Table of Contents
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Complications
- Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Dietary Factors
- Treatment
- Resources
- References
Preventing Anemia in Infants and Small Children
The main source of iron for an infant from birth to 1 year of age is from breast milk, iron-fortified infant formula, or cereal.
Breastfeeding and Iron-Supplemented Formulas. Mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed their babies for their first year. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusively breastfeeding for a minimum of 4 months, but preferably 6 months, then gradually adding solid foods while continuing to breastfeed until at least the baby’s first birthday. Because human breast milk contains very little iron, the AAP recommends that full-term healthy infants receive a daily oral iron supplement of 1 mg/kg beginning at age 4 months and continuing until iron-rich complementary foods, such as iron-fortified cereals, are introduced. Preterm infants who are breastfed should receive an iron supplement of 2 mg/kg by the time they are 1 month old.
Infants who are not breastfed should receive iron-fortified formulas (4 - 12 mg/L for their first year of life. Parents should discuss the best formula with their doctor. The AAP does not recommend cow’s milk for children under 1 year old. The baby will begin drinking less formula or breast milk once solid foods become a source of nutrition. At 8 - 12 months of age, a baby will be ready to try strained or finely chopped meats. When cereals are begun, they should be iron fortified.
Recommendations for Toddlers. Toddlers who did not have iron supplements during infancy should be checked for iron deficiency. After the first year, children should be given a varied diet that is rich in sources of iron, B vitamins, and vitamin C. Good sources of iron include iron-fortified grains and cereals, egg yolks, red meat, potatoes (cooked with skin on), tomatoes, molasses, and raisins. Milk does not contain enough iron and can decrease children's appetite for iron-rich foods. Toddlers older than 1 year should not drink more than 2 cups of milk a day. Fruits that are rich in vitamin C can help boost iron absorption. Most children will receive adequate iron from a well-balanced diet, but some toddlers may benefit from liquid supplements or chewable multivitamins.
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Review Date: 01/13/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
