Quick answer

NIH lists 90 mcg of iodine a day for ages 1 to 8, 120 mcg for ages 9 to 13 and 150 mcg for teens, with upper limits of 200 to 900 mcg by age. NIH says formula and food should be a baby's only sources. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before giving a child any iodine product.^1,2

Key facts

NIH lists daily iodine amounts of 90 mcg for children aged 1 to 8, 120 mcg for ages 9 to 13 and 150 mcg for teens.¹
Upper limits rise with age, from 200 mcg at ages 1 to 3 to 900 mcg at 14 to 18, and NIH sets none for infants.²
NIH says formula and food should be the only sources of iodine for infants.²
FDA says infants and children are at highest risk of thyroid cancer from radioactive iodine, and that taking more potassium iodide than directed adds no protection and can cause severe illness or death.³
The prescription potassium iodide label says its safety and effectiveness in children have not been established.⁴

What iodine amounts does NIH list for children and teens?

Children need 90 mcg a day from age 1 to 8 and 120 mcg from 9 to 13. Infants need 110 to 130 mcg, and formula and food should be their only sources.^1,2

The recommended amount for teens aged 14 to 18 is 150 mcg a day, the same as for adults. NIH says most people in the United States get enough iodine from foods such as dairy, eggs, seafood and iodized salt.¹

What are the upper limits for children?

NIH lists the highest daily intake unlikely to cause harm, from all foods, drinks and supplements together: 200 mcg at ages 1 to 3, 300 mcg at 4 to 8, 600 mcg at 9 to 13 and 900 mcg at 14 to 18. It sets no limit for infants, because formula and food should be their only sources.²

Those numbers are far lower than the adult limit of 1,100 mcg, which matters for products made for grown-ups, such as kelp or iodine-only supplements. In one analysis of 96 seaweed and kelp products, labels were often inaccurate.^2,5

Long use of high doses can cause iodism, with a burning mouth or throat, a metallic taste, sore teeth and gums, head cold symptoms, irritated eyes and acne-like skin changes. These usually fade soon after stopping.^3,4

Where do iodine tablets for radiation emergencies fit?

Potassium iodide is a drug that FDA has approved for radiation emergencies, and it is not a daily supplement. FDA says infants, children and pregnant or nursing women are at highest risk, so they are treated at the lowest exposure threshold, and that local officials will say whether anyone needs it.³

FDA's questions and answers list doses for each age group for use in an emergency, and warn that a higher dose or more frequent doses gives no extra protection and can cause severe illness or death. A prescription potassium iodide solution label says its safety and effectiveness in children have not been established. Ask your doctor or pharmacist in advance about what applies to your child.^3,4

What about iodine on the skin or in a nasal spray for kids?

An over-the-counter povidone iodine antiseptic label tells users to keep the product out of the reach of children and to call poison control if it is swallowed. It also says to stop use and ask a doctor if the condition persists or gets worse.⁶

The sources checked do not rule on povidone iodine on a child's skin, or on iodine nasal products or sprays for children. That is not a finding either way, so ask your pharmacist or your child's doctor.

Does a seafood allergy mean an iodine allergy?

A seafood or shellfish allergy does not necessarily mean a person is allergic to iodine.³

The prescription potassium iodide label lists known sensitivity to iodides as a reason not to use it, and says hypersensitivity can show as swelling under the skin, bleeding in the skin and mucous membranes, or fever with joint pain. FDA also asks people with known iodine sensitivity to avoid the drug.^3,4

Questions people ask

Is iodine good for teens?

NIH lists 150 mcg a day for teens aged 14 to 18 and an upper limit of 900 mcg, and says most people in the United States get enough from food. Ask your doctor before a teen takes an iodine supplement.^1,2

Is iodine safe for kids' skin?

An over-the-counter povidone iodine label says to keep it out of children's reach and to stop use and ask a doctor if the condition persists. The sources checked do not rule on use on a child's skin, so ask your pharmacist.⁶

Is nasal iodine safe for kids?

The sources checked do not address nasal iodine in children. That is not a finding either way, so ask your child's doctor or your pharmacist before using any iodine product in the nose.⁶

Is iodine spray safe for kids?

The sources checked do not address iodine sprays for children. FDA's list of approved potassium iodide products names tablets and an oral solution, not sprays. Ask your child's doctor or your pharmacist.³

Is potassium iodide safe for kids?

FDA says potassium iodide is for radiation emergencies, in doses set by age, when local officials say it is needed. Taking more than directed can cause severe illness or death. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before keeping any on hand.³

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This page is information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.