An Important Part of Your Child S Diet at Every Age
CALCIUM
An important part of your child’s diet at every age
Infancy to 1 year of age:
Calcium is vital during the first years of life for good nutrition and is especially important for proper development of teeth and bones. During the first months of life, your baby’s need for calcium is best met through breast milk or formula. When you’re health care provider recommends adding dairy food in your baby’s diet (usually at 6 months to a year), they can serve as an excellent source of calcium.
Children under 2 years of age should get whole milk and whole milk products, rather than low-fat or skim milk products. During this period, your baby needs the fat and calories of whole milk to satisfy the special nutritional and energy needs of this very important time.
Childhood, 1 – 10 years:
By teaching your children good eating habits now, you can help them enjoy a lifetime of better health. This is especially true when it comes to getting enough calcium. Not only is calcium needed today for growing bones and teeth, but getting enough calcium now and during adolescence may contribute to better health in adulthood. Luckily, making sure children get the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of calcium is easy. Just 3 servings of dairy foods a day satisfy the calcium needs of children 1 to 10 years of age.
Adolescence, 11 – 18 years:
Your children are growing fast and so is their need for calcium. During this period of rapid growth, children need more calcium than during anytime in their lives; 50% more than 1 – 10 years of age. Why this dramatic increase? During adolescence, 20% of their adult height is achieved with a good proportion added during an 18 – 24 month “growth spurt”. Boys generally start their growth spurt around 12, with peak growth at around 12 years of age. Some children who do not get enough calcium during this period of rapid bone growth may not grow to their expected adult height.
Getting enough calcium during adolescence is also important because this is when almost half of adult bone mass (density) is formed. During this period, calcium is “stored” in the bones. This “bone bank” of stored calcium may help prevent osteoporosis, a crippling disease of later life. So, make sure your children get enough calcium while they are in this building period. Adolescents can get the recommended amount of calcium for their age from 4 servings of dairy foods a day.
Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) of Calcium
Age / Daily Calcium (RDA) / Bone DevelopmentInfants:
Birth – 6 months / 400mg / Rapid dimensional growth, calcium added to cartilage-like bones
6 months - 1 year / 600mg / Calcium content of body increases faster than at any other stage of life
Children 1 – 10 years / 800mg / Dimensional growth continues, rate of calcium retention slows
Adolescents:
11 – 18 years / 1200 mg / Dimensional growth accelerates, growth spurt occurs, 45 % of bone mass is added, bone density and thickness increase
If diet does not provide enough daily calcium needed, Tums or Children’s Mylanta, which contain calcium, may be used to supplement diet
Product Name Amt of Calcium per tabTums (regular) 200 mg
Tums E-X 300 mg
Tums Ultra 400 mg
Children’s Mylanta Tablets 160 mg
Children’s Mylanta Liquid 160 mg /tsp
Viactiv Chocolate Chews 500 mg
L’il Critters Gummy Calcium 200 mg
Flintstones Chocolate Chew 500 mg
The Best Sources of Calcium in the 5 Food Groups
Milk Group / Portion / Mg of CalciumYogurt, plain (low fat) / 1 cup / 415
Yogurt, fruit flavored (low fat) / 1 cup / 345
Cheese, parmesan (grated) / ¼ cup / 338
Cheese, ricotta (part skim) / ½ cup / 337
Milk, skim / 1 cup / 302
Milk, 1% - 2% / 1 cup / 300
Milk, whole / 1 cup / 291
Buttermilk / 1 cup / 285
Milk, chocolate (low fat) / 1 cup / 284
Milk, nonfat (dry, instant) / 1/3 cup / 280
Cheese, Swiss / 1 oz / 272
Cheese, Monterey Jack / 1 oz / 212
Cheese, mozzarella
(low moisture, part skim) / 1 oz / 207
Cheese, cheddar / 1 oz / 204
Cheese, American / 1 oz / 174
Cheese, cream (nonfat) / 1 oz / 100
Ice Cream / ½ cup / 88
