Hemoglobin of 13.5 g/dL in a 1-Year-Old Male is Normal
A hemoglobin level of 13.5 g/dL is well above the normal threshold and indicates no anemia in a 1-year-old male child. This value is reassuring and requires no intervention.
Normal Hemoglobin Reference Values for 1-Year-Olds
The widely accepted lower threshold for hemoglobin in children aged 6-24 months is 11.0 g/dL, below which anemia screening and iron deficiency evaluation should be initiated 1, 2.
The average serum hemoglobin concentration for children aged 6-24 months is approximately 12.0-12.5 g/dL 1, 2.
Population-based data from the United States (1988-1994) shows that for 1-2 year old males, the 50th percentile hemoglobin is 120 g/L (12.0 g/dL), with the 75th percentile at 125.5 g/dL and 90th percentile at 130 g/dL 3.
Clinical Interpretation of This Specific Value
At 13.5 g/dL, this child's hemoglobin falls between the 75th and 90th percentile for age, which is completely normal and healthy 3.
This value is well above the anemia threshold of 11.0 g/dL and even exceeds the average range of 12.0-12.5 g/dL for this age group 1, 2.
No further evaluation for anemia or iron deficiency is warranted at this hemoglobin level 1.
Important Caveats
Hemoglobin values naturally vary by age in children, with levels gradually increasing during childhood after the physiologic nadir in infancy 1.
Altitude can affect hemoglobin levels, with an increase of approximately 0.2 g/dL at 1,000 meters above sea level, though this would not change the interpretation of this normal value 1, 2.
While this hemoglobin is normal, ensure the child receives adequate iron intake through iron-fortified foods to maintain healthy iron stores, as children consuming more than 24 oz of cow's milk daily remain at risk for future iron deficiency 1.