Calcium, this essential nutrient in our babies' diet.

If milk has a daily place in our little ones' bottles, it's for good reason, no ma'am! Milk (skimmed, semi-skimmed, infant), yogurt, and cheese all contain calcium. Other foods like spinach, cabbage, and sesame seeds are also excellent sources of calcium. And you'll see just how important this element, calcium, is for the healthy development of our little ones.

What is the purpose of Calcium?

Once absorbed by the body, calcium is deposited in the bones, giving them strength and resilience. Did you know that the human skeleton renews itself 3 to 4 times in a lifetime? Indeed, bones are living tissues, and for them to regenerate properly, they need calcium.

But in addition to being essential for our children's bone growth, calcium has many other, lesser-known properties. Calcium doesn't just bind to bones; it also circulates in the blood vessels. However, the level of calcium in the blood must remain constant because it helps regulate many things: blood pressure, nerve impulse transmission, blood clotting, and hormonal functions.

Where can I find Calcium?

All these properties are amazing! But the human body cannot produce its own Calcium... In order for our babies to grow up big and strong, we must therefore provide them with Calcium through their diet, and for this, nature has many resources.

Did you know that calcium isn't found ONLY in dairy products? While dairy products do contain the most easily absorbed form of calcium for our bodies, fish, oilseeds (sesame, sunflower, etc.), legumes (flageolet beans, lentils, beans, etc.), certain fruits (oranges, blackberries, rhubarb, etc.), nuts, and green vegetables like spinach and cabbage also contain it. So there's no excuse for our little ones not getting their daily dose of calcium and a colorful plate of food!

Which dairy product is right for my baby?

You're probably already familiar with introducing solid foods and know that you can easily incorporate green vegetables and certain calcium-rich fruits mentioned earlier. However, dairy products require more caution, as not all of them can be given to your baby right from the start.

Is your baby less than 4 months old?

He therefore still feeds almost exclusively on milk. Breast milk will always be the best option, but breastfeeding is unfortunately not always possible. In this case, rely on infant formula , which is formulated to meet the needs of each age.

Has your baby celebrated their 4th month and started weaning?

As you know, breast milk or formula remains very important during the weaning phase. During this period, your little one should still consume 500ml per day. But from 4 to 6 months, you can start introducing dairy products made for babies. Is your little one already a fan of Good Fruit Pouches ? Then they'll most certainly love Good Goût stirred yogurts !

But what about other dairy products?

Yogurt can be given to your baby from 6 months old. You can add fruit to their yogurt (in pieces or puréed), but make sure your little one has already tasted the fruit separately. However, be careful to avoid fruit yogurts that you yourself consume, as these are often too sweet for your baby and do not meet the requirements for infant nutrition (nutritional balance, contaminants, etc.).

You can also introduce cheese to your baby around this time . Start with soft cheeses (such as ricotta, for example) that are easy to feed with a spoon. Later, you can offer slightly firmer cheeses.

Why give dairy products that are preferably high in fat (like whole milk)?

During the first years of life, your baby needs nutrients rich in iron and fatty acids, so full-fat dairy products are the most suitable for providing these essential nutrients. While there is no contraindication to giving semi-skimmed milk, you should absolutely not give your child raw milk.

To learn more and become an expert on baby dairy products, we invite you to discover this other article written by us!

Important notice: Breast milk is the ideal and natural food for infants.

Sources:

Dairy Products "Calcium": http://www.produits-laitiers.com/alimentation-et-sante/apports-nutritionnels/calcium/

Health Passport "Calcium": http://www.passeportsante.net/fr/Solutions/PlantesSupplements/Fiche.aspx?doc=calcium_ps

Eat Move "Breastfeeding or Infant Formula": http://www.mangerbouger.fr/pour-qui-242/enfants/la-periode-d-allaitement-0-6-mois/le-lait-en-exclusivite/allaitement-ou-laits-infantiles.html

Eat Move "The 1st stage of weaning (4-8 months)": http://www.mangerbouger.fr/pour-qui-242/enfants/la-phase-de-diversification-6-mois-3-ans/bien-manger-57/la-1ere-etape-de-diversification-4-mois-8-mois.html