Question

A four and a half month old male baby sweats excessively on his hands and feet during sleep and often shakes his head. The doctor recommended calcium supplementation. The parents bought “Ha Yao Brand Calcium, Iron, and Zinc Oral Liquid” and “Yike Xin Vitamin AD Drops,” but felt the dosage was too high, and the baby’s stools were not ideal recently, so they have not started using them. How should experts determine the most scientific calcium dosage for the baby?

Answer

Based on the parents’ description, there should be no problem as long as the instructions on the label are followed, and adjustments should not be made based on feeling alone. The correct method of calcium supplementation is to first take vitamin D orally, approximately 5000 to 10,000 units daily; patients with severe rickets or diarrhea may switch to injectable vitamin D. At the same time, calcium tablets can be taken orally, 0.5 grams each time, one to three times a day. This way, both the baby’s calcium needs are met and safety is ensured.