"On an average day, my 10-month-old daughter eats iron-fortified formula, yogurt and cereal. Is it possible for her to consume too much iron in her daily diet? What's the right amount of iron for my baby?"
Because iron is a crucial mineral that every baby needs, infant feeding formula and cereals are routinely fortified with it. Iron helps increase a baby's red-blood-cell volume to meet the demands of rapid growth. Too little iron can result in iron deficiency anemia, which can slow vital blood production and slacken a baby's appetite for solid foods.
The good news is that thanks to fortified foods, it's easier than ever to serve your baby all the iron she needs to grow (and grow and grow). Fortified food packs a big iron punch, but meat and green vegetables are full of iron, too.
In fact, if she's chugging formula and wolfing down cereal and other fortified foods, she might even be lapping up more than her daily quota. Which might cause you to wonder: Can my baby get too much iron in her diet? Here's what parents need to know.
How much iron does a baby need?
Unless your child's pediatrician tells you that your baby has an iron deficiency, here's how much iron little ones should be getting at different stages.
Before starting solids:
- Breastfed or partially breastfed babies should start taking 1 milligram per kilogram body weight per day of oral iron supplements at 4 months old until iron-rich solid foods are introduced.
- Formula-fed babies do not need added iron.
After starting solids:
- 7- to 12-month-olds: 11 milligrams (mg) of iron a day
- 1- to 3-year-olds: 7 mg of iron a day
Can babies have too much iron?
Even though you may be worried about your baby getting too much iron, turns out it's actually pretty hard for your baby to ingest a harmful amount of iron from foods alone. To consume a toxic amount, your baby would have to swallow several doses of an infant iron supplement (which is why it's critical to keep supplements — including your prenatal vitamins — out of reach).
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If you're still concerned, check your formula and food labels to see how much iron your little one is getting and talk to your pediatrician about your baby's iron intake (it's always good to get another opinion about your cutie's iron needs), and let your doctor know if you think your baby is consuming more than the recommended amount.
Feel free to ask any other questions you may have about vitamins and babies, and be sure to speak up if her stool is very black or if she's constipated, both of which can signal excess iron.
Here's to your child's good health,
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