Safeguard a Child (6m-24m) from being Iron Deficiency

Last Updated on March 14, 2025 by monalishamund1987@gmail.com

Iron Deficiency :

Over 3% of all disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost may be caused by iron deficiency, making it the most significant nutritional risk factor.

In preschoolers (ages 1–5 years) and newborns (ages 0–12 months), iron-deficiency anemia causes behavioral abnormalities and developmental delays, including

a. Decreased motor activity.

b. Less social contact
c. Poor development of the brain
d. Diminished focus on duties

These delays in development may continue past the age of five, or school age. The period between 6 and 24 months, when a child’s body and brain are growing at a rapid pace, corresponds with the maximum iron deficiency. Supplementing with iron is necessary because diet alone is insufficient. Iron supplements must start two to three months sooner if your child weighed less than 2,500 grams at birth.

Promote your baby’s exclusive breastfeeding throughout the first six months after birth and beyond, without the use of any additional food, drink, or formula.

Start introducing foods high in iron at six months of age.

Given that diet alone is insufficient to meet the need, iron drops (about 1 mg/kg per day of elemental iron) are introduced as a supplement at 6 months of age.

Before six months, you should start giving your infant iron drops if they were born prematurely or with low birth weight.

At six months, start giving vitamin C-rich foods (fruits, vegetables, or juice) once a day, ideally with meals, to help with iron absorption.

Infants should not be given cow’s milk before they are 12 months old.

Children above the age of one year should avoid consuming more than 500 milliliters of cow’s milk, goat milk, or soy milk per day, as this can also result in iron deficiency.

Children who have anemia (Iron Deficiency Anaemia) or even those who do not have anemia (Iron Deficient Non-Anaemic) may be iron deficient. Iron drops are necessary even if your child’s hemoglobin level is normal since iron shortage can still affect a child’s capacity to think clearly.

Thanks and Regards

N.B. This information is suggestive only.