Iron deficiency in infants often goes undetected. Therefore, you need to recognize what are the symptoms of an iron deficiency baby so that this condition can be detected as early as possible. The reason is, if left unchecked, the baby's growth and development can be disrupted.
Symptoms of iron deficiency in infants will occur if the iron intake obtained is not in accordance with their needs. Iron plays a major role in distributing oxygen which is needed by all body tissues to grow and develop. So if the baby's iron needs are not met, the impact will be huge.
The need for iron will increase dramatically when the baby begins to enter the age of solid food. That is why at that time you need to pay more attention to the iron content in your baby's complementary foods. In addition, you also need to know the symptoms of an iron deficiency baby to be more aware of this condition.
Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Babies
Iron deficiency in infants can have a negative impact on intelligence, behavior, and muscle abilities. Not only that, infants who are iron deficient are also more susceptible to infections and lead poisoning.
The following are some of the symptoms of iron deficiency babies:
1. Pale skin
One of the symptoms of a baby iron deficiency is pale skin. The skin can look pale because when the body lacks iron intake, the hemoglobin level in red blood cells will decrease. As a result, the skin loses its red hue, making it look paler.
2. Look tired
The next symptom of iron deficiency babies is looking tired. Fatigue can occur because lack of iron intake can make hemoglobin levels in the body decrease.
This condition makes the supply of oxygen to the body's tissues blocked, so the heart needs to work harder to circulate blood throughout the body. In addition, the body's cells also become deprived of oxygen to produce energy. Finally, the baby becomes more easily fatigued.
3. It's hard to gain weight
If your baby is iron deficient, his body will try harder to get oxygen. This can deplete the baby's energy, so his power to suckle is also reduced. If that's the case, the weight will be difficult to gain, even down.
4. Fussy
Although further research is needed, lack of iron intake is thought to reduce the production of the hormone dopamine, the hormone that causes feelings of happiness, so that babies become more anxious and fussy.
Fussiness can also be a form of other iron deficiency symptoms, such as headaches and recurring infections. Babies can not express this complaint in words and can only cry.
In addition to the above symptoms, symptoms of a baby's iron deficiency can also be in the form of colder and clammy hands and feet, and faster breathing.
How to meet baby's iron needs
To meet the baby's iron needs, there are several steps you can take, namely:
Provide adequate breast milk and formula
If your little one is under 6 months old, make sure his breast milk needs are met. Signs that the baby is getting enough breast milk is that the baby seems to be able to swallow milk well, looks calm while feeding, looks satisfied, and looks cheerful after finishing feeding.
If your little one drinks formula milk, make sure the formula you give contains iron according to his needs.
Provide intake of foods that contain iron
If your little one is 6 months old and ready to eat solid food, give him various types of foods that contain iron. Examples are red beans, meat, chicken, fish, and spinach.
If you are worried that you can't confirm the iron content in the solid food that you make yourself, you can give your little one instant baby porridge. Don't worry about the quality of instant porridge that is widely sold in the market, because these products have been confirmed to have passed a food suitability test and contain iron that is suitable for babies' needs.
Provide foods that contain vitamin C
Not only providing foods that contain iron, you also have to give your little one food that contains other nutrients, such as vitamin C. Vitamin C is an important nutrient intake because its presence can help the process of iron absorption in the body.
You may ask whether the baby should be given iron supplements so that these nutritional needs are always met. The answer is yes. Iron supplements can be prescribed by a doctor if your little one has a low birth weight, was born prematurely, or has certain medical conditions.
However, if the condition of your little one is healthy, you should only get enough iron intake from food. Excess iron can cause side effects that harm the baby. So, consult a doctor before giving iron supplements to your baby.
Those are some of the symptoms of iron deficiency babies. If your little one experiences it, immediately consult a doctor. If detected and treated as early as possible, iron deficiency will not affect the baby's growth and development.
