What Happens If a Toddler Doesn’t Get Enough Calcium? Signs & Solutions

Calcium is an important mineral required during the growing years to help build strong bones and teeth. However, calcium deficiency in toddlers is a common concern, often resulting from inadequate dietary intake and picky eating habits. In some cases, underlying factors contributing to calcium deficiency in toddlers include severe vitamin D deficiency, lactose intolerance, milk allergies, digestive disorders or malabsorption issues.¹

Poor intake of calcium foods for toddlers can affect their bone strength later in life. It thus becomes important for parents to focus on improving the child’s nutritional status. In the process, understanding the symptoms and signs of calcium deficiency in toddlers can help them support their child’s growth and development. Research suggests that in a country like India, dietary calcium and vitamin D deficiency exists across all age groups.² Therefore, emphasis should be on the intake of calcium rich food for toddlers in India alongside balanced meals to help them meet their daily nutrient requirements. 

Importance of Calcium for Toddlers

About 99% of the body’s calcium is found in teeth and bones, and the remaining 1% is present in blood, extracellular fluid, muscle and other tissues.³ Beyond bones and teeth, calcium, an essential nutrient, plays an important role in blood clotting, regulating normal heart rhythms and supporting muscle and nerve function.

As toddlers grow, bone mass continues developing through childhood and adolescence and reaches its peak during young adulthood.⁴ During the early years of life, our ability to store calcium is better as compared to when one becomes older.

If there is insufficient intake of calcium rich foods for toddlers, their bodies may start utilizing the calcium stored in the bones. Over time, this process can weaken bone strength and gradually reduce bone density. A daily ritual of calcium rich recipes for toddlers can thus help protect young bones from brittleness, slow growth and bone deformities.

Signs and Symptoms of Calcium Deficiency in Toddlers

Calcium deficiency in toddlers can sometimes develop without any apparent signs. Early detection can help parents take timely action and address issues before the growing child’s health is affected.

Inadequate calcium intake may contribute to the following symptoms of calcium deficiency in toddlers.⁵

• Weakness of the muscles and painful muscle contractions often in the legs.
• Mood changes like irritability and persistent fatigue.
• Slowed growth pattern.
• Dental issues like weakened tooth enamel and tooth decay.

Along with the above symptoms, some observable signs of calcium deficiency in toddlers include short stature, weak bones, brittle nails and teeth and delayed tooth eruption.

In extreme cases, calcium deficiency in toddlers, along with low vitamin D levels, may affect normal bone development and increase the likelihood of developing rickets. In this condition, the bones of the legs may “bend”.  It can lead to bone softening, weakened muscles, and delay in walking and teething. It can also increase the risk of fractures and low blood calcium.⁶

Calcium Rich Foods for Toddlers

A growing toddler requires about 500mg of calcium per day to meet their daily nutritional requirements.⁷ Hence, include a variety of calcium foods for toddlers, such as milk and milk products like curds, buttermilk, yogurt and paneer, as part of their daily menu. Other calcium rich foods for toddlers such as ragi, horsegram, amaranth (rajgira), broccoli, drumstick leaves, almonds, and sardines can be incorporated in recipes to add variety.⁸,⁹ Emphasis on these dietary sources along with paediatric guidance can be helpful in cases where signs of calcium deficiency in toddlers are apparent.

Parents can opt for calcium rich foods for toddlers India in the following simple ways to help improve their calcium intake naturally.

• Offer homemade curd and paneer as part of meals. Serve a small portion of curds alongside meals or stir into a smoothie. Soft paneer cubes or paneer bhurjee can be easily enjoyed by toddlers.
• Cook ragi/ rajgira with milk for easy-to-make porridge preparations. Likewise, use them in pancakes.
• Incorporate pulses like horse gram in dals, soups and khichdi.
• Blend nut powder with milk or add it in preparations like kheer.

Calcium Rich Recipes for Toddlers: Options

At this age toddlers have varying appetites and are also selective and picky about eating. Preparing home-cooked meals and snacks, including calcium rich foods for toddlers, sometimes can become challenging. Use the sources of calcium in familiar recipes so that it is easy for the child to accept these foods regularly. Some nutritious options for calcium rich recipes for toddlers are ragi porridge/ragi malt, curd rice, badam milk, milk pudding with egg, plain yoghurt/curd with fruit or fruit yoghurt parfait.

Tips to Improve Calcium Intake in Toddlers

• Add milk and milk products in different forms while preparing recipes.
• Pair vitamin D rich foods alongside calcium foods for toddlers, as vitamin D aids in calcium absorption. Foods such as eggs, fatty fish, milk have some vitamin D. Safe sunlight exposure with outdoor play also contributes to vitamin D production in toddlers.
• Include at least 2-2 ½ servings of calcium rich food for toddlers India as part of balanced meals in the day.¹⁰

Conclusion

The above knowledge helps you reflect on the role of calcium in the growing years, symptoms of calcium deficiency in toddlers, foods to include and tips to add adequate calcium to their diet. Since calcium deficiency in toddlers can affect skeletal growth, teeth development and overall health, it becomes essential to provide them with a healthy diet containing calcium rich foods. Alongside, nutritional  drinks for toddlers like Complan NutriGro can be added to the balanced diet to support toddlers’ wellness. Complan NutriGro contains 34 vital nutrients, including good quality protein, calcium, iron, DHA and vitamins like A, E and C.