Iron is a mineral that keeps red blood cells healthy. People can take iron supplements (in pill or liquid form) alone or as part of a multivitamin. Taking too much iron can cause serious medical problems. The iron level in your child's blood was checked and is not at a dangerous level. Here's how to care for your child at home. This is a good time to review how to store and give medicines and supplements safely.

Home Care

• If your child takes iron or a multivitamin with iron, ask your health care provider when they should start taking it again.
• Your child can eat a regular diet and return to normal activity. 

Medicine and Supplement Safety Tips

• To give them safely:
  • Follow the package directions for how much to give and how often.
  • If it comes with a dropper or cup, use that to give the medicine or supplement.
  • When you give medicine more than once or give more than one medicine, write down or record on your phone the name and dosage of the medicine and the time you gave it.
  • When giving more than one medicine, be sure they don't contain the same ingredients. For example, some cough and cold medicines contain acetaminophen, so giving your child more acetaminophen along with them can be dangerous. 
  • Don't call medicine "candy" when trying to get your child to take it.
• Store them safely:
  • Keep medicines (even those you can buy without a prescription) and supplements in a locked cabinet, out of the reach of children. 
  • Put them away after giving a dose.
  • Keep purses and handbags that might contain medicine away from kids.
  • Keep the lids tightly closed.
  • Always keep medicine in their original containers.
  • Keep track of how much medicine or supplement is left in a bottle. You can write the date on the label and the number of pills, or draw a line at the level of liquids.
  • Know about the medicines and supplements you have in your home. Get rid of those you no longer need. If you're not sure how to do this, talk to your health care provider or visit fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/where-and-how-dispose-unused-medicines.

• Your child gets new symptoms such as nausea (feeling sick to the stomach), vomiting, diarrhea, or belly pain.
• You need help with what dosage of medicine your child needs or if it's safe for your child.

You know your child best. If they have symptoms that worry you, call your health care provider right away.

• Your child has:
  • bloody or black poop
  • vomit with blood in it or that looks like coffee grounds
  • severe belly pain
• Your child develops a yellow color to the eyes or skin.

Call 911 if your child is confused, passes out, can't be woken, or has changes in their breathing.

Why do people take iron? Iron is an important part of a healthy diet. If someone doesn't get enough iron in their food, they need to take extra iron in the form of a pill or liquid.

What can happen if someone takes too much iron? Too much iron can lead to nausea; belly pain; vomiting; heart, liver, and intestinal problems; low blood pressure; coma; and even death.

How can a child get too much iron? A child might take iron supplements or multivitamins that have been left out (for example, on a counter or in someone's purse), or stored in a bottle with a loose cap. Or a caregiver might give an incorrect dosage of a children's multivitamin or iron supplement.

What should I do if I think my child got too much of any medicine? Call Poison Control right away for advice (800-222-1222). Keep the number posted in your home (for example, on the refrigerator) and put it in your phone contacts.