Anyone Use Calcium Supplement for Toddler?

I use a brand called Lil Critters. They have Calcium gummy bears and you can buy these at Costco or Winn Dixie.

Hope this helps!

A little off of your posted question, but did they test for IGE or IGG allergies? Sounds like your child may have what they call delayed allergies....I would take your cues from your child...here are some ideas of foods...

We use Rice Milk, as well, and its fortified with Calcium...Pacific Rice Milk has as much Calcium as cow milk does...but we also do supplement since my son has many food allergies and is a picky eater...we use a liquid form of calcium that can be added to anything. Native Sun, Whole Foods and other "Natural" stores will have a variety of ways to supplement. They have liquids you can add to things, chewables if your child will take them, and caplets for when they may be ready to take that step.

Calcium is needed for strong bones. Green leafy vegetables such as kale are as good as or better than milk as calcium sources. Other good sources include: Soyabeans, Tofu, Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Pistachios, Sunflower Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Flax Seed, Carob, Carrots, Cabbage, Garlic, Parsley Spirulina, Chives, Seaweed, Cauliflower, Okra, Cassava, Figs, Papaya, Rhubarb, Molasses.......(see lists below)

Calcium is a very important mineral in the human body. Our bones contain large amounts of calcium which helps to make them firm and rigid. Calcium is also needed for many other tasks including nerve and muscle function and blood clotting. These other tasks are so important for survival, that, when dietary calcium is too low, calcium will be lost from bone and used for other critical functions. Calcium in the blood is tightly controlled by the body, so calcium status cannot be assessed by measuring blood calcium levels.

Because of heavy promotion by the American dairy industry, the public often believes that cow's milk is the sole source of calcium. However, other excellent sources of calcium exist so that vegetarians eating varied diets need not be concerned about getting adequate calcium.

Composition of Foods (USDA Handbook 8. Manufacturer's information.)

While milk is a source of calcium, it certainly is not the ideal way to get your daily dose. Dairy products, with the exception of skim products, are loaded with saturated fat. Fat is directly related to heart disease and cancer. Dairy products are also high in protein. There are other reasons to worry about milk, too. Cows are routinely fed antibiotics. These are then passed directly on to the milk drinkers; antibiotics are detectable in one out of three cartons of milk. Many people are also allergic to milk, and over three-fourths of the world's population is lactose-intolerant, which means their bodies lack the enzymes necessary to digest milk.

Great Sources of Calcium: Dark green vegetables, such as broccoli and collard, mustard, and turnip greens are much better sources of calcium than milk. A single cup of broccoli contains almost a fourth of the U.S. RDA of calcium. Another good source is calcium-fortified orange juice. Beans are also good sources of calcium.

Green leafy vegetables and beans are good sources of calcium that are also moderate in protein and very low in fat.

CALCIUM SOURCES Food=Amount=Calcium (mg)

Tofu, firm, processed 4 ounces=250-765 calcium
with calciumsulfate*

Tofu, regular, processed 4 ounces=120-392 calcium
with calcium sulfate*

Collard greens, cooked 1 cup= 357 mg calcium

Rhubarb, cooked 1 cup= 348 mg calcium

Spinach, cooked 1 cup= 278 mg calcium

Blackstrap molasses 2 TB= 274 mg calcium

Turnip greens, cooked 1 cup=249 mg calcium

Tofu, firm, processed 4 ounces= 80-230 mg calcium
with nigari*

Kale, cooked 1 cup=179 mg calcium

Sesame seeds 2 TB=176 mg calcium

Okra, cooked 1 cup =176 mg calcium

Soybeans, cooked 1 cup=175 mg calcium

Beet greens, cooked 1 cup=165 mg calcium

Bok choy, cooked 1 cup=158 mg calcium

Tempeh 1 cup=154 mg calcium

Mustard greens, cooked 1 cup=150 mg calcium

Figs, dried or fresh 5 medium=135 mg calcium

Tahini 2 TB=128 mg calcium

Tofu, regular, processed 4 ounces= 80-146 mg calcium
with nigari*

Swiss chard, cooked 1 cup=102 mg calcium

Almonds 1/4 cup= 97 mg calcium

Broccoli, cooked 1 cup= 94 mg calcium

Almond butter 2 TB= 86 mg calcium

Soymilk, commercial, plain 8 ounces= 84 mg calcium

*Read the label on your tofu container to see if it is processed with calcium sulfate or nigari.

