Calcium Needs for Children

Susan K. Schulman MD, author of "Understanding Your Child's Health", discusses children's calcium needs.

Calcium Needs for Children Male: We’re fine that we don’t give enough calcium to children, is that true? Dr. Susan Schulman: There’s a big problem, the calcium intake of the children in America are very low. Male: What can we do to get around this calcium problem? Dr. Susan Schulman: Well, there are some foods that have been fortified with calcium like orange juice which I would say that one portion a day is probably acceptable. But basically, they need more milk products. Children should get milk three times a day either they drink it three times a day or they eat it three times a day. If they eat yogurt in one meal and don’t drink milk, that’s okay. But they need three portions of calcium a day. Male: If a child couldn’t get enough calcium, would you have a supplement? Dr. Susan Schulman: We should supplement. Children needed a thousand milligrams a day. Male: What you would supplement it with? Dr. Susan Schulman: Tums, there's a good calcium supplement. It’s not constipating. Male: Against—to be inexpensive. Dr. Susan Schulman: Tums—would need 400 milligrams with each meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner because that gets absorb better with food. There are the children’s calcium supplements just be careful because some of them are constipating.