Iron supplements for babies, which kind is safe?

Many parents have a habit of adding iron to their baby with functional foods for fear that their child lacks this trace element, leading to anemia. However, many people do not know how to choose the right iron supplement and how to use it for their children to avoid harm. 

Iron "who" is so important to children?

The human body, whether adults or children, requires iron. This mineral helps the body make hemoglobin (also known as hemoglobin), an iron-containing protein in red blood cells (RBCs). Hemoglobin contains iron (Fe ++) which can be oxidized, so it helps to carry oxygen with the bloodstream to the cells in the body. Without hemoglobin, the body stops producing red blood cells and if the body does not have enough iron, the tissues, muscles and cells will not receive the necessary amount of oxygen.

For the first 6 months after birth, breastfed babies get enough iron from breast milk. For babies who use formula milk, they will receive this mineral from milk. As your child gets older and slowly switches to a solid food diet, the food source may not be enough to provide the iron requirement at this time. This increases the  risk of iron deficiency anemia in children .

In young children, iron deficiency interferes with children's growth and can affect behavior and cognitive problems, muscle weakness, and delayed motor skills. Iron is also extremely important to the immune system, so without this mineral, children often get infections, especially respiratory infections.

Babies born prematurely, low weight or pregnant women with anemia are very susceptible to anemia, iron deficiency. Children need iron based on age: 1-3 years old need about 7 mg / day and 4-8 years old need 10mg / day.

Does your baby really need iron supplements?

Her grandparents often thought that it was good to eat and drink. That is also true until now. Few people like to hang out medicine bottles with them, even more children do not like to take medicine. So, if your baby is already on a healthy, well-balanced diet, he probably won't need iron supplements. Basically, iron is a trace element so it only needs to be supplemented in relatively small amounts by the body.

The types of foods rich in iron for the baby  may be mentioned as red meat (beef, liver, meat offal), pork, chicken, cereals including oatmeal, vegetables, dark green (kale, broccoli, spinach, spinach, spinach) ...

In some cases, children need iron supplements such as babies who are picky eaters, children with gastrointestinal diseases that prevent iron absorption such as intestinal diseases, children drink cow's milk with lead, and babies often exercise or like playing sports, girls in puberty, especially premature babies or born to iron-deficient mothers.

Ideally, you should consult your doctor before giving your child any dietary supplements, including iron. Several tests (red blood cell sample, physical examination) may be performed. In addition, the doctor can make a diagnosis based on the child's symptoms (behavior problems, poor appetite, increased sweating ...) to decide whether to give iron supplements or not. If used, how much is the appropriate dose.

5 safe types of iron supplements

1. Iron supplement drip

The liquid form is the form the body absorbs well. This form usually comes with a dropper, so you can be assured of not worrying about overdosing your child. Note that these iron supplements can stain your child's teeth. Therefore, you should let your child brush their teeth immediately after use.

2. Iron supplements in the form of syrup

The dosage forms with a sweet and delicious taste will not make it difficult for children. This form also has a cap to accurately dose, but this dosage form often contains many vitamins, not just iron, so mothers need to consider before giving them to children.

3. Chewable tablets - a convenient form of iron supplement for babies

If you are not too patient in weighing and measuring the dose of medicine for your child to take, chewable tablets are the optimal solution. Delicious taste, easy to eat is the advantage of this chewable tablet. One disadvantage is that chewable tablets are usually not high in iron.

4. Marshmallows are a form of iron supplement that kids love

This form is extremely accessible to children because of its delicious fruit flavor. But also do not because you see your children are too enraptured to feed them innocently. Vitamins or any other nutrient, if consumed in large amounts, will be harmful. Therefore, it is best to keep them out of the reach of children.

5. Iron powder supplements

This form of iron supplement can be mixed with your child's favorite soft food, such as oatmeal, porridge or yogurt. Therefore, the fussy eater may not know that they are eating it.

Side effects of taking iron supplements for babies

Iron supplementation can upset the stomach, change the texture of the stool and cause  constipation in children . Iron will be absorbed better if taken before meals on an empty stomach. It should be noted that in the case of iron and if your child feels a stomach ache, taking it after a meal can be a useful solution.

Excessive iron intake can lead to serious health problems, so never give your child an iron supplement without consulting a doctor first. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), between 1983 and 1991, accidental ingestion of iron supplements caused nearly a third of iron poisoning deaths among children in this country. .

Some of the signs of an iron overdose are easy to spot, such as severe vomiting, diarrhea, pale or pale skin and nails. When we encounter these signs, all we need to do is call an ambulance or get the child to the nearest medical facility immediately!

Using functional foods properly, do not ignore these

When in doubt about a problem, including the use of the product or some unusual appearance after use, do not hesitate to take your child to see a doctor. Don't try to be your own child's doctor or ask " Google doctor "!

Make sure all supplements (including iron) are out of the reach of children to avoid confusing them with candies without control. Place supplements on the top shelf, preferably in a locked cabinet. Make sure the supplement is clearly labeled or in a container with a lid that your child cannot open.

Avoid giving iron to children with milk or caffeinated beverages as these will interfere with the absorption of iron. In addition, you should give your baby more lemon juice, orange juice or strawberry juice ... to supplement vitamin C. The reason is because this vitamin is an indispensable companion of iron and helps the body absorb iron well. than.

You should give your baby a supplement to take supplements if your doctor recommends it. In the case of a child with a severe iron deficiency, it may take more than six months for the iron levels in the child's body to reach normal levels.

Through this article, hopefully you have a better understanding of the role of iron in your baby's health, thereby gaining more knowledge about giving your baby an effective iron supplement!