Calcium is found in a variety of plant foods. The following foods are additional sources of calcium:

Bok Choy 1 cup= 250 mg calcium

Kelp (Seaweed) + cup=170 mg calcium

Wakame (Seaweed) + cup=150 mg calcium

Amaranth +cup=140 mg calcium

Great Northern Beans 1 cup= 140 mg calcium

Dried Figs 5 figs=135 mg calcium

Vegetarian Baked Beans 1 cup=130 mg calcium

Navy Beans 1 cup=130 mg calcium

Fortified Orange Juice 6 ounces=120 mg calcium

Kidney Beans 1 cup=105 mg calcium

Acorn Squash 1 cup= 90 mg calcium

Pinto Beans 1 cup= 85 mg calcium

Calcium Sources from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

I've been reading a lot of info about this lately. Many people don't have alergies to the milk, but what's in the milk. What the cows have been given ie: antibiotics, hay that was sprayed with chemicals. One source said that the digestive system has a difficult time breaking down cows milk, but cultured milk products are easier to digest. Have you tried goats milk. I would even look into raw milk. You may be able to find a farm that sells it. If you go that route make sure the cows are raised on an organic farm. I'm new to this idea of a life style change. You can also try organic cows milk, wal-mart sells it for a reasonable price. Do your research before you make a switch.
God Bless,
R.

Hi S.,

The best source of any mineral used to be food, now our food supply is depleted and too much food is needed to get the optimum level of what's necessary. (The milk products on the market these days have been processed so much that the amount of calcium that is there is negligible.) Whole food supplements are almost the same, as you can't get enough nutrition in a capsule size of whole food. Ordinary vitamin and mineral supplements can do more damage than good because they create free radicals, killing antioxidants and that process leads to major diseases.

What I have learned is that all vitamins and minerals have been researched and approved within the nutritional guidelines of the company that manufactures them. The problem IS that free radical biologists have not been involved in the research until now.

There is only one multivitamin/mineral complex that I would recommend for a child as it does not create free radicals. Get in touch with me and I can forward some documentation over to you. I do nutritional seminars that target prevention of diseases like cancers, heart issues, diabetes, weight loss, Asthma, and neurological disorders like ADD, ADHD, Asperger's etc. Acid reflux, sleep problems, and eating issues can lead to more serious issues. I congratulate you for confronting them now!

Looking forward to hearing from you!

M.

Yes, a calcium for kids (and you too).

I put this http://liveitdontdiet.isagenix.com/us/en/isacalcium.dhtml into the shakes in this http://liveitdontdiet.isagenix.com/us/en/isakidssystem.dhtml.

My own kids have been doing it for almost 3 years, I have about another 50 kids PLUS their families in my practice that all use it as well as other nutritionals that are organic, natural, no chemicals, no hormones, pesticides nor herbicides, just whole goodness.

Is your family worth it?

B. H. B.A.;B.Ed.
Family Nutrition Coach

good for you for noticing the correlation b/t your son's syptoms & milk protein! what stands out to me is that he had (or still has) reflux- milk intolerances can cause reflux and if it's not the direct cause, it certainly can exacerbate it! http://www.mamasource.com/business/14059862321568677889

I'm not sure about a nutritionist...lots of good advice so far!

Hi S.

My son has a dairy allergy and we did see a nutritionist in Coral Springs. To my knowledge, there aren't to many that take insurance/or there aren't many insurance companies that cover Nutritionists.

