Early symptoms of rickets in children Pediatric rickets refers to a disease caused by lack of vitamin D, leading to skeletal dysplasia. It is common in infancy and early childhood. The following are the early symptoms of rickets in children: 1. Shaking their heads. Children with rickets often shake their heads when walking, showing an unstable gait. This is because their bones are damaged and cannot provide stable support. 2. Muscle weakness: Children with rickets usually have a certain degree of muscle weakness and slow movements.