Find out what causes iron deficiency in children, how to recognize it and how to prevent it.
Why Iron is important for children?
Iron is a nutrient essential to your child’s growth and development. Iron helps to move oxygen from the lungs to the other parts of body. If your child does not receive enough Iron in his diet he will have Iron deficiency.
What are the risk factors of Iron Deficiency?
- Premature babies
- Babies who drink cow’s milk before 1-year of age.
- Breast feed babies who are not given complementary foods containing Iron after age 6m.
- Children with chronic disease, malabsorption recurrent infection.
What are the signs and symptoms?
- Pale skin
- Fatigue
- Poor appetite
- Behavior problems
- Unusual cravings for non nutrive substances
How can Iron deficiency prevented?
- Provide severe iron rich foods to the babies between 4-6 months such as Iron fortified baby cereals for older child, red meat, chicken, fish and green leafy vegetable.
- Don’t allow your child to drink more than 700 ml daily between ages 1-5 years old.
Enhance iron absorption by giving food rich in vitamin C such as citrus fruits, strawberries and tomato. Consult our pediatrician for more info.
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