Our Journey with Rickets: How Complivit Calcium D3 Changed Everything for Us

Hello fellow parents. If you're reading this review, chances are your little one's been struggling with a calcium deficiency and poor absorption. I wish I'd had this review and the info I gathered over the months when we first started calcium supplements. It's a shame we didn't start sooner - it's a real tear-jerker when you realize your doctors didn't know how crucial calcium supplements are for delayed bone formation.

My first experience with Complivit Calcium D3 for kids was a bit of a rollercoaster ride. We started giving our little one calcium supplements at around 9 months. We began with a dose of 5ml, and we stuck to that even when she turned a year old. When she hit 10kg, we bumped up the dose to 10ml.

Interestingly, we chose to give it to her in the evening, despite the fact that the supplement contains vitamin D3, which is usually recommended to be taken in the morning. But, we didn't experience any negative side effects.

Preparing the suspension is also shown in the photos. One thing I'll say upfront is that I've never managed to get it exactly right - the instructions don't specify the exact amount of water to use, and there's no clear indicator of how high the liquid should be filled. So, I end up using about 85ml of water, which gets me to the top of the bottle.

It's really important to shake the bottle well before each use, and to store the prepared suspension in the fridge for no more than 20 days.

Here's the instruction manual for your reference.

Complivit Calcium D3 for babies. Packaging and filling

I've got to say, the packaging is top-notch! My little ones just love the cute chicken design, and they're always asking me to give them this suspension just because of the yellow friend. I mean, who can resist a friendly face?

The contents of the box are pretty straightforward – a glass bottle, instruction manual, and a measuring spoon.

To be honest, I'm a bit confused about why the measuring spoon has 2.5 mL markings when the recommended dosage is 5 or 10 mL.

Adding water isn't a hassle, though – the bottle opening is wide enough, and you can easily see the liquid level. Plus, measuring out the correct dose is a breeze, and you won't spill a drop. The spoon itself has a comfortable design, making it easy for little ones to take their medicine without a fuss.

I've got to say, the smell of this Complivit calcium D3 for little ones is pretty pleasant. It's got a slightly citrusy vibe and, of course, a hint of calcium.

As for the consistency, after storing it in the fridge for a while, it separates and you get these small calcium clumps. That's exactly why you need to give it a good shake. Once you do, the suspension becomes smooth and white.

My kid and I both loved the taste - it's sweet, but not too sweet. The calcium flavor is really noticeable, but it doesn't faze the kid. Swallowing it doesn't irritate the throat, and it doesn't leave a weird taste. There's no strong urge to grab a drink. By the way, you can add the suspension to oatmeal. My kid used to hate oatmeal, but now she loves it with the calcium.

At two months, we had an ultrasound and found out that our baby's hip joints weren't developing properly. We were immediately sent to an orthopedist, who diagnosed uneven folds, one leg being shorter, and poor knee alignment in the frog pose. We were then sent for an X-ray, which confirmed the diagnosis: bilateral hip dysplasia with delayed ossification. The treatment plan included massage, exercise, and positioning therapy with a Frei's pillow. I called around to orthopedic clinics and managed to find one that sold the pillow. I also scheduled a massage appointment and explained our situation to the therapist. She assured me that massage and exercise would fix the issue, and the angles weren't that severe. I spent a few days reading up on the topic at the children's hospital, and everyone there was saying that the orthopedist was overdiagnosing hip dysplasia and that we should get a second opinion from a specialist in the regional clinic. I decided to stick with the exercise program, complete the massage course, and visit the regional clinic. Over the next two months, I did a ton of research on our situation.

Our experience with the orthopedist was already a sure thing – we were convinced they'd diagnose and fix the issue. But when they redid the X-ray, it was still dysplasia. No improvement in sight!

We were already big on the idea of a frame support, and the doctor just went ahead and prescribed a Vielen's shunt for three months with follow-up checks.

Tracking down this device was a nightmare. We couldn't find it anywhere in our city – it was like it didn't exist. We could've bought it on the black market, but we decided against it. Luckily, one store had it in stock.

The price was a whopping 3700 rubles for a three-month supply.

I remember that day like it was yesterday – every detail is etched in my memory. When I left the orthopedist's office, the whole world just stopped moving. It was worse than death – I felt so helpless, hurt, scared, and confused. I was shattered, in shock, but determined to heal my child.

As I write this, I've got a lump in my throat. I kept staring at the shunt and my little one, just sobbing and crying – I had no idea why this was happening to my child.

During the four-hour drive home, I watched countless videos of kids with Vielen's shunts, and I just lost it. It was like I was crying for those kids, and for my own – I was terrified for my little one, knowing she was about to go through the same thing.

Here's our first photo with the shunt.

I have to admit, when I was putting her in the orthopedic device, I was trying to put on a brave face. When I was carrying her home, I was pretending everything was fine too. But as soon as I got home, it hit me. And my daughter was completely calm the whole time. Like nothing had happened. Like it was meant to be.

We took her to the doctor three months in a row and ran to get an X-ray as fast as we could.

At 7 months, compared to 4 months there was no displacement at all!!!!

And they told me that hip dysplasia can only be treated with positioning.

I also learned that it's impossible to cure DPTB until the ossification centers have fully developed. And, unfortunately, treatment through positioning doesn't help much with that process. So, what can we do? These ossification centers are made of calcium, so we need to get more calcium to them.

So, we started giving our little one calcium D3 supplements.

And, after a month, we accidentally saw the ossification center on the X-ray.

I've been taking my kid to the doctor for 10 months now, and it's crazy to see how much they've developed since birth. The next X-ray was at 1 year old, and look at the results! We can already see two growth plates, and they're starting to take shape. Of course, the roofs are a bit slanted, and the angles are pretty steep. But the progress is huge.

The next X-ray was at 1.3 years old, and we're seeing improvements. We've been giving them calcium supplements according to the doctor's schedule - one month on, one month off.

The next X-ray was at 1.8 years old. Now we're not only giving them calcium, but also doing electrophoresis with it. And guess what? We're seeing progress. The growth plates are starting to close, and the roofs are getting more even. We've been doing regular massages and exercises, and even visited the pool. Our orthopedist says, 'almost healthy!' We're on the final stretch, and it's all thanks to calcium! And let's not forget the orthotics - they've made a huge difference, as calcium alone can't make the legs even.

I'm so glad I chose Complivit Calcium D3 for kids. My experience with it has been amazing!

I noticed some more positives after extended use:

Quick tooth eruption. It just so happened that the calcium intake coincided with the peak calcium absorption in my daughter's body. By 1.5 years, all her teeth had erupted with minimal issues.Her hair started growing actively. Before taking calcium, she had almost no hair. Within a year, we decided to get rid of the baby hair. The fastest hair growth coincided with the calcium intake. Now, her hair is growing thicker and fuller in both length and density.Her nails also became thicker and grew faster.I didn't notice any negative impact or side effects.My take on Complivit Calcium D3 for babies. Final verdict

I want to say a huge thank you for creating this product. The calcium intake has turned things around for us, and we're seeing significant improvements in my daughter's health.

I have to admit, I was terrified at the thought of not giving my little one the calcium she needs. Later, I managed to find a good pediatrician, who just so happened to be in a different town. And she immediately said we needed to get calcium for her. Now I'm thrilled to see my little one developing at an incredible pace, surpassing her peers in no time. We're still giving her calcium, and we'll continue to do so until her bones are fully developed. I'd recommend this supplement to anyone who's in need of it, and I'll say it again - it really works.