Signs Of Iron Deficiency In Infants

Iron is an essential mineral your infant needs to grow and develop normally. Feeding your infant a low-iron formula or cow's milk too early can lead to iron deficiency, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Consult your pediatrician about iron and a healthy diet that will ensure adequate iron intake for your infant.

Iron

Iron is essential to ensure your infant is getting enough oxygen. Iron is a part of hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen in the blood, and myoglobin, a protein that stores oxygen in the muscle tissue. Iron is also needed for several other essential functions, including DNA synthesis and enzyme function. If your infant is not getting enough iron from food, she may develop iron deficiency.

Iron Deficiency

Symptoms of iron deficiency include weakness, fatigue, pale skin and shortness of breath, all related to the lack of oxygen in your infant's body. In addition, iron deficiency can cause poor appetite, irritability, inflammation of the tongue, inability to maintain body temperature, infections, irregular heartbeat and behavioral problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that infants 7 to 12 months old get 11 mg of iron every day to prevent deficiency.

Anemia

Severe iron deficiency can lead to anemia. Anemia is a condition characterized by decreased levels of hemoglobin present in the red blood cells. When this happens, blood is not able to carry enough oxygen for all the cells and tissues of the body. Besides iron deficiency, anemia can also occur due to folic acid deficiency, decreased red blood cell production or destruction of the red blood cells. Symptoms of anemia are generally the same as those of iron deficiency. In addition, your infant may have decreased pinkness around the eyes, lips and under the nails, and swelling of the feet and hands. Your pediatrician can easily diagnose iron-deficiency anemia with a simple blood test. This is typically done between 9 and 12 months of age.

Prevention

Iron deficiency is caused by inadequate dietary intake of iron. If you are breastfeeding your infant, you do not have to give additional iron supplements before the age of 6 months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Continue breastfeeding and start feeding your infant solid foods that contain iron after 6 months of age. If you are giving your infant formula, make sure you switch to iron-fortified formula at the age of 4 months. Infants younger than 4 months have enough iron from birth. Use a formula that contains between 4 and 12 mg of iron. Do not give your infant cow's milk before 1 year of age. It is low in iron, and the iron present is poorly absorbed.