Cottage cheese, creamed / ½ cup / 63
Fruit Group / Portion / Mg of Calcium
Orange / 1 med / 60
Dates, chopped / ¼ cup / 26
Raisins / ¼ cup / 22
Orange juice (calcium fortified) / 1 cup / 300
Vegetable Group / Portion / Mg of Calcium
Turnip green, cooked / ½ cup / 98
Bok choy, cooked / ½ cup / 79
Kale, cooked / ½ cup / 47
Broccoli, cooked / ½ cup / 36
Carrot, raw / 1 med / 27
Meat Group / Portion / Mg of Calcium
Sardines (canned, w/bones) / 3 oz / 372
Salmon, pink / 3 oz / 165
Tofu (processed w/calcium / 4 oz / 145
Almonds, shelled / 1 oz / 66
Soybeans, cooked / ½ cup / 66
Dried beans, cooked
(lima, navy, kidney) / ½ cup / 35 – 48
Egg / 1 large / 27
Peanut Butter / 2 tbsp / 18
Grain Group / Portion / Mg of Calcium
Farina, enriched (instant, cooked) / 1 cup / 189
Tortilla, corn / 1 med / 60
Bread, whole wheat / 1 slice / 25
Some foods are fortified with calcium.
Check the label for amount.
Adapted from Nutrition Education Services, Oregon Dairy Council
PLAYGROUND SAFETY
Guidelines for Parents
Each year about 250,000 children ages 15 and younger get hurt on playground equipment and are treated for injuries in emergency rooms. Between 10 and 20 children die each year from playground injuries. About one-fourth of all playground injuries happen on home equipment, but most occur at school and public playgrounds.
How are Children injured?
Falls cause about 75% of playground injuries. Children:
· Fall off equipment
· Fall from heights, especially from climbing structures (such as monkey bars)
· Trip over equipment
Other playground injuries are caused by:
· Blows from equipment, especially swings
· Cuts from sharp edges, hardware, or loose or exposed nails and screws
Types of injuries
Many injuries, such as cuts, scrapes, and bruises, are not serious. However, some head injuries can be serious or even fatal. Other common playground injuries- many of which can be prevented – are broken bones, sprains, and injuries to the teeth and mouth.
Preventing Playground Injuries
Most important:
· The best way to prevent serious head injuries is to have a surface that will absorb impact when children land on it. This is especially needed under and around swings, slides, and other equipment (See “what are safer surfaces?”)
· To prevent injuries from falls, platforms should not be higher than 8 feet above the ground and should have guard rails (38 inches high).
· Vertical and horizontal spaces should be less than 3 ½ inches wide or more than 9 inches wide. This is to keep a small child’s head from getting trapped.
· Objects that stick out (bolts, nails, etc.), hooks that are not closed all the way (“S” hooks), sharp edges, and pinch points also cause many playground injuries. Equipment must be free of these hazards.
· Even with these measures children still need to be watched closely while they are playing.
Also important:
· Carefully maintain all equipment. Be sure that it has been installed exactly according to the manufacturer’s directions.
· Swings should be clear of other equipment by a distance equal to twice the height of the swing, measured from the center of the swing while it is at rest. Swing seats should be made of soft materials such as rubber, plastic, or canvas. Children under 5 years of age should use chair swings. Make sure open hooks, or “S” hooks, on swing chains are closed to form a figure “8.”
· Make sure equipment is the right size for the children playing on it. For example, smaller swings are meant for smaller children and can break it larger children use them.
· Make sure children cannot reach any moving parts that might pinch or trap any body part.
· Play equipment should be installed at least 6 feet from any barrier, such as a wall or fence, and should be securely anchored to prevent tipping. The concrete anchors should be buried below the surface of the dirt and beneath the full depth of the ground cover of absorbent material. Some equipment, such as swings and slides, requires a larger “fall zone” around it.
· Wood fences and equipment should be free of splinters, all fences and equipment should be free of nails that stick out.
