Iron is an essential nutrient that infants need to make proteins that help form red blood cells, which carry oxygen in the body. Iron deficiency can be a serious problem for infants and toddlers and may lead to fatigue, irritability, dizziness, a rapid heart rate and developmental delays, notes the Nemours Foundation's KidsHealth website. But infants also can suffer serious health problems if too much iron is ingested, leading to iron toxicity.
Considerations
In some cases, pediatricians may recommend that breast-fed infants be given iron-fortified infant cereals beginning around 6 months of age. Although breast milk contains easily absorbed iron, breast-fed infants may become deficient in iron if they do not consume additional amounts. Making sure an infant receives no more than a pediatrician's recommended dose of iron is important in preventing iron toxicity. In most cases, infants fed an age-appropriate diet do not need to be given iron supplements.
Toxicity
Typically in infants and toddlers, iron-deficiency anemia is more common than iron toxicity. But iron toxicity may occur if a child is given iron supplements in excess or if a child finds and ingests iron-containing products. Such products include over-the-counter or prescription adult multivitamins, prenatal vitamins and iron supplements.
Warning
In infants who ingest excess iron, the iron can accumulate in body tissues. This is especially risky for those with a condition called hemachromatosis, who already have high amounts of iron stores in their body. Iron toxicity can cause death in infants. According to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements, death has occurred in children who have ingested 200 mg of iron.
Symptoms
Iron overload causes skin discoloration, liver damage, gastrointestinal tract destruction, vomiting and bloody diarrhea, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements notes that ingesting high doses of iron-containing supplements is associated with constipation as well.
Recommendations
An adequate intake of iron for infants up to 6 months old is 0.27 mg per day. For infants 7 to 12 months of age, the recommended dietary allowance is 11 mg per day. Toddlers ages 1 to 3 should get 7 mg per day. The recommended maximum for infants 7 to 12 months old is 40 mg per day.
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