Symptoms Of Iron Deficiency In Babies

Newborn babies start off with 500 mg of iron in their bodies and thereafter must get enough iron in their diets to maintain levels required for normal growth and development. In the November 2010 issue of "Pediatrics," the American Academy of Pediatrics established recommended dietary allowances for iron of 11 mg per day for babies 7 to 12 months old and 7 mg daily for children ages 1 to 3. If babies don't get enough iron, they may develop a deficiency between the ages of 9 and 24 months.

Deficiency Symptoms

Symptoms of iron deficiency in babies include pale skin and pale or bluish whites of the eyes, loss of appetite, fatigue, irritability, shortness of breath and blood in the stool. Symptoms are more severe is iron deficiency leads to anemia, or low levels of iron in the blood. The longer a baby has been iron deficient, or the more severe the anemia, the worse the symptoms.

Risk Factors

Some babies are at higher risk of developing symptoms of iron deficiency. These include premature and underweight infants, babies who experience unusually rapid growth, babies who are given cow's milk before the age of 12 months or who are formula-fed but do not receive iron-fortified formula or other sources of iron, and babies who are breast-fed but do not get iron from other sources after 6 months.

Iron Sources

Although iron-fortified formula is a good source of iron for babies, breast milk contains a form of iron that is easier for babies to absorb. Other good sources of iron for babies, once they begin to eat solid food, include iron-fortified baby cereals, meats and poultry, fish, eggs and legumes, such as dried beans and lentils. Oatmeal and leafy green vegetables such as kale and spinach also provide iron.

Treatment

In addition to feeding your baby iron-rich foods, treatment for iron deficiency may include a liquid iron supplement. Your pediatrician can test your baby's iron levels and recommend a supplement, if necessary. To treat iron-deficiency anemia, your baby may have to take iron supplements for several months to rebuild iron stores in his body.

Outcome

Left untreated, iron deficiency in babies that leads to anemia can have a negative affect on intelligence and behavior. Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in babies is also associated with lead poisoning. With appropriate screening and treatment, however, symptoms should subside and, in most cases, a positive outcome can be expected, according to University of Maryland Medical Center.