After
giving birth safely, parents are also concerned of how to ensure their children
grow up. However, this is not always happens naturally. Parents need to monitor
on their children daily nutrition to ensure it provide best possible growth and
strong bones.
This is
about providing enough Calcium to their children, right from the beginning,
even before birth. Growing stage is a stage that children more source of
calcium for their optimum growth, healthy, and strong bone. They can take green
vegetables and milk which are good natural sources of Calcium.
Calcium
is an essential mineral for building strong bones and teeth for every children.
In Cambodia, based on the Cambodian Demographic and Health Survey of the
Ministry of Health and Ministry of Planning in 2014, 32% of children under age
of 5 years-old are having issue of “Stunned”. For optimum growth of children,
it is important for parents to understand and ensure that their children have
enough Calcium, especially during the first 1000 days of their life.
The
following questions and answers will help parents to ensure optimum growth for
their children.
Q1: Why is Calcium important for children?
Answer:
Calcium is an essential substance for build strong bones and teeth during
childhood. Calcium contains 99% in bone and teeth, although Calcium has other
roles in the body, including helping with heart functions.
Q2: What are the problems for kids with
insufficient Calcium?
Answer:
Young kids who do not get enough Calcium will face some problems with teeth
growth, abnormal bone development, and take high risk for Rickets, which lead
to stunned growth.
Q3: What is Rickets and what it causes?
Answer:
Rickets is a disease that causes abnormal growth of bones especially with
children. It can be caused by:
• Lack of Vitamin D
• Lack of Calcium
• Lack of Phosphate
• Lack of Being Exposed to Sunlight
Q4: What are the symptoms of Rickets?
Answer:
• pain or tenderness in the bones of the
arms, legs, pelvis, or spine
• stunted growth
• bone fractures
• muscle cramps
• teeth deformities
• skeletal deformities
Q5: Who is affected by Rickets?
Answer:
• Children who have less physical activities
• Children with inadequate nutrition
(specially insufficient Calcium and Vitamin D)
• Children who are not exposed to enough
sunlight.
• Around 20% (genetic) children who have
parents are Ricket.
Q6: What can be done to protect kids from
Rickets?
Answer:
• Eat foods that contain Calcium
• Eat foods that contain vitamin D
• Eat foods that contain phosphate
• Get more exposed to sunlight
• Do more exercise
Q7: What is ‘Stunned’ or under-height growth?
Answer:
Under-height growth is a symptom of insufficient growth of brain and bones for
kids who do not have enough minerals or supplements during the first 1000 days
of their life.
Q8: How can parents know if their kids have
‘Stunned’ growth?
Answer:
Parents can measure the height of their children by using the Yellow Book of
Vaccine Injection from the public hospital. In case your kids are not growing
well in accordance with the standard in the Yellow Book, you should consult
with Pediatric Doctors.
Q9: What can parents do to protect their kids
from ‘Stunned’ growth?
Answer:
Parents should provide foods that contain calcium and vitamin D to their kids,
and encourage them do regular exercise, but not heavy-weight sport.
Q10: What kind of food contains Calcium?
Answer:
Good sources of calcium are in milk and other dairy products, and most contain
added vitamin D, which is also important for bone health. Other healthy diets
include Calcium-fortified foods, including soy products, bread, salmon and
broccoli etc...
Q11: What can parents do to ensure that their
kids have food rich in Calcium?
Answer:
Some kids do not prefer foods with rich Calcium substances such as meat and
green vegetables. However, smart parents can choose Calcium supplements to
ensure their kids’ optimal growth.
Q12: Why is it very important to provide enough
Calcium for kids before going school?
Answer:
At school age, kids need enough minerals and supplements for their physical,
mental and intellectual growth. If your kids lack Calcium, they will lack the
minerals to support their bone growth, risk getting Rickets, and many other
problems. Therefore, parents should ensure their kids have enough minerals and
supplements at school age.
Q13: What is the volume of Calcium intake for
the optimal growth of kids?
Answer:
For optimal growth, the National Academy Press recommends:
• 1 to 3 years old — 700 milligrams of
Calcium daily
• 4 to 8 years old — 1,000 milligrams of
Calcium daily
• 9 to 18 years old — 1,300 milligrams of
Calcium daily
Q14: Can you (Parents) ensure that your
children have enough Calcium substance for the required amount per day?
Answer:
If you are not sure, do not wait until your kids have problems with
under-height growth or Rickets. You should begin providing Calcium supplement
daily following the required amount. You will be happy to see your children
growing well in the near future.
