New research suggests that babies should be screened for anaemia before they are eight months old to help prevent developmental delays.

Researchers at the University of Bristol monitored the development of 1,141 children born in Avon between 1991 and 1992 by taking blood samples at the ages of eight, 12, and 18 months and by developmental tests at 18 months of age.

The findings showed that the babies with lower iron levels at eight months had less well developed motor skills by 18 months of age. And their general development was also delayed.

The results held true irrespective of how many children there were in the family, the gender of the child, breast feeding or the mother's level of education.

Doctors believe there is a vulnerable period of brain growth in the first eight months of a child's life, and that anaemia most seriously affects motor skills.

In this week's Archives of Disease in Childhood they pointed out that 12 to 30 per cent of the UK population is estimated to be anaemic, with deprived inner city areas, particularly badly affected and they called for babies to be screened for iron deficiency to help avert developmental problems.