The body needs iron in order to make hemoglobin, an iron-containing protein in the red blood cells (RBCs). Hemoglobin helps your blood carry oxygen and deliver it to all of your other cells. Without hemoglobin, the body will stop producing healthy RBCs. Without enough iron, your child’s muscles, tissues, and cells won’t get the oxygen they need.
Breast-fed babies have their own iron stores and usually get enough iron from their mother’s milk for the first 6 months, while bottle-fed infants typically receive a formula fortified with iron. But when your older infant switches to eating more solid foods, they might not be eating enough iron-rich foods. This puts them at risk for iron-deficiency anemia.
Iron deficiency can hamper your child’s growth. It may also cause:
learning and behavioral issues
social withdrawal
delayed motor skills
muscle weakness
Iron is also important for the immune system, so not getting enough iron may lead to more infections, more colds, and more bouts of the flu.
Some children are at a higher risk of iron deficiency and may need to take a supplement. The following circumstances could put your child at higher risk for an iron deficiency:
picky eaters who aren’t eating regular, well-balanced meals
children eating a mostly vegetarian or vegan diet
medical conditions that prevent the absorption of nutrients, including intestinal diseases and chronic infections
low birth weight and premature infants
children born to mothers who were deficient in iron
kids who drink too much cow’s milk
exposure to lead
young athletes who exercise often
older children and young teenagers going through rapid growth during puberty
adolescent girls who lose blood during menstruation
How Much Iron Does My Child Need?
Iron is a very important nutrient for a rapidly growing toddler. The recommended daily requirements for iron vary by age:
ages 1 to 3 years: 7 milligrams per day
ages 4 to 8 years: 10 milligrams per day
Too much iron can be toxic. Children under age 14 shouldn’t take more than 40 milligrams a day.
