DS had his iron levels tested (after having a persistent cold/cough for about 2 months and other things were tested as well - got the all clear for that) and he has low iron levels - 4 when they should be up around 10-15 I think (don't know what measure they're using).
I don't want to do the iron based rice cereals and stuff (I don't have the patience to spoon feed while DH doesn't seem to mind at this stage). What can I offer and really encourage DS to eat to help boost his iron levels? He's still BF or has EBM in his CC bottles and is almost 7 months old.
We have to supplement with an iron liquid stuff that apparently tastes foul and if he won't take it straight we need to give it with juice - whole another post almost. How do I serve juice (diluted etc)?
DD had the iron liquid stuff too - but I didn't have any troubles getting her to take it. We put the dosage in a large syringe, then added juice into the syringe - then she took it no worries.
Hmmm, iron - anything green could be worth a try - whatever you can puree.
It must be very worrying for you. I was wondering if you had started giving your baby meat. Meat should be an important part of a baby's diet at this age. It provides the most easily accessible form of iron - and babies love it. Mince (ie spag bol) mixed through their vegies. Fingers of steak to suck and chew on and chop bones - they love it. Most of a baby's iron supplies are laid down during pregnancy. Breastmilk is low in iron (that's the design) but what there is in breastmilk is very easily digestable. Often formula is recommended - bad idea! It's high in iron - but almost entirely indigestable for your baby.
Puree spinach or silverbeet and you can mix it into anything. I usually mix some into mince meat with other vegies as a pasta sauce or when DD was little she liked spinach and pumpkin pureed together.
I remember one of my boys being low in Iron...gave him broccoli, spinach and also liver or lambs fry..both high in iron. I would puree it or mix it with something to disguise the taste like liver with apples. Robyn barker has great liver recipes. Iron is best absorbed with Vitamin C.
Other foods high in iron are kidney beans, peas and lentils, dried apricots, dates and wholegrain cereals and pasta.
What foods can I introduce to boost iron?
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- whatever you can puree.
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