Dietary supplements should never be given to children without consulting a qualified pediatrician.
Iron deficiency, also known as anemia, can be a serious medical condition. Iron is essential to the body's production of hemoglobin, the compound responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body's tissues. Appropriate use of an iron supplement can be beneficial to pediatric health. Failure to get enough iron can lead to oxygen deprivation, causing diminished motor skills, mental capacity and behavioral maturity. An overdose of iron can lead to learning and behavioral disabilities, and increased risk of lead poisoning.
Instructions
1. Consult a physician. Blood tests should be done to test for anemia, and to determine the degree of iron deficiency. You should never start young children on a vitamin regimen without consulting their doctor.
2. Select a supplement. Children who cannot chew pills or swallow pills whole should take a liquid supplement. Look at the type of iron in the supplement. The body can process and absorb ferrous iron sources more completely than ferric iron.
3. Give an age-appropriate dose. Children between ages 6 months and 12 months need 11 milligrams of iron a day. Children between 1 and 12 years need seven to 10 milligrams of iron a day. Teenage boys need 11 milligrams a day, and teenage girls require 15 milligrams a day. Extremely active children may need additional iron. Your doctor should advise a specific dose to meet your child's individual needs.
4. Give the iron supplement with a natural source of vitamin C. Foods such as citrus fruits, bell peppers and strawberries will help the body absorb the iron.
5. Store iron supplements between 59 and 86 degrees to prevent spoilage.
6. Have the child's blood iron levels retested after three months and six months. Supplementation is often not necessary long term.
Tips Warnings
Do not give the iron supplement within two hours of an oral antibiotic. The iron may make the antibiotic less effective.
If intestinal upset occurs, give the supplement with a small meal.
Iron overdose is the leading source of poisoning leading to fatality in children under the age of 6. Contact poison control immediately if you suspect your child has consumed an excessive dose of iron.
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