Question
My baby walks with legs that are slightly bowed, resembling an ‘O’ shape. We’ve visited the hospital and had trace elements tested. The calcium level was 2.06, zinc was 49.96, and iron was 7.73. The doctor recommended supplementing with calcium, iron, and zinc. Is there a connection between the lopsided walk and a calcium deficiency? Also, my baby is restless at night, constantly tossing and turning. Furthermore, how can I supplement iron? Iron supplements tend to affect appetite, and my baby doesn’t like drinking them.
Answer
Dear parent, your baby is three months old and walking with a lopsided gait, showing some signs of an ‘O’ shape. This is due to a change in the bones caused by rickets, which is triggered by a deficiency in vitamin D within the body. It is advisable to ensure timely intake of vitamin D. For iron supplementation, clinical diagnosis commonly uses ferrous sulfate. The oral iron dosage is 10 to 6 milligrams of elemental iron per kilogram of body weight daily, taken in three divided doses. It is best to take these between meals to enhance gastrointestinal absorption. You can start with a small dose and increase to the full amount within 1 to 2 days if there are no adverse reactions.