· Metal slides exposed to direct sunlight can burn children’s hands and legs. Plastic slides are less likely to cause burn injuries. Position slides in the shade or face them away from the afternoon sun.
· Slides should have a platform with rails at the top for children to hold. The sides of the slide should be 4 inches high.
· Make sure there are no rocks, pieces of glass, sticks, toys, debris or other children at the base of a slide. These could get in the way of a child landing safely. The cleared and safer-surface area should extend from the exit of the slide a distance equal to the height of the slide plus 4 feet.
The Danger of Drawstrings
Drawstrings can strangle a child if they get caught on playground equipment. One way to prevent this is to take the drawstrings of f the hoods and collars of your child’s jackets, shirts, and hats and shorten the drawstrings around the bottom of coats and jackets.
If you want to leave the drawstrings, you can either:
· Cut all the ends just short enough so that they tie
· Sew a seam at the middle of the hood, collar, or waistband to prevent either side from pulling out it caught on an object
The best way to prevent drawstrings from getting caught on anything is to choose clothing that does not have them.
What are safer surfaces?
Did you know that even a 1-foot fall onto asphalt or concrete can cause a fatal head injury? Or that a 4-foot fall onto packed earth or grass can also cause serious injury or death?
Safer surfaces make a serious or fatal head injury less likely to occur if a child falls. This is because such surfaces absorb the impact of a fall. Some examples of “safer surfaces” include:
· Sand (10 inches deep)
· Wood chips (12 inches deep)
· Rubber outdoor mat (follow manufactures’ instructions)
Sand and wood chips, which absorb impact, should be raked at least weekly to keep them soft. They also need refilling often to keep the correct depth.
No surface is totally safe. Many injuries are preventable, but they will sometimes occur even at the safest playgrounds and even with the best supervision. Be prepared to handle an injury if it does occur.
The information contained in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances
SAFETY FOR YOUR CHILD: 2 to 4 Years
Did you know that injuries are the leading cause of death of children younger than 4 years in the United States? Most of these injuries can be prevented.
Often, injuries happen because parents are not aware of what their children can do. Children learn fast, and before you know it your child will be jumping, running, riding a tricycle, and using tools. Your child is at special risk for injuries from falls, drowning, poisons, burns, and car crashes. Your child doesn't understand dangers or remember "no" while playing and exploring.
Falls
Because your child's abilities are so great now, he or she will find an endless variety of dangerous situations at home and in the neighborhood.
Your child can fall off play equipment, out of windows, down stairs, off a bike or tricycle, and off anything that can be climbed on. Be sure the surface under play equipment is soft enough to absorb a fall. Use safety tested mats or loose-fill materials (shredded rubber, sand, woodchips, or bark) maintained to a depth of at least 9 inches underneath play equipment. Install the protective surface at least 6 feet (more for swings and slides) in all directions from the equipment.
Lock the doors to any dangerous areas. Use gates on stairways and install operable window guards above the first floor. Fence in the play yard. If your child has a serious fall or does not act normally after a fall, call your doctor.
Firearm Hazards
Children in homes where guns are present are in more danger of being shot by themselves, their friends, or family members than of being injured by an intruder. It is best to keep all guns out of the home. If you choose to keep a gun, keep it unloaded and in a locked place, with ammunition locked separately. Handguns are especially dangerous. Ask if the homes where your child visits or is cared for have guns and how they are stored.
Burns
The kitchen can be a dangerous place for your child, especially when you are cooking. If your child is
underfoot, hot liquids, grease, and hot foods can spill on him or her and cause serious burns. Find something safe for your child to do while you are cooking.
Remember that kitchen appliances and other hot surfaces such as irons, ovens, wall heaters, and outdoor grills can burn your child long after you have finished using them.
If your child does get burned, immediately put cold water on the burned area. Keep the burned area in cold water for a few minutes to cool it off. Then cover the burn loosely with a dry bandage or clean cloth. Call your doctor for all burns. To protect your child from tap water scalds, the hottest temperature at the faucet should be no more than 120°F. In many cases you can adjust your hot water heater.