When little kids between 1 and 5 years old don’t have enough iron in their blood, it can slow down how well they think and move, and checking their ferritin levels can tell us this is happening early.

When little kids between 1 and 5 years old have less iron in their blood, they tend to do worse on tests that measure how well they talk, move, and interact with others.

When kids under 7 don’t have enough iron in their blood, it can make it harder for them to think clearly and move smoothly, because their brains aren’t getting the right materials to grow and work properly.

Kids who don’t have enough iron in their blood are often the same kids who have trouble paying attention or who behave in ways linked to ADHD or autism.

Giving iron supplements to kids who don’t have enough iron in their blood might help them pay attention better and focus more, especially if they’re between 2 and 12 years old.