Question
A four-month-old baby has been experiencing unstable nighttime sleep lately, waking up every hour or so, with restless hand movements and head-scratching. The baby sleeps from around 8 pm to midnight and needs to be woken up for a diaper change. Why does the baby become restless in the latter half of the night? Is it due to a calcium deficiency? How should a child so young be supplemented with calcium?
Answer
It is recommended to try oral calcium gluconate and Icodextrin, while also ensuring plenty of sunlight exposure and consumption of calcium-rich foods such as bone soup, codfish soup, and lean meat. Generally, children under two years old need between 400-600 milligrams of calcium daily, but regular diet only provides about two-thirds of the required amount, necessitating additional supplementation. Moreover, the body automatically adjusts calcium absorption; when calcium levels are sufficient in the body, intestinal absorption of calcium decreases, and conversely, it increases. Excess calcium is also excreted through urine and feces.