Question
My baby was born on October 16th and is now almost three months old. The baby cannot lift its head steadily, tends to lean back or droop when standing, and can only stand for a short while before becoming weak. I have a relative’s child at this age who can already sit up by himself, lift his head steadily, and has strong leg strength to stand. I want to ask, what is the problem with my child? Could it be caused by a calcium deficiency? Is this related to my dislike for meat and preference for vegetables during pregnancy?
Answer
A calcium deficiency in babies may manifest as irritability, frequent crying, restless sleep, easy waking, startle reflexes, excessive sweating, bald patches on the pillow, delayed teething, and others. Severe calcium deficiency can lead to rickets, which can further cause skeletal deformities such as square head, oversized head, hand or foot deformities, outward curving of the ribs (kyphosis or pectus carinatum), inward curving of the legs (O-shaped or X-shaped legs), and more.