What You Need to Know About Iron Supplements for Kids

Growing children have many social, mental, emotional, and physical needs.

As a parent, you’re constantly seeking effective ways to meet these needs. You want your child to grow and thrive, ultimately transforming into a happy, healthy, and successful adult.

One of the most important things you do for your child is to provide proper nourishment. Your child’s body is in a constant state of growth and transformation.

Throughout this period, their body needs vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to thrive. Iron is one of many crucial minerals.

If your child’s pediatrician has expressed concern about your child’s iron level, you probably have lots of questions. So let’s dive into the basics of what you need to know about iron supplementation in children.

Requirements for Iron in Childhood

Iron requirements begin at birth and continue throughout life. Iron requirements are just as important for newborns as they are for teenagers, although children within both age groups will have significantly different daily requirements.

Here are the National Institutes of Health Recommended Daily Allowances for iron by age:

• Newborn to 6 Months - 0.27 mg daily
• Infants 7- to 12 Months - 11 mg daily
• 1 to 3 Years - 7 mg daily
• 4to 8 Years - 10 mg daily
• 9 to 13 Years - 8 mg daily
• 14 to 18 years - roughly 11 mg daily for boys, 15 mg daily for girls

Iron needs change with the developmental stage of a child’s life.

Special Considerations for Breastfed Babies

Breast milk contains little iron, which isn’t typically a problem because babies have enough iron stored in their bodies at birth to last about 4 months. However, their iron needs increase as they grow. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends supplementing partially or completely breastfed infants at 4months of age with oral iron until they start to eat iron-containing solid foods.

Your doctor may recommend iron supplementation earlier if you experienced pregnancy or delivery complications such as diabetes, low birth weight, or prematurity.

Signs of Iron Deficiency in Children

Iron deficiency can have both physical and cognitive symptoms. Some studies show that children with iron deficiency anemia may have poorer cognition and school achievement than nonanemic children. Research also shows children who experience iron deficiency as infants may go on to have poorer cognitive, motor, and social emotional function. Common symptoms of low iron in children are:

• Fatigue or excessive sleepiness
• Decreased appetite
• Pale skin
• Eating non-food items, known as pica
• Headaches or dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Sore tongue

Iron Needs May Change in Puberty

Girls may need more iron during puberty due to their menstrual cycles. Girls with heavier periods may require more iron than other girls.

While the average age for the onset of menstruation is around 12, it’s not unusual for girls to begin menstruating as early as age eight or as late as age 15. When menstruation starts, iron requirements for girls may fluctuate to levels outside of the chart of standard recommendations.

If you believe your child is having irregularly heavy periods and may require more iron, speak with their pediatrician.

Foods High in Iron

Ideally, children old enough to eat solid foods should be obtaining most of the vitamins and minerals they need through their diet. Unfortunately, allergies, food intolerances, picky eating, and plant-based diets may make it difficult for children to achieve their recommended daily values through meals.

Iron is abundant in red meat, poultry, and fish. It’s also found in beans, and to a lesser degree, leafy greens.

Fortified cereals almost always contain iron. Just be sure to avoid those high in sugar.

If your child eats a variety of whole foods, getting enough iron through diet alone may be possible

Preventing Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency is often preventable. Since vitamin C improves the body’s ability to utilize iron, adding more vitamin C into your child’s diet can help them make use of the iron they’re getting through their food intake.

Sometimes, supplementing vitamin C may be enough to help your child achieve healthy iron levels. However, dairy products may also inhibit natural iron absorption.

Children between the ages of one and five should not consume more than 24 ounces of milk a day. Milk can be healthy and beneficial to a growing child, but too much may lead to a dietary imbalance and decreased iron absorption.

When To Supplement Iron in Your Child’s Diet

Children should be screened for iron deficiency around their first birthday. At this time, your child’s pediatrician should be aware if your child has a deficiency.

Deficiencies can develop at any time, and if parents or medical care providers have concerns, testing is required to determine iron deficiency.

Consult with your pediatrician before starting an iron supplement to ensure it's necessary. High levels of iron can become toxic and cause side effects such as:

• Painful constipation
• Liver damage
• Irregularities with heart rhythm

Iron supplementation involves more than giving your child a multivitamin. Other steps to ensure your child gets enough iron include:

• Limit the amount of milk to 16-24 oz per day for 1- 5 year olds
• Serve iron-fortified cereals
• Serve iron-rich foods that contain vitamin C, such as broccoli, tomatoes, oranges, and strawberries

Your child’s pediatrician will explain the proper kind of iron supplement for your child, as well as the amount of iron it should contain and the frequency at which you should administer it.

Follow your pediatrician’s recommendations and keep a close eye on potential side effects.

Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are common side effects of high iron intake. Iron poisoning from accidental ingestion is unfortunately common in children, and is a medical emergency. Symptoms include severe gastrointestinal symptoms, drowsiness, irritability and rapid breathing and heart rate.

The Takeaway

Iron deficiency is a rare but serious problem that can negatively impact children in significant ways. Since iron requirements are much lower than the requirements for many other vitamins and minerals, many children are able to meet their daily values through the foods they eat.

Always check with your pediatrician before giving your child an iron supplement. While iron supplements make it easy to increase iron levels,too much iron may pose serious side effects that can harm your child’s health.

Even consumption of appropriate amounts of iron can cause mild side effects in some children, and if they do, you’ll need to work with your child’s pediatrician to reformulate your approach.