Posted by Caregivers must care for babies’ nutrition to ensure they get the best start in life. Identifying deficiencies and giving supplements to counter them is an indispensable aspect of child care. Iron is a crucial component of a baby’s physical and neurological development. Over-the-counter iron supplements for kids are available in many forms, like liquid drops, syrup, chewable, powder, and gummies. With so many choices, parents are liable to get confused.
So what’s the right approach to choosing an iron supplement for babies? Let’s find out.
Identify The Iron Needs Of Babies
It’s crucial to determine beforehand whether the child has iron deficiencies. Apart from regular screening, some symptoms of iron deficiency must be identified, such as paleness of skin, irritability, loss of appetite, rapid breathing, cold hands and feet, frequent infections, etc. Talk to a pediatrician about these symptoms and testing. Only after identifying the underlying problem should the remedial action be taken.
Talk To Your Pediatrician
Once testing establishes iron deficiency, iron supplementation should begin on the advice of your pediatrician. Selecting the right iron supplement for babies depends on various factors, such as composition, availability, quality, efficacy, form in which its available, and safety. Ask the pediatrician about the kind of supplement best suited for your little one and the frequency of administration. Know about potential drug interactions and medicines that may interfere with iron absorption.
Choosing The Right Supplement
There are many over-the-counter iron supplements for babies available in drug stores. However, the choice becomes easy if you know the ingredients to avoid. For instance, don’t buy iron drops with artificial coloring and flavors. Some brands add sugars or artificial sweeteners to make them palatable, which causes more harm than good. Avoid them at all costs. Instead, go for brands like NovaFerrum that use natural fruit flavors and colors in their products without added sugars and artificial sweeteners.
Administering The Supplement
Clarify certain things with the specialists before administering the iron supplements, such as:
Time: Whether before or after supper, in the morning or evening time, before going to bed, or after waking up.
Dosage: Dosage may vary according to the form of supplement, such as liquid drops or chewable.
Manner Of Administration: Nice-tasting drops, syrup, or chewable can be administered without any addition. However, if the child refuses to take them, mix them with juices, formula, or plain water to make the process easy.
Drug Interaction: If the child is on some other medication, it can interfere with iron absorption. Ask the specialist about possible drug interactions and how much of a gap should be between the two medications.
Supplements that taste good, such as NovaFerrum Liquid Iron Pediatric Drops, make administration easy and fun.
Additional Efforts To Lower Iron Deficiencies In Babies
It must be noted that supplements are not replacements for proper meals. Therefore, iron-rich foods should also be emphasized. Iron-fortified formula, fortified cereals, beans, lentils, and leafy greens help deliver the daily recommended levels of iron.
Apart from that, proper screening should be done to determine if there are genetic or hereditary causes of iron deficiencies, such as in thalassemia minor patients. If the situation doesn’t improve after long-term administration of an iron supplement for babies, get the child screened for any hereditary condition that’s affecting iron metabolism.
Conduct Regular Follow-Ups
Maintaining the continuity of improvement is also very important. Conduct regular checkups with the pediatrics to assess the rate of progress. Follow-ups are also important for adjusting dosage according to the condition. Should the dosage be notched up, reduced, or continued as it is, will be directed by the physician. Don’t halt dosage without being advised to do so. Any further screening or diagnostic tests will be prescribed in follow-ups.
Parting Note
Iron deficiency in babies can lead to stunted physical and mental development in the growth years. With the right iron supplement for babies along with nutrition, it can be tackled with ease. Having a proactive approach toward symptoms can help with early detection and mitigation. High-quality supplements do not contain added sugars, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, artificial colors, and flavors. Work closely with the pediatrician for regular monitoring of the child’s health and to make conscious health choices for the baby. Informed choices of the parents can help babies achieve their developmental milestones with perfection.