Iron for Kids

 

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.