Question
The baby started introducing solid foods at six months old, but since then, the stool has shown mucous for a month. The mother stopped breastfeeding and switched to rice porridge and milk powder that the baby dislikes. Now, at seven months old, the baby only consumes apple puree, pumpkin, and rice porridge as solid foods. Lately, the baby cries every night, seemingly hungry, but wakes up every one to two hours. The baby wakes up almost at the same time every day, cries upon waking, and crying cannot be soothed. The only solution is to feed the baby milk, and each feeding session can last for an hour. Once the baby is full, pulling out the bottle causes crying. Currently, I’m not sure what is causing this situation.
Answer
Based on the provided information, it is suspected that the baby may be experiencing these issues due to calcium deficiency. The early stages of calcium deficiency may manifest as symptoms such as excessive sweating, hair loss on the pillow, irritability, crying at night, sleep disturbances, night terrors, and easy waking. It is recommended that the mother diversify her diet and ensure that the baby’s solid foods include high-calcium options. It is also suggested to let the baby get more sunlight to enhance calcium absorption. It is recommended to supplement the baby with some acidic calcium sources like calcium gluconate or calcium lactate, and to use aids that promote calcium absorption such as cod liver oil or vitamin D drops. Wishing the baby a speedy recovery.