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When they are under five, children need food intake that contains various kinds of nutrients to support their growth and development. One of the important nutrients at this time is iron. It is not uncommon for toddlers to experience iron deficiency due to wrong parenting or even complications during pregnancy. Lack of iron in children under five can cause serious problems for the development process later.

Why is iron important for toddlers?

About 70% of iron in the body is manifested in hemoglobin which is responsible for the transportation of oxygen and food reserves to all cells through the blood. Iron in the body is divided into two parts, namely iron which plays a role in metabolism and enzyme function, and iron as a body reserve which is used for food reserves and transportation in the body. It is estimated that two-thirds of the iron in the body plays a role in the body's functional processes.

Apart from functioning in oxygen transportation and food reserves, iron in the body is also needed in the growth process. Iron is needed in greater amounts when the growth process is rapid, namely during infants and adolescents. Therefore, iron deficiency can interfere with the growth of children.

How much iron do toddlers need?

Newborn babies store iron reserves in their bodies, but still they need additional iron to support their growth and development. Especially when they are toddlers, who experience a very fast growth process. In accordance with the provisions recommended by the Ministry of Health, iron needs for children under five are:

7 to 11 months, need at least 6 mg daily
1 to 3 years, requires 11 mg of iron per day
4 to 6 years of age, requires 15 mg of iron per day

Infants and toddlers who are at risk of iron deficiency

Several conditions can cause children to experience iron deficiency, these conditions are:

Babies born prematurely or babies with low birth weight
Babies who have been given cow's milk when they are under 1 year old
Babies older than 6 months, who are given breast milk but their complementary foods are not good enough and healthy enough to meet their iron needs.
Children aged 1 to 5 years who consume more than 710 ml of cow's milk or soy milk. This results in the child's stomach being completely filled with milk and not eating other foods besides milk, which is a source of iron.
Children under five who experience chronic infectious diseases, such as diarrhea.
Children who do not or do not eat meat, as a source of iron.

What are the symptoms and signs of a toddler who is deficient in iron?

Lack of iron in the body can interfere with the ability and function of the child's body as a whole. In almost all cases, iron deficiency causes no symptoms and signs until iron deficiency anemia occurs. Some of the symptoms and signs that are often experienced by children:

Pale skin
Fatigue or weakness
Decreased cognitive abilities and social development
Sores on the tongue
Body temperature fluctuates
Have an infection

Mental, motor and behavioral disorders will arise when the child is very deficient in iron in the body and causes anemia. According to research conducted by the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, babies who have anemia due to iron deficiency have low mental and motor test scores, are not agile, and don't like to play because they tire quickly.

What should I do to prevent iron deficiency babies?

Some of these suggestions can help your child experience iron deficiency, namely by:

Provide children with foods high in iron, such as beef, beef liver, eggs, spinach, kale, soybeans, peanuts, and various other dark green leafy vegetables.
Checking out when pregnant. Mothers who experience anemia during pregnancy can cause their children to be born with iron deficiency conditions.
Give exclusive breastfeeding to babies because breast milk contains various types of nutrients needed by babies, including iron.
Do not give too much food or milk to children less than 1 year old, because it can replace the portion of food sources of iron
Start giving soft supplementary foods when the baby is over 6 months old and then solid foods when the child is 1 year old. We recommend that you provide a variety of foods, and rich in nutrients.
Provide food sources of vitamin C to increase iron absorption in the child's body