Calcium rich foods to prepare your baby for his first steps

It’s important to make sure your baby gets plenty of calcium in his diet to help both his teeth and bones become strong as he grows.

Your baby’s daily calcium needs

The Adequate Intake (AI) of calcium for babies in Canada from birth until twelve months is 270mg a day. But how much calcium can be found in ordinary foods?

• 40 grams of fruit yoghurt contain 48mg of calcium.
• A 40 gram slice of cheddar cheese contains 296mg of calcium.

Calcium rich dairy foods

Yogurts, whole milk cheeses like cheddar, milkshakes are pleasant tasting dairy foods which also contain calcium. Check labels; different dairy products contain different amounts of calcium.

Non-dairy foods which contain calcium

If your baby has a milk allergy or simply doesn’t enjoy dairy foods, vegetables like Brussels sprouts, peas, broccoli and spinach are all good sources of calcium. Other good non-dairy sources include salmon, sardines and tofu.

Worried about your baby’s diet?

If you’re concerned about the amount of calcium in your baby’s diet, talk to your GP.