After six months your little one will be more susceptible to iron deficiency, so it’s important you incorporate enough iron rich foods in their diet. Here are a few tips to help.
Milk - Breastfeed or use a formula until your baby is at least 12 months old. The iron in breast milk is well absorbed and formula is made with added iron and Vitamin C.
Cow's milk - cow’s milk isn’t suitable as a drink for babies younger than 12 months. Cow's milk is low in iron and Vitamin C. Small amounts of cow's milk, as part of solids, can be given from around seven months.
Solids around six months – you can introduce solids sometime between four and six months, depending on your baby's development. Make sure you include foods that are high in iron. Farex or Wattie’s Iron Enriched Cereals are good options, and can be mixed with breast milk or formula for a familiar taste.
Stick with it – keep giving your baby their iron enriched cereals until at least 12 months. For older children you can also stir in dry iron enriched cereals to other foods such as fruit, vegetables and yoghurt to help boost iron intake.
Meat is full of iron – it’s true. Meat is one of the best sources of iron. You can offer puréed meat to your little one once they start solids. For older babies finely chopped slices of meat are good as finger food.
What are some iron rich foods?
As well as breast milk and formula, there are some foods that are great to boost your baby’s iron intake. Don’t forget high Vitamin C foods also help absorb iron.
Meat - lean beef and lamb, kidneys, liver, are all excellent sources of iron. Lean chicken and pork contain a little less, but are still good.
Fish - is a source of iron too, although not quite as good as red meat. Fish can be introduced as a first food.
High Vitamin C foods – lots of fruit and veges contain vitamin C. Particularly high sources are berries, capsicums, broccoli, tomatoes, mandarins, oranges, kiwifruit and pineapple.
