What Is Iron?
Iron is a mineral found in plants and animals and all living things. It's an important
component of hemoglobin, the part of red blood cells that carries
oxygen from the lungs to the body. Iron gives hemoglobin the strength to "carry" (bind
to) oxygen in the blood, so oxygen gets to where it needs to go.
Without enough iron, the body can't make hemoglobin and makes fewer red blood cells.
This means tissues and organs won't get the oxygen they need.
People can get iron by eating foods like meat and dark green leafy vegetables.
Iron is also added to some foods, such as infant formula and cereals.
How Much Iron Do Kids Need?
Depending on their age, kids need different amounts of iron:
- Infants who breastfeed
tend to get enough iron from their mothers until 4–6 months of age. Around this
time, rich foods like fortified cereal and puréed meats are usually introduced.
Breastfed babies who don't get enough iron should be given iron drops prescribed by
their doctor. Babies given iron-fortified formula do not need added iron.
- Infants ages 7–12 months need 11 milligrams of iron a day.
- Toddlers ages 1–3 years need 7 milligrams of iron each day. Kids ages 4–8
years need 10 milligrams while older kids ages 9–13 years need 8 milligrams.
- Teen boys should get 11 milligrams of iron a day and teen girls should get 15
milligrams. (Adolescence is a time of rapid growth and teen girls need additional
iron to replace what they lose monthly when they begin menstruating.)
- Young athletes who regularly engage in intense exercise tend to lose more iron
and may need extra iron in their diets. People following a vegetarian
diet might also need added iron.
What's Iron Deficiency?
Iron deficiency is when a person's body doesn't have enough iron. It can be a problem
for some kids, particularly toddlers and teens (especially girls who have very heavy
periods). In fact, many teenage girls are at risk for iron deficiency — even
if they have normal periods — if their diets don't contain enough iron to offset
the loss of blood during menstruation.
After 12 months of age, toddlers are at risk for iron deficiency because they no
longer drink iron-fortified formula — and, they may not be eating enough iron-containing
foods to make up the difference.
Iron deficiency can affect growth and may lead to learning and behavioral problems.
If iron deficiency isn't corrected, it can lead to iron-deficiency
anemia (a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the body).
How Can I Help My Child Get Enough Iron?
Kids and teens should know that iron is an important part of a healthy diet. Foods
rich in iron include:
- beef, pork, poultry, and seafood
- tofu
- dried beans and peas
- dried fruits
- leafy dark green vegetables
- iron-fortified breakfast cereals, breads, and pastas
(Note: Iron from animal sources is more easily absorbed by the body than iron from
plant sources.)
To help make sure kids get enough iron:
- Limit the amount of milk they drink to about 16–24 fluid ounces (473–710
milliliters) a day.
- Serve iron-fortified infant cereal until kids are 18–24 months old.
- Serve iron-rich foods alongside foods containing vitamin C (such as tomatoes,
broccoli, oranges, and strawberries). Vitamin C improves the way the body absorbs
iron.
- Avoide serving coffee or tea at mealtime — both contain tannins that reduce
the way the body absorbs iron.
Date reviewed: October 2016