When should babies take iron supplements
Release time : 04/19/2025 09:30:02
Many parents don't know as much about iron supplementation for their babies as calcium supplementation for their babies. Parents are confused when to supplement iron, when to eat supplements, and when to supplement iron.
Babies can take iron supplements when they are in good health. So when they need iron supplements, what should they pay attention to when they need iron supplements? When will my baby get iron? Under normal circumstances, healthy newborns store a certain amount of iron in their bodies and do not need to replenish them.
However, between 6 months after birth and 3 years old, the high incidence of iron deficiency anemia in children is the age group. In addition, after 6 months, the iron "reserve" in the baby's body obtained from its mother has been almost used up. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to preventing the baby from developing iron deficiency anemia from 6 months old and start supplementing the baby with iron.
After a trace element test, if the baby has not yet developed iron deficiency, it is possible to prevent it through dietary supplementation.
First, breastfeeding is an important way for babies to get iron.
If breastfeeding is not possible, infants can receive iron-fortified formula milk.
Secondly, healthy babies can start to add iron-rich foods such as liver mash from the age of 4-6 months.
Thirdly, when babies enter the stage of preschool, it is also necessary to pay attention to reasonable combination of food in diet. Foods rich in iron, such as liver, lean meat and animal blood, are recommended.
Additionally, it is important to consume both meat and vegetables together.
If a baby is informed that they have mild anemia, it is still recommended to primarily rely on dietary supplements. If the anemia is more severe, it is best to follow the laboratory results and take iron supplements orally, as Daenin's right-handed sugar ferrous oral solution has a good taste and is currently the best medication for iron supplementation.
For infants who are underweight, there is a higher chance of iron deficiency.
Infants with low weight or premature births should start monitoring their iron levels in the blood and receive timely supplements.
Premature infants and low birth weight infants should receive iron supplements from two months after birth.
What does the baby take to supplement iron? If the baby is iron deficient, it will be anaemic.
Animal liver is a good food to supplement iron for your baby.
Liver food contains high iron content and good absorption rate. Babies can feed their babies some liver paste and various meat paste in moderation.
Animal liver: These foods are high in iron and are not prone to allergies. They are good for babies.
Among them, pig liver has the highest iron content, 29.1 mg per 100 mg, sheep liver is 17.9 mg, cow liver is 8.8 mg, and chicken liver has the lowest iron content, only 8.5 mg per 100 grams of chicken liver.
Egg Yolk: Egg yolk also contains a high amount of iron, although the absorption rate is relatively low. Despite this, it's delicious and more appealing to babies.
Blood jelly: A gelatinous mass formed by boiling animal blood.
Animal nutrition is also quite rich, although it may not look appetizing, but they have high iron content and a higher absorption rate.
100 grams of pig blood contains 260 milligrams of iron, equivalent to the iron content of pig liver.
Black fungus: 100g of black fungus contains iron 98mg, which is about 5 times higher than the highest iron content in animal foods, and 30 times higher than that in spinach.
However, black fungus has a low absorption rate and is not suitable for babies with weak intestines.
How much iron should the baby get? In fact, babies can get enough iron from breast milk at 4-6 months. But moms also need to continue to consume prenatal vitamins.
However, if your baby has already stopped drinking milk and is consuming formula, you should consider selecting a formula that strengthens the body and replenishes nutrition.
So, how much iron do babies need to supplement daily at different ages? Babies aged 6-12 months need 11 milligrams of iron per day.
Besides breast milk, infants should also consume some porridge or formula to strengthen their physique before they are one year old.
Children aged 1 to 12 years require an intake of 7 to 10 milligrams of vitamins per day.
If you're in your teen years, boys should be getting about 11 milligrams of iron daily, while girls should get about 15 milligrams.
Iron can be stored in the body. So if your baby eats more than he needs one day and then less the next, his body can make the necessary adjustments.
Additionally, it's important to remember that excessive iron supplementation can be harmful to the body.
When supplementing with iron for your baby, it's also important to include foods rich in Vitamin C. This is because Vitamin C helps to promote the absorption of iron, which increases the body's ability to absorb non-heme iron.
How long should a baby's iron supplementation last for their health? For healthy babies, iron supplementation is part of daily diet and dietary balance. It is important to ensure that there is enough iron in the body of the baby.
Infants from birth to 12 months require a daily intake of 10 mg of iron for normal body functions.
If the infant's diet is already adequate in iron and its absorption is good, it should not be considered a nutrient supplement.
If the baby has developed iron deficiency, it is necessary to take iron supplements under the guidance of a doctor.
Generally speaking, it is possible to improve iron deficiency within about one month.
However, the duration of supplementing iron with iron supplements for infants should be determined by a doctor's advice.
Early discontinuation may not achieve the iron supplementation effect, while late cessation can lead to iron overload and poisoning.
When it comes to baby iron supplementation, mothers must choose the right methods. It's not enough just to give the baby more iron; they won't avoid anemia.
When confronting picky eaters in children, it is essential to intervene promptly. One should not simply cater to their preferences as this will result in a lack of balanced nutrition, which hinders the healthy growth of the child.
Some mothers believe that simply feeding their baby rice or foods rich in protein is sufficient, but they fail to supplement the child with adequate iron. In fact, this approach not only fails to provide proper nutrition for the baby but may even lead to obesity.
Additionally, when breastfeeding mothers supplement iron for their babies, it's important to note that there is no need to supplement in excess.
If your baby is breastfed, you can choose to feed them a fortified formula or iron supplements.
If you are supplementing your baby's iron intake through food, it is also advisable to provide them with foods rich in Vitamin C.
If you're uncertain about whether your baby needs iron supplementation, you can observe their physical condition.
Deficiency in iron can lead to anemia in babies. Anemic babies may appear pale and lack color in their lips.
At this time, mothers can take their babies to the hospital for a health check-up. It is safer to supplement iron in a scientific manner according to the doctor's advice.
*The medical content mentioned in this text is for reference only.
In the event of discomfort, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately. For accurate diagnosis and treatment, please consult with a licensed medical practitioner in person.