Best Iron Rich Foods For Baby

Iron the body needs iron to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein found in red blood cell that helps oxygen reach all other cells of the body.

Iron is essential to:

• Oxygen is essential for the body.
• Muscle metabolism
• Maintaining connective tissue
• Physical growth
• nerve development
• Cellular functioning
• Producing some hormones

Iron is usually found in breast milk. Formula-fed infants should be given iron-fortified formula.

Iron deficiency Anemia

Your toddler may not be getting enough iron when they switch to regular food. This is not common in the United States. Only 8 per cent toddlers are iron deficient.

Low iron can cause Anemia. This is when the body’s red blood cell count is too low. It could lead to oxygen not reaching key organs.

You may notice:

• are pale
• appear irritable
• Don’t want to Eat

It can cause:

• slower growth
• delayed motor skill development
• Iron supports the immune system, which can lead to a greater number of infections

Your child may not show symptoms at first but over time they may:

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• pale skin
• irritability
• Heartbeats that are irregular or fast
• Reduced appetite
• Slow weight gain
• dizziness
• Headaches
• Lightheadedness
• Problems concentrating

studies found that children who drink tea are more likely to suffer from iron-deficiency. This may be because tannins in tea reduce the body’s absorption of iron. Children may also be too full after drinking tea to eat.

How many irons does my toddler require?

Iron is vital for a toddler who is growing rapidly. Many cereals and toddler foods contain iron.

Iron requirements vary according to age.

• age 0-6 months: 0.27 milligrams (mg) per day
• age 6-12 months: 11 mg per day
• Ages 1-3 years: 7 mg daily
• Ages 4-8: 10 mg daily

Iron is needed by infants who are born prematurely or have a low weight at birth.

Heme vs. nonheme iron

Heme and nonheme are the two main forms of iron in food. Plants contain nonheme iron. Both heme and a nonheme form of iron are found in meats and seafood.

Nonheme Iron is not absorbed as readily as heme Iron. Both toddlers and adults can benefit from this. If your child is a vegetarian, or eats mostly vegetarian food, you should aim to give them twice the amount of iron recommended.

Iron-rich foods are better absorbed when they’re served with foods high in vitamin C.

Vitamin C-rich foods include:

• Orange juice and oranges
• grapefruit
• Kiwifruit
• tomatoes
• strawberries
• Bell peppers
• Papaya
• Cantaloupe
• sweet potatoes

What iron-rich foods should I feed my toddler?

Iron-rich foods and foods rich in vitamin C are good for your toddler’s health.

Lean meats

Meats and poultry are rich in heme iron which is easily digestible by the body. Iron is found in a variety of foods, including liver, organ meats and beef. For example, a 3-ounce serving (or 5 mg) of beef liver contains iron.

The dark meat of chicken and turkey is also rich in nutrients.

Make a casserole or stew for your toddler with lean, soft meat that has been well cooked. Remove the fat from the meat, as it contains very little iron. Another iron-friendly choice is spaghetti with meat and tomato.

Fortified cereals

Fortified Cereals , such as oatmeal and cereals are good ways to make sure your toddler is getting enough iron.

Iron-fortified cereals usually contain 100 percent of daily iron requirements in a single serving. Check the label to find out how much iron is in each serving. Fortified cereals like Cheerios are also common.

Iron is present in a cup of plain, uncooked rolled oats.

Add some strawberries or blueberries to your toddler’s breakfast cereal fortified with iron.

While fortified juices and cereals may provide additional iron, they are often high in sugar.

Beans

Beans can be a good compromise if you’re trying to eat a vegetarian or if your child doesn’t like meat. Soybeans and lentils are rich in iron, fiber and essential vitamins and minerals.

As an example:

• A half cup of White Beans contains 4 mg of Iron
• A half cup of legumes contains 3 mg of iron
• A half cup of red beans contains 2 mg of iron

Make a mild chili or soup with lentils. Add some enriched brown rice to your beans for an iron-rich meal and a complete source of protein.

Serve your toddler low-sugar baked bean on a whole wheat piece of bread as a lunch high in iron. The dish is enhanced with vitamin C when served with mashed sweet potatoes.

Chickpeas are another bean that is high in iron. They make a delicious snack for kids (and adults!) You can use chickpeas in hummus to get iron.

Some people are allergic to chickpeas . Ask your doctor if you are unsure whether to give your child chickpeas.

Spinach

Iron-rich vegetables include dark green leafy veggies like broccoli, kale and spinach.

Iron is found in a half cup of spinach that has been boiled and drained.

Add chopped spinach to your child’s meals or serve them finely chopped, steamed greens.

• Mac and cheese
• Scrambled eggs
