![]() ![]() Full-term babies who are breastfed or who get iron-fortified infant formula from birth do not need an iron supplement.Should I give my child an iron supplement? Drinking too much cow’s milk can lead to iron deficiency (limit to 500 mL after 12 months of age).Wait until your baby is 9-12 months old before introducing whole cow’s milk. Be sure your baby is getting other sources of iron and vitamin C before you start to offer cow’s milk.Even though cow’s milk has about as much iron as human milk, the body doesn’t absorb it well. No, cow’s milk is not a good source of iron. Or top spaghetti with a meat and tomato sauce. For example, serve an iron-fortified breakfast cereal with orange slices. To help the body absorb iron, combine these foods with good sources of vitamin C, such as oranges, tomatoes and red peppers. Vegetables: Spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green peas, beans.Legumes: Chickpeas, lentils, dried peas and beans.Grains and cereals: Iron-fortified cereals, whole grain breads, enriched bread, pasta and rice.Meats: Beef, lamb, pork, veal, liver, chicken, turkey, seal (especially liver).Non-heme iron comes from plant sources like legumes, vegetables and cereals.Heme iron is more easily absorbed by the body.Source: Health Canada, Dietary Reference Intakes What foods are good sources of iron? The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is the amount a person needs every day to stay healthy. Once babies start eating solid foods, the amount of iron they need depends on their age. If breastfeeding is not an option, use a store-bought iron-fortified infant formula for the first 12 months. However, waiting too long after 6 months to introduce other foods increases your baby’s risk of iron deficiency. How much iron do babies and children need?įull-term babies are born with a reserve of iron, which comes from their mother’s blood while they are in the womb.įor the first 6 months, breastfed babies will get what they need from their mother’s milk. Low levels of iron can make it hard for children to concentrate and cause them to feel tired and weak. Iron deficiency can affect how older children do in school. Babies who don’t get enough iron (“iron deficiency”) may be less physically active and develop more slowly. What are the symptoms of iron deficiency?īabies and children need iron for their brains to develop normally. They can’t carry enough oxygen to your body’s organs and muscles. When you don’t have enough iron, red blood cells become small and pale. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen to all cells in the body. Iron is a mineral that babies and children need for good health and development.
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