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Is Hemoglobin Level Of 11.7 In An Infant Normal?
Question: Hi Dr., my daughter was born on 5th Aug-16 and her birth weight was 2.6kg. Her weight as on today is 6.8kg. Doc suspected low weight gain and did her haemogram. Her haemoglobin came out to be 11.7.Is it required to start any kind of iron supplement? She is very active and her growth otherwise is normal.
Brief Answer:
Weight overall on track.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on Health care magic.
I have gone through your query and understand your concern. The birth weight of a baby should double by 5 months of age and triple by ten to twelve months of age. The weight of the baby is therefore on the track and there seems to be no cause for concern. However it would be a good idea to track the weight by periodically measuring and plotting the weight on an age appropriate growth chart. The iron level is ok although on the lower side. Since the diet of a baby is often low in iron it would be a good idea to give iron supplements like Orofer XT Drops.
Since she is otherwise active and playful you have nothing to worry about.
Feel free to write back.
Regards
Weight overall on track.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on Health care magic.
I have gone through your query and understand your concern. The birth weight of a baby should double by 5 months of age and triple by ten to twelve months of age. The weight of the baby is therefore on the track and there seems to be no cause for concern. However it would be a good idea to track the weight by periodically measuring and plotting the weight on an age appropriate growth chart. The iron level is ok although on the lower side. Since the diet of a baby is often low in iron it would be a good idea to give iron supplements like Orofer XT Drops.
Since she is otherwise active and playful you have nothing to worry about.
Feel free to write back.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Thank u Dr. I do understand and agree with ur point but just in case if I do not wish to start any iron supplement and include the same in her diet, what food should I give her?Currently she has either 2bananas or 1 apple or XXXXXXX wit water or 1 mashed potato or bowlful veg puree a day. Along with one of these items she has dal khicdi along with rawa daily ( 2tbsp rice powder/1tbsp moong dal powder/1.5 tbsp rawa along with jeera/salt to taste). She takes my 3hourly feeds as well. Is her diet good enough?Pls guide.
Brief Answer:
Iron rich food items mentioned
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Babies in the age range of 0-6 months need 0.27 mg/day whereas children in the age bracket of 7-12 months need 11 mg / day.
The following food items are rich in iron and can be included in the diet of the baby:
breastmilk
winter squash
sweet potatoes
prune juice
meat & poultry (beef, beef & chicken liver, turkey, chicken)
mushrooms
sea vegetables (arame, dulse), algaes (spirulina), kelp
greens (spinach, chard, dandelion, beet, nettle, parsley, watercress, radish leaves, mustard leaves, coriander leaves)
yellow dock root
methi (fenugreek)
broccoli
amaranth
spring onion, cauliflower
cowpeas
grains (millet, brown rice, amaranth, quinoa, breads with these grains)
blackstrap molasses (try adding a little to cereal or rice)
brewer’s yeast
dried beans (lima, lentils, kidney)
chili con XXXXXXX with beans
tofu
egg yolks
grains (cooked cracked wheat, cornmeal, grits, farina, XXXXXXX breads with these grains)
tomato
tuna, sardines
[You can leave out the ones which you do not think to be applicable for your child currently.]
Bananas are good source of iron and can be given. Other food items are decent and can be continued. The salt to taste is optional and not mandatory. The diet is otherwise good enough.
Regards
Iron rich food items mentioned
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Babies in the age range of 0-6 months need 0.27 mg/day whereas children in the age bracket of 7-12 months need 11 mg / day.
The following food items are rich in iron and can be included in the diet of the baby:
breastmilk
winter squash
sweet potatoes
prune juice
meat & poultry (beef, beef & chicken liver, turkey, chicken)
mushrooms
sea vegetables (arame, dulse), algaes (spirulina), kelp
greens (spinach, chard, dandelion, beet, nettle, parsley, watercress, radish leaves, mustard leaves, coriander leaves)
yellow dock root
methi (fenugreek)
broccoli
amaranth
spring onion, cauliflower
cowpeas
grains (millet, brown rice, amaranth, quinoa, breads with these grains)
blackstrap molasses (try adding a little to cereal or rice)
brewer’s yeast
dried beans (lima, lentils, kidney)
chili con XXXXXXX with beans
tofu
egg yolks
grains (cooked cracked wheat, cornmeal, grits, farina, XXXXXXX breads with these grains)
tomato
tuna, sardines
[You can leave out the ones which you do not think to be applicable for your child currently.]
