Information for Families

• Iron deficiency (ID) early in life puts kids at risk of poorer hearing development, poorer mental development and poorer heart function
• Kids with ID/IDA are at higher risk for infection
• In toddlerhood, kids who had IDA as infants are more likely to have poorer motor and behavioral development
• Later in life, kids who had IDA as infants are more likely to experience problems such as high blood pressure

• Mothers who are young, have a higher number of pregnancies, develop gestational diabetes mellitus or are obese will have babies at higher risk of developing ID/IDA
• Babies who drink cow’s milk or breastfeed exclusively for longer than 4 months are at higher risk of having ID/IDA
• Babies born with a low birthweight, high birthweight or are part of multiple births (i.e., twins, triplets, etc.) are at higher risk of developing ID/IDA
• Babies born premature are at higher risk of having ID/IDA

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

This test measures all the parts of your child’s blood. It allows your provider to detect if your child is iron deficient before your child develops iron deficiency anemia. The test can also be used to detect other reasons that might make your child anemic. It is usually done as a blood draw by trained phlebotomists. Some phlebotomists can get the blood they need using a finger or heel prick, but this doesn’t always work.

Hemoglobin and Hematocrit (Hb/Hct)

This test measures your child’s red blood cells. Red blood cells are only affected by iron deficiency if your child has already developed iron deficiency anemia. Because red blood cells are the last thing to be affected by iron deficiency, all the other systems that iron is needed for are low on iron before this test would show anemia. This test is usually done as a finger or heel prick.

Ferritin

This test measures how much iron your child has stored in his or her body. Ferritin is a molecule used in the human body to manage how much iron is available to the rest of the body. If ferritin is low, this usually means that your child is iron deficient. This test is usually done as a blood draw by trained phlebotomists.

Screening Questions

In the past, iron deficiency screening was done only for children that were “at risk.” Children were identified as “at risk” based on their parents’ responses to certain screening questions. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics decided that these screening questions were not enough to figure out whether a child was iron deficient. If the screening questions are used, a blood test should be performed to confirm whether a child has anemia.

• Talk to your doctor about whether your child could benefit from incorporating multivitamins into his or her daily diet
• Vitamin C is important for helping your child absorb the iron in their diet. Make sure to include good sources of vitamin C in their diet, including oranges, tomato juice, etc
• Know when you or your child is at risk! Children and women are at greater risk for iron deficiency than men or older individuals (≥60 years). Two minority groups, non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican Americans, typically are at greater risk for iron deficiency than are non-Hispanic whites.
• Get your children excited about eating healthy!
  • Advocate for farm-to-table programs at your school
  • Pay attention to what your child is eating at school
  • Increase fruits and vegetables in the diet at home
• Check out this Daily Food Plan for Preschoolers designed to help you know how much your child should eat to meet his or her needs.
• For more information on the iron content in specific foods, visit the USDA Nutrient Database Website.

The standard treatment choice for ID/IDA is ferrous sulfate. However, some infants do not tolerate these drops due to the metallic taste. Since there can be long-term negative effects of untreated ID/IDA, it is important to consider other options in treating ID/IDA. The following table describes pros and cons to various alternative iron sources that may work in treating your child’s ID/IDA. Consult your pediatrician before starting any of the supplements below. If you wish to see current research on each product, see this page.

During pregnancy, you need more folic acid and iron than a woman who is not pregnant.

Iron is important for the body to carry oxygen to your organs and the rest of your body. During pregnancy, women require twice their normal amount of iron in order to supply oxygen to the baby. The daily recommended dose of iron during pregnancy is 27 mg, which is found in most prenatal vitamin supplements. You can help your body absorb all the iron it needs by eating iron-rich foods, including lean red meat, poultry, fish, dried beans and peas, iron-fortified cereals and prune juice. Iron can be absorbed more easily if iron-rich foods are eaten with vitamin C-rich foods, such as citrus fruits and tomatoes.

Try out this Daily Food Plan that helps you track the foods and amounts that are right for you at your stage of pregnancy or when breastfeeding.

Vegetarian diets can meet all the recommendations for nutrients, including iron. As is true with non-vegetarian diets, the key for ensuring that you have enough iron in your meals is to consume a well-balanced diet.

Check out these helpful resources:

• Tips for Vegetarians from the USDA
• Healthy Eating for Vegetarians
• Pregnancy and the Vegan Diet
• Iron in the Vegan Diet
• Vegetarian Society – Iron Fact Sheet