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Adequate iron intake is important for everyone, but it is especially important for infants and children. Iron deficiency anemia is the most prevalent nutritional problem in childhood. Anemia due to iron deficiency may cause fatigue, irritability, and shortened attention span. Iron is needed to carry oxygen in the blood; this is why an iron deficiency makes you tired. You become fatigued because your brain and muscles aren’t getting enough oxygen to perform well. Poor iron intake may also affect intelligence; the brain may suffer from the lowered levels of oxygen it gets due to lack of iron. The only way to avoid iron deficiency and the anemia that follows is to get adequate iron in the diet or to supplement the diet with a doctor-recommended vitamin compound containing iron. Dietary iron is needed to maintain an adequate oxygen level in the blood. It is difficult to get enough iron into the diets of infants and children, fortunately most formulas and infant and child cereals are fortified with iron. It is important that you use iron-fortified foods to increase your child’s iron intake. § Do not use a low iron formula. Your baby needs the iron for brain growth and development. § Only feed your infant the infant cereal until they start eating more solid foods. Infant cereal* is higher in iron than regular cereals. § In older children make sure they get the following foods in the diet: cereal*, meat*, fish*, poultry*, legumes, fortified or whole-grain wheat products, and fruits and vegetables. § Do not use iron supplements that are in a charcoal form, these can be toxic. Only use a supplement recommended by your physician. *indicates an excellent source of iron, increase these foods in the diet of an iron deficient child. Source: Christian, J. Nutrition for Living. New York: Benjamin/Cummings Publishing, 1994. For further information on iron and children try these web sites: http://www.phys.com/b_nutrition/01self_analysis/02_iron_req_young.htm http://www.pathfinder.com/Parentime/Health/anemia.html ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Return to Child Nutrition |