We gave our ds fortified orange juice, and they do have fortified rice/soy milk. Be cautious of to much rice milk, it may constipate him. If it does, stay away from the rice milk until he's "regular" again.

I've searched on google to get you some more information:
http://www.bchealthguide.org/healthfiles/hfile68e.stm

I think he's to young for a calcium supplement when you can just give him good foods to increase his intake.

Good Luck
L.

there are a lot of things that have calcium- raw spinach, green bell peppers, goat milk, cashew nuts, green leafy vegetables you could juice some of these things together
add to almond milk and might have a nutritious drink for better than milk. regular cow's milk has a lot of impurities hormones, additives, preservatives that are not mentioned.
real milk does not last three weeks!!! goat milk is easier to digest for babies. I gave it to my kids because regular cow's milk made them sick. now I buy organic milk but don't really
promote drinking it too much. I do make a salad almost every night for calcium. pr

Try the chewable calcium supplement from Animal Parade. I get them at the health food store.

SOME VEGETABLES PROVIDE CALCIUM
HIS REFLUX COULD BE THE CAUSE THAT STOMACH ACID IS A KILLER, IHAVE IT. hAVE A SOC CHECK OUT HIS DIGESTIVE TRACK OR GET HIM ON REFLUX MEDS. THE REFLUX OVER TIME CAN EAT AWAY HIS ESOPHAGEST

SPELLING?

Hello S.,
I am a holistic Nutrition Coach and personal chef. If you can get him to eat lots of broccoli, and green leafy vegetables along with the fortified rice milk, that is plenty. You will need to start buying organic veggies to ensure he is getting the maximum nutrition (even organic produce is depleted). Try giving him nori (seaweed) sheets for snack... you can cut up like cracker size. or give him veggie brown rice sushi rolls to get the nori. If he is not so good about eating these veggies you can suppliment with a liquid calcium from wholefoods. Just go easy, maybe give it to him 3 times per week. Good luck and feel free to contact me at ____@____.com.

S.,

My daughter is highly allergic to all dairy and eggs. Her pediatrician advised me to give her 1 tums a day, they contain all the calcium she needs. Also just a warning, my daughter suffered from major acid reflux from the day she was born, it took me 5 months to get a doctor to FINALLY run an upper GI test, she already had severe esophogal erosion! Also a young child with reflux can have an occurance while sleeping and the liquid goes into the lungs and they cannot breath and therefore die. This is a very serious issue with young children. Definately ask your doctor for the upper GI, it is painless, they just drink a small amount of barium and they take x-rays. Always put your child to sleep with the head elevated, put towels or blanket under the top portion of the mattress. Acid reflux is very painful, my daughter did not cry, she screamed for 5 months, the doctor told me she had colic and to put her ontop of the dryer to soothe her to sleep!!! I went and found a new doctor, and he may have saved her life.
Best Wishes,
R.

That's a good link Linda gave you! I cant speak from experience in dealing with this for a child, but I have looked into all the different food sources to get calcium from because I dont eat/drink dairy products. If your son will eat them, lots of veggies, grains, beans, etc. contain enough nutrients that he may not need the calcium from dairy sources. Good luck with everything!

there seems to be a long complete list of calcium sources already but I just wanted to mention that sesame seeds and kale really are excellent sources of calcium and best metabolized in our body, rather than supplements of any sort. Also, remember that eating dairy products and any sugar products deplete your body of calcium.

Hi S.,
I understand your concern as a new mom, but if your son drinks fortified rice milk and is eating his veggies and other healthy foods, he doesn't need a calcium supplement. Contrary to popular belief, milk is not a good source of calcium. It has too much protein which basically causes your own body to leach the calcium and other vitamins and minerals from your bones to digest it.
That being said, the dairy products that your son is ingesting could be causing his acid reflux and sleep problems. If your still concerned about the calcium, give him a natural children's multivitamin to take up the slack. I have one that mixes with water or juice and has vitamins/minerals/antioxidants.
Give me a call for more info at ###-###-####.
Thanks and good luck,
S.