During Infancy Iron-deficiency anemia during infancy is a common problem in North America.
Anemia is characterized by a low level of red blood cells.
The most common cause of anemia is an inadequate amount iron in the diet. A child with anemia may be tired or pale looking, may be irritable, or may not have any obvious signs at all. Importantly, some recent studies have shown that anemia during the first few sensitive months of life can lead to long-term delays in mental and physical development. So preventing anemia during the first year is very important. Premature babies are particularly high at risk, although anemia can also occur in full-term babies if they aren't receiving enough iron in their diet.