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2022
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What to do if the baby has anemia? It is recommended to prioritize introducing iron-rich complementary foods.
According to the "Nutrition and Development Report for Children Aged 0-6 in China", anemia, especially iron deficiency anemia, is a common nutritional deficiency disease among children in China. The Chinese Children's Iron Deficiency Epidemiology Survey Collaborative Group has also pointed out that the prevalence of iron deficiency among children aged 7 months to 7 years in China is as high as 40.3%, with iron deficiency anemia reaching 7.8%.
Author:
In the eyes of parents, children's health issues can be solved by just supplementing with calcium—children walking unsteadily, teething slower than peers, having a less rosy complexion...
When children exhibit the above conditions, not only parents but even neighbors will say, "This child must be lacking calcium! Hurry and supplement some calcium!"
In fact, in addition to calcium, iron supplementation is also very important.
According to the "Nutrition and Development Report for Children Aged 0-6 in China," anemia, especially iron deficiency anemia, is a common nutritional deficiency disease among children in China. The Epidemiological Survey Collaboration Group on Iron Deficiency in Chinese Children has also pointed out that the prevalence of iron deficiency among children aged 7 months to 7 years in China is as high as 40.3%, with iron deficiency anemia reaching 7.8%. This means that one in three children is iron deficient!
01
Why are babies prone to anemia?
Due to the rapid growth and development of babies, their demand for iron is much greater than that of adults. A baby at 5 months and 1 year weighs 2 times and 3 times their birth weight, respectively. As weight increases, blood volume also increases rapidly, with hemoglobin in the blood circulation doubling by the age of 1.
Rapid growth and development lead to infants needing more hematopoietic materials—iron. If iron-rich foods are not added in a timely manner, iron deficiency problems can easily arise.
02
These types of babies are more prone to anemia.
If a baby is born with the following issues, they are more likely to be anemic than ordinary babies, and parents should pay more attention to the iron levels in their children—
1. Maternal iron deficiency, insufficient dietary iron intake during pregnancy and lactation;
2. Maternal-fetal transfusion or twin transfusion syndrome during pregnancy;
3. Premature infants or low birth weight infants;
4. Recurrent infections, intestinal bleeding, and other diseases.
03
Signs of anemia in babies.
Parents can determine if their child is anemic based on the following indicators:
1. Pale skin, pale mucous membranes of the lips and conjunctiva;
2. Decreased appetite, such as not wanting to eat or drink milk;
3. Emotional signs such as irritability and decreased interest in surrounding things. Older children may experience dizziness, blackouts, and tinnitus;
4. Difficulty concentrating and decreased memory.
If a baby exhibits the above conditions, parents should be alert to the possibility of anemia and seek medical attention promptly to determine the situation.
04
What to do if a baby is anemic.
Iron is an essential element for the human body. It is not only a necessary component for synthesizing hemoglobin and myoglobin but also an important element for certain key enzymes in metabolic pathways.
If a baby is chronically iron deficient, it can lead to anemia, hinder growth and development, impair immune function, affect brain development, and reduce cognitive and motor abilities.
Trace element testing can analyze the deficiency of nutritional elements in children.
Since the human body cannot produce iron on its own, how should iron be supplemented?
Eat! Eat! Eat! Iron supplemented through food can account for 30% of the total iron intake in the body. From the time babies start to add complementary foods, iron-rich foods should be prioritized, as the iron stored in the body will be depleted after 6 months.
Iron-rich complementary foods can include iron-fortified cereals, such as rice flour, rice porridge, meat puree, fish puree, liver puree, etc. However, it is important to note that iron supplementation must be appropriate; excessive amounts can lead to poisoning, causing vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, and even damage to the liver and kidneys.
During pregnancy, expectant mothers can also prepare for their baby's iron storage by consuming iron-rich foods.
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