Question
Baby So-and-So, who is 14 months old, has recently stopped drinking formula milk. Now, he only consumes Shuangwaiwai or yogurt. What should be done?
Answer
Baby So-and-So, at 14 months old, has developed severe anemia due to his refusal to drink formula milk. His health was previously good, and no treatment has been administered. Help is sought on how to get him to drink formula milk and prevent anemia. Children are prone to anemia between the ages of six months and three years, usually caused by iron deficiency, as the main substances needed for body recovery are protein and iron. Infants primarily rely on milk as their main food source after birth, so protein is generally not lacking. However, the iron content in milk is low, and iron in certain foods may not be absorbed and utilized adequately due to factors such as oxalates, carbonates, and plant acids. This can lead to iron deficiency anemia. Newborns typically rely on the iron reserves left by the mother and do not experience anemia. However, as infants grow and develop, these iron reserves are exhausted within a year, making children over six months old susceptible to anemia.