increase their calcium absorption rate. It does not increase the amount of vitamin D in breast milk. Therefore, the child will need a VD supplement if he lacks it.
When should you feed vitamin D supplement to the baby?
There is no specific time to take vitamin D supplement. You can feed it before breastfeeding or after breastfeeding. Make sure, the child gets the required amount of this supplement to fight severe vitamin D deficiency.
Does the excess of vitamin D cause health issues in the baby?
The baby should receive a VD supplement in the right quantity. Vitamin D fortified formula milk is perfect to prevent the deficiency and keep the child healthy. 400 international units of vitamin D is sufficient to keep your baby healthy. Excess intake of this supplement can cause health problems.
How to Promote Calcium Absorption in A 2 Months Old Baby?
Infants can get sufficient calcium from breast milk. Some babies fail to absorb it properly due to a lack of vitamin D. Doctors recommend parents take the baby out in the sunlight for at least 5 minutes.
It is better if your child naturally receives Vitamin D. Thus, he won’t have VD excess and he will be healthier than before. That’s how you can promote the absorption of 2 months baby calcium supplement.
Conclusion
Breastfed infants have a better opportunity of preventing calcium deficiency. Breast milk is nutrient-rich and the best food your 2 months old baby can get. Feed the child on demand and take your baby out in the morning time. Thus, he will never lack calcium or vitamin D. It won’t be necessary to feed your 2 months baby calcium supplement! So, try the suggested solutions to keep your baby healthy and strong.