Bananas are good source of iron and can be given. Other food items are decent and can be continued. The salt to taste is optional and not mandatory. The diet is otherwise good enough.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Ok will try to include the mentioned items in her diet. Another concern is I wish to start top up milk once ahe turns 1yr. Should I start with powder or cow milk? Also I am tensed on its introduction to the child. I have heard milk given through bottle often causes infection in the child. Pls guide.
Brief Answer:
Cow milk is optional
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Giving cow milk depends entirely on personal choice although I am not in its favour. As such, cow milk is meant for calf whose growth to full size is very rapid and therefore their protein requirement is much higher than that of a human baby. A human baby therefore finds it hard to digest cow milk (contrary to popular belief). So, if the nutrients can be procured from other food items, it is better to leave out milk altogether from diet. Curd or yogurt is much easier to digest and can be given to children of this age.
Any sort of external feed, unless prepared with proper care, can be a source of infection. Hand hygiene is very important. The same is applicable to bottle milk. The nipple can touch anywhere and get infected easily, thus easily trasmitting the contamination to the mouth.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Cow milk is optional
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Giving cow milk depends entirely on personal choice although I am not in its favour. As such, cow milk is meant for calf whose growth to full size is very rapid and therefore their protein requirement is much higher than that of a human baby. A human baby therefore finds it hard to digest cow milk (contrary to popular belief). So, if the nutrients can be procured from other food items, it is better to leave out milk altogether from diet. Curd or yogurt is much easier to digest and can be given to children of this age.
Any sort of external feed, unless prepared with proper care, can be a source of infection. Hand hygiene is very important. The same is applicable to bottle milk. The nipple can touch anywhere and get infected easily, thus easily trasmitting the contamination to the mouth.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Okies thank u Dr. Nowadays my daughter gets up multiple times fr feed.Also shes getting upper 2teeth so her diet has gone low. What food should i give her to ensure she does not stay hungry.
Brief Answer:
You can customize the diet based on your observations about the child.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. The feeding amount and frequency may vary and that is not a cause for concern. Do not forcefeed the child. Rather, gradually try step by step to move toward adult diet, but in mashed form. If she remains hungry, she will automatically be irritable or demand food. If that is not the case, you have no cause to grow apprehensive.
Consider your ABCs - applesauce, bananas, and cereal (rice, biscuits dipped in milk, or roti softened with milk/water). Boiled rice and dal with vegetables and give in mashed form. Gradually increase the amount and frequency. Introduce one new food item per week and stick to it at least for the week.
I would insist you to go through the following chart about what foods to give at what age:
http://www.yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Baby-Food-Chart-4-to-12-months-baby-yyyyyyyyy.jpg
A detailed diet chart can be found at:
http://yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.com/yyyyyyy-baby-food-chart/
Noting down so much information would have made the answer unnecessarily long. Pardon me for avoiding that.
Hopefully that clears your queries.
Regards
You can customize the diet based on your observations about the child.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. The feeding amount and frequency may vary and that is not a cause for concern. Do not forcefeed the child. Rather, gradually try step by step to move toward adult diet, but in mashed form. If she remains hungry, she will automatically be irritable or demand food. If that is not the case, you have no cause to grow apprehensive.
Consider your ABCs - applesauce, bananas, and cereal (rice, biscuits dipped in milk, or roti softened with milk/water). Boiled rice and dal with vegetables and give in mashed form. Gradually increase the amount and frequency. Introduce one new food item per week and stick to it at least for the week.
I would insist you to go through the following chart about what foods to give at what age:
http://www.yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Baby-Food-Chart-4-to-12-months-baby-yyyyyyyyy.jpg
A detailed diet chart can be found at:
http://yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.com/yyyyyyy-baby-food-chart/
Noting down so much information would have made the answer unnecessarily long. Pardon me for avoiding that.
Hopefully that clears your queries.
Regards
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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