From birth to 3 years old, your baby will experience spectacular growth. His diet will play a big role in his development. To accompany it, certain minerals will thus be essential for it to grow well. By following a balanced diet, your child should
His role ? Essential for bone growth and dental mineralization
Where to find it? Dairy products cover 60 to 80% of intake (milk, yogurt, fromage blanc, petit suisse, fresh cream, etc.)
What are baby’s daily calcium needs? A baby over 6 months needs at least 500 ml of milk or equivalent.
Fluorine
His role ? It reinforces thetooth enamel in children, therefore making the teeth less vulnerable to decay. It reinforces theosteogenesis.
Where to find it? Mainly milk and drinking water, also tea, salt water fish and certain vegetables (e.g. carrots)
What are baby’s daily fluoride needs? In France, the recommended doses are 0.25 mg from 6 months to 3 years, 0.5 mg between 3 and 6 years and 1 mg between 6 years and 12 years. Tap water is not enriched with fluoride in France; thus, more should be given in the form of drops or tablets.
His role ? It ensures a good balance of the nervous and muscular systems.
Where to find it? In pulses, dried fruits, cereals, wholemeal bread, seafood, chocolate and certain fortified infant milks.
What are Baby’s daily magnesium requirements? between 1 and 3 years, magnesium requirements are 80 mg/d.
The iron
His role ? It allows the synthesis of red blood cells as well as the proper functioning of cellular metabolism. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia.
Where to find it? Pulses, certain green vegetables such as spinach, red meats and organ meats, eggs and chocolate…and iron-enriched growing-up milks.)
What are baby’s daily iron needs? Between 8 to 10 mg until the age of 10 years.
Zinc
His role ? He in plays a role in growth, immunity, digestion and brain development.
Where to find it? Milk, red meat, then white meat, poultry, fish.
What are baby’s daily zinc needs? 5 mg up to 1 year, and 10 mg between 1 and 10 years.
Iodine
His role ? It is involved in thyroid function.
Where to find it? Mainly seafood, but also milk, eggs, meat and cereals.
What are Baby’s daily iodine requirements? 40 to 50 ug up to 1 year, and 70 to 120 ug between 1 and 10 years.