Is Your Child Getting Enough

Is Your Child Getting Enough
Iron?

Iron is the mineral that is instrumental in keeping our children healthy and energetic. We worry if our child looks pale or lethargic and wonder if these are signs of being anaemic. Yet sometimes we may worry unduly.
Awareness about iron sources and iron deficiencies are a great help in building a healthy quantity of life for your child.
How do you detect an iron deficiency?
As iron reserves in the body deplete slowly, you may not be able to tell at once that your child is lacking iron. However there are tell-tale signs, which you will see sooner or later, if your child has an iron deficiency.
Of course, some of these symptoms may have other causes too, so do confer with your paediatrician if you notice any of the symptoms. Deficiency of iron will be confirmed by a blood test.
Some symptoms to watch out for are:
· Unusual fatigue: If you feel your child is tiring quicker than usual or his general activity has reduced, mention it to your doctor.
· Loss of concentration: A reduced attention span, sometimes revealed by a change for the worse in school results, can also suggest an iron deficiency.
· Pica: If your child wants to eat non edible substances like mud, ice or uncooked rice, it is a common sign of iron deficiency.
· Pale eyes and skin: If the skin begins to look very dull or pale and the skin under the eyelids gets a pale or blue tinge, it is a sign of being anaemic.
· Brittle nails: If your child's nails seem to be breaking easily or seem brittle it could be due to a need for more iron. This can also be related to calcium deficiency so do confer with your doctor first.
· Repeated infections: The main role of iron in our bodies is to contribute to healthy red blood cells which help keep the immune system in order. Frequent infections indicate low levels of immunity which may be caused by a lack of iron.
What causes it?
In case of infants, iron deficiency can be the outcome of premature birth with low birth weight as the baby may not have absorbed enough iron in the seven to eight months in the womb.
While breastfed babies will be well supplied with iron from their mother's milk, they may need some other forms of iron after the age of six months as they are growing fast. In the older age bracket, iron deficiency is unlikely for children who are on a nutritious diet that includes iron rich foods that are well absorbed by the body. But, very busy eaters or children on misguided diets lacking good natural sources of iron could be at risk.
How do you prevent it?
A good diet is the best prevention of iron deficiency. A variety in the diet also ensures iron sources such as dark green vegetables, to be consumed weekly.
With young children it is important to see that they eat good solid foods at the three main meals and are hungry enough to do so. Too much milk with food works against iron absorption. So it is best not to serve young children milk with main meals. Yogurt is fine.
Juices, though not a source of iron, are a great aid for efficient absorption of iron. This is because vitamin C helps with the absorption of iron from the diet. Experts recommend that you give your child some natural form of vitamin C daily to ensure this. Apart from juices, the other obvious sources of vitamin C are fruits. So do include good portions of these at mealtimes, or as in-between snacks.

Some Iron-rich Foods
· Meat, chicken, fish, eggs
· Grams, grains, dals, beans
· Dark green vegetables (for example; peas, broccoli, spinach, beans)
· Iron fortified breakfast cereals
· Breads fortified with iron or yeast leavened whole wheat breads
· Raisins, figs, dates, nuts

Understanding Quantities
Sometimes, as parents, it seems our job is chiefly to worry, especially when it comes to our children's food and eating habits. As we watch our child grow side by side with his peers, we observe how he eats so much more or less than them. We worry that he is too fat or too thin. We try and get him to start eating more or less. So is there a norm? No, there is no norm but yes, there are many guiding principles when it comes to quantities of food consumed by children. Here's a look at some of them.
Prescribed Portions
There are some general norms when it comes to children and food portions. Here are some guidelines based on the age of your child.
0-6 Months: Breast milk is the best food for your baby. Sufficient milk will ensure a body weight gain of 600g to 1kg per month. You will know your child is getting enough milk if you are changing heavy diapers every few hours.
6 Months -1 Year: Cereals (initially rice and then others), fruits and vegetables, meats and eggs. You should aim for three meals per day by the time your child reaches his first birthday. Milk should be given between meals. If the child's weight gain is 400 to 600g each month, it indicates that he is eating proportionately well for his age.
1-2 Year: Since the rate of growth is less, the intake may fall so do not force feed your child. Usually the child determines the quantity of a particular food, but a variety should be offered. Eating habits formed now will affect eating in subsequent years.
2-4 Years: A child of two to four years should have three balanced meals a day. As the milk consumption may be less, add fruits, juices and other nutritious snacks. At least one cup of milk and a bowl of dahi is advisable.
4-6 Years: By this age your child will need approximately 1600 kcal per day. Six portion of bread of chapatti, two portions of fruit, three servings of vegetables as well as some protein will be sufficient. Two glasses of milk a day is advisable.
6-10 Years: By this age your child will need approximately 200 kcal per day. You can follow the same breakup as given for four to six years but do increase the portions.