Anemia means that your blood doesn?t have enough red blood cells. These red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a substance that carries and delivers needed oxygen to other cells in the body. The same goes for anemia in children. Most of the time, healthy babies and kids have enough red blood cells, but there are factors that can put your little one at higher risk, so it?s important to keep those levels on your radar.
What causes anemia in children and babies"
There are three main causes of anemia. The first cause, which is most common in babies and kids, is when the body doesn?t produce enough red blood cells, which can result when there isn?t enough iron in a child?s diet. Other risk factors for iron deficiency, which can lead to anemia in children, before the age of two include preterm delivery or low birth weight, babies born to moms with anemia or poorly controlled diabetes, chronic infection and exposure to lead. If your baby?s umbilical cord was clamped (tied off or cut) within 30 seconds of birth, they may have an increased risk of anemia. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada recommends that the cord be clamped one to three minutes after birth to allow more blood to transfer from the placenta to the baby, which boosts the baby?s red blood cells and iron stores. According to the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS), the prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia in children in Canada today isn?t known, but it was about four percent in middle-class infant...