- + Infants who are breastfed tend to get enough iron from their mothers until 4 to 6 months of age, when iron-fortified cereal is usually introduced (although breastfeeding mothers should continue to take prenatal vitamins). Infants who are formula-fed should get iron-fortified formula
- + Infants ages 6 to 12 months need 11 milligrams of iron a day. Babies younger than 1 year should be given iron-fortified cereal in addition to breast milk or an infant formula supplemented with iron.
- + Kids ages 1 to 12 years need 7 to 10 milligrams of iron each day.
- + Adolescent boys should be getting 11 milligrams of iron a day and adolescent girls should be getting 15 milligrams. (Adolescence is a time of rapid growth and teen girls need additional iron to replace what they lose from their bodies monthly when they begin menstruating.)
- +Young athletes who regularly engage in intense exercise tend to lose more iron and may require extra iron in their diets
Iron deficiency can affect a child's growth and may lead to learning and behavioral problems. And it can progress to iron-deficiency anemia , a condition in which there's a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the body.
Many people with iron-deficiency anemia don't have any signs and symptoms because the body's iron supply is depleted slowly. But as the anemia progresses, some of the following symptoms may appear:
- + fatigue and weakness
+ pale skin and mucous membranes
+ rapid heartbeat or a new heart murmur (detected in an exam by your child's doctor)
+ irritability
+ decreased appetite
+ dizziness or a feeling of being lightheaded
If your child has any of these symptoms, talk to your child's doctor; he or she may do a simple blood test to find out if your child has iron-deficiency anemia and may prescribe iron supplements. However, because excessive iron intake can also cause health problems, you should never give your child iron supplements without first consulting your child's doctor.
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