1. How many mg of calcium does a toddler per day? Tums is an adequate source, correct?

2. For break-through reflux pain, how many Tums per day is too many?

My daughter is on15mg Prevacid solutab taken once daily at bedtime. We transitioned her last week from Alimentum to water and Tums as a calcium source. I've been giving her 3-4 a day to both supply calcium and to try to stop the 3 clockwork nighttime crying wake-ups. I give her 1 Tums in the morning and 2 at bedtime. They don't seem to make much difference and her GI (saw him today) won't up her dose of Prevacid. I forgot to ask him how many Tums was too many. Thanks.

HI, RDA IS 400MG/DAY FOR UNDER 6 MONTHS, 600 MG/DAY 6-12 MONTHS, 800 MG/DAY FOR 1-10 YRS. ADEQUATE INTAKE IS SLIGHTLY LESS, BUT YOU SHOULD SHOOT FOR THE RDA. TUMS IS FINE BUT KEEP IT AWAY FROM THEIR REACH IN CASE THEY TAKE A LIKING TO IT. TO MUCH IS NOT GOOD.
THERE ARE A FEW TYPES OF TUMS BUT THE REGULAR STRENGTH IS 200 MG ELEMENTAL CALCIUM EACH TAB. SO YOU CAN COMPARE TO THE NUMBERS ABOVE. KEEP IN MIND ANY OTHER SOURCES THEY MAY TAKE IN. IF YOU ARE GIVING THREE OR MORE A DAY REGULARLY IN COMBINATIN WITH CALCIUM IN THE DIET, LET THE DOCTOR KNOW.
WHAT YOU NEED TO TRY IS ADD RANITIDINE AT BEDTIME AND HOLD ON THE TUMS AT BEDTIME. IF THIS HANDLES THINGS AT NIGHT AND YOU NEED SOME EXTRA HELP DURING THE DAY, THEN MAYBE TALK TO THE DR ABOUT PREVACID IN THE AM BEFORE BREAKFAST. DON'T GET ME WRONG, ANTACIDS CERTAINLY HAVE THERE PLACE IN GERD BUT THEY WEREN'T MEANT TO LAST ALL NIGHT.
THANKS, GRAHAM Ph.C.