Iron is an important nutrient for all ages, but especially for children, as it assists with development and growth. Some children do not get enough iron in their diet, and this can result in a deficiency. If it remains at low levels, this can interfere with a child’s cognitive and physical health as well as baby gut health.
Fortunately, there are a number of signs that you may notice that indicate your child has low levels of iron in the body.
What is an Iron Deficiency?
Iron is needed to move oxygen throughout the body, and it also helps with oxygen storage and use in the muscles.
If a child does not get enough iron from the diet or baby multivitamin drops, this causes a drop in the levels of iron, which is also called a deficiency. Iron deficiency in children is not uncommon, and it can range from mild deficiency to anaemia.
Causes, Symptoms & Treatments
Although a lack of iron in the diet is a cause of deficiency, there are certain risk factors that increase the chances that a child will be deficient.
It is more common in those who were premature or of low birth weight. Drinking cow’s milk before the age of one, drinking formula that is not fortified with iron, and drinking breast milk after the age of six months without iron supplementation are also risk factors.
Additional risk factors include lead exposure, growth spurts, obesity, chronic health conditions, blood loss, and G-I tract abnormalities.
Drinking too much milk, whether it is cow, soy, or goat, can also result in iron deficiency. Children who are five and younger should not drink more than 24 ounces of milk a day.
Iron deficiency can also occur if the child does not get enough vitamin C. This vitamin helps the body absorb iron, so children should eat food sources of vitamin C, such as strawberries, citrus fruits, bell peppers, dark green veggies, and tomatoes.
There are certain signs and symptoms of iron deficiency:
- Slowed growth and development
- Chronic weakness or fatigue
- Skin paleness
- Increased heart rate and rapid breathing
- Cravings for non-nutritive items like dirt, starch, ice, and paint
If a parent suspects their child is deficient in iron, a simple blood test can diagnose the issue.
Treating an iron deficiency is usually easy to do. Wellements® organic iron drops or other daily supplement will help, and taking them on an empty stomach will increase absorption. Deficiency can also be treated by eating foods rich in iron, which include:
- Beef
- Turkey
- Eggs
- Shrimp
- Tuna
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Sweet potatoes
- Strawberries
- Raisins
- Tomato products
- Dried beans
Remember to increase vitamin C to ensure the iron gets absorbed. Another thing that can interfere with iron absorption is giving iron at the same time as milk.
Depending on how long the body has been deficient in iron, and the severity of the issue, it can take some time for levels to return to normal. For some children it may take up to six months.
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