Calcium recommendations

Calcium recommendations

The food your child eats is the best source of calcium because calcium absorbed from food is more readily absorbed by the body.

The recommended guidelines for calcium your child needs every day are:

Age Calcium your child needs

1 to 3 years

700 milligrams

4 to 5 years

1,000 milligrams

Source: National Institutes of Health (Office of Dietary Supplements)

Ways to get more calcium into your child's diet:

  • Offer milk with meals or use as a snack.
  • Offer calcium-fortified juices, cereals or granola bars.
  • Try different types of cheeses (such as mozzarella or colby).
  • Offer yogurt or frozen yogurt as a snack.
  • Sprinkle grated cheese on salads, soups and casseroles.

Examples of foods that contain calcium:

  • fruit yogurt (1 cup) - 345 mg
  • skim milk (1 cup) - 302 mg
  • pizza (1 slice) - 220 mg
  • mozzarella cheese (1 ounce) - 207 mg
  • spinach (one-half cup, cooked) - 120 mg
  • ice cream (one-half cup) - 83 mg
  • parmesan cheese (1 tablespoon) - 69 mg
  • broccoli (one-half cup, cooked) - 35 mg

Source: Allina Health's Patient Education, Guide for the Care of Children: Ages Birth to 5, sixth edition, ped-ah-91554
First Published: 02/01/2010
Last Reviewed: 11/16/2022