Quick answer: Give your child’s iron supplement with a meal that isn’t built around milk, yogurt or cheese, ideally alongside a vitamin C-rich food like strawberries or bell pepper. Calcium can reduce how much iron is absorbed, so keep big milk drinks a couple of hours apart where you can. Most importantly, follow the label and give it at the same time each day.
If your child takes an iron supplement, you’ve probably wondered whether it matters when you give it. The short answer is yes, a little. What your child eats and drinks alongside iron can change how much of it their body absorbs.
Here’s what helps, what gets in the way, and how to make it easy.
Does it matter when kids take iron?
The exact time of day matters less than what’s in the tummy at the same time. Some foods and drinks help the body absorb iron, while others compete with it. Timing iron around those is what makes the difference.
Consistency matters too. Giving iron at the same time each day makes it much easier to remember.
Should kids take iron with food or on an empty stomach?
Iron is absorbed best on an empty stomach, but it can be tough on little tummies that way. For most kids, taking iron with food is gentler and easier to stick with. Always follow the directions on your child’s supplement, as some are designed to be taken with food.
The trick is choosing the right meal to pair it with.
Does milk stop iron from being absorbed?
It can reduce it. Calcium competes with iron for absorption, so giving iron alongside a big glass of milk, a bowl of yogurt or a cheesy meal means less of that iron is absorbed.
Milk doesn’t need to be avoided, just spaced out. Where you can, keep big milk drinks and dairy-heavy snacks a couple of hours apart from iron. Offering milk between meals rather than with them also stops it filling little tummies before the food is eaten.
How does vitamin C help iron?
Vitamin C helps the body absorb non-heme iron, the type found in plant foods, eggs and supplements. Pairing iron with a vitamin C-rich food is one of the simplest things you can do.
Great options include strawberries, kiwi fruit, oranges and tangerines, bell pepper, tomato and broccoli.
What else affects iron absorption?
|
Helps iron absorption |
Can reduce iron absorption |
|---|---|
|
Vitamin C foods, like strawberries, kiwi fruit, citrus and bell pepper |
Milk, yogurt and cheese |
|
Eating a little meat, chicken or fish in the same meal |
Tea and cacao |
|
Taking iron with a meal that isn’t dairy-heavy |
Zinc supplements taken at the same time |
So what’s the best time of day?
Pick the meal that works best for your family and has the fewest competitors. For many kids, that isn’t breakfast, because breakfast often means milk, yogurt or cheese. Lunch or dinner with some vitamin C-rich veggies or fruit on the side is often an easy fit.
If breakfast is your best chance of remembering, try pairing iron with eggs and fruit, and save the milk for a mid-morning snack.
Where does an iron supplement fit in?
Food will always come first. But if your child is a picky eater, doesn’t eat much meat, or you want a little extra support, a children’s iron supplement can help.
Iron Immunity is designed to help bridge the gap in dietary iron intake while supporting a healthy immune system. It contains gentle iron bisglycinate, with vitamin C from acerola cherry and vitamin D3 in the same chewable. Iron supports healthy iron levels in the body, blood health and energy levels, and iron and vitamin D3 support immune system health.* It’s a natural tropical-flavored chewable for kids ages 4 and up. Follow the directions on the label.
WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.
When should I talk to a health professional?
If you’re unsure whether your child needs iron, they already take another supplement containing iron or zinc, or they’re on any medicine, check with your pediatrician or a qualified nutritionist before starting. And always store iron supplements up high and out of reach.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Frequently asked questions
Can kids take iron at bedtime?
They can, if that’s when it fits best, but many kids have a milk drink before bed. If that’s your routine, an earlier meal is usually a better match for iron.
Can I give iron with orange juice?
A little juice works, because it contains vitamin C. Whole fruit like orange segments, kiwi fruit or strawberries does the same job and brings fiber too.
Can iron be taken with a multivitamin?
Often, yes, but many children’s multivitamins contain iron and zinc too, so the total matters. Check both labels and talk to a health professional before combining them.
What if my child misses a dose?
Just carry on at the usual time the next day. Don’t give a double dose to make up for it.
References
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NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Iron: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Iron: Infant and Toddler Nutrition. https://www.cdc.gov/infant-toddler-nutrition/vitamins-minerals/iron.html
