Question
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: My child is 3 years old and has been waking up crying 3 to 4 times every night for the past six months. Some say it’s due to a calcium deficiency, while others suggest a magnesium deficiency. The adults are exhausted and hope to receive guidance from a doctor. Thank you.
Answer
Babies who have trouble sleeping at night and are easily awakened may be experiencing early symptoms of rickets caused by a lack of calcium. Simply relying on breast milk may not meet the baby’s vitamin D needs. Insufficient vitamin D can affect calcium absorption, leading to rickets in severe cases. Early symptoms may be subtle, manifesting only as difficulty sleeping at night, whining, and tossing and turning. In such cases, it is recommended to supplement with vitamin D and calcium supplements, while also increasing the intake of calcium-rich foods such as yogurt, cheese, soft cheese, calcium-fortified orange juice, broccoli, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, and porridge-like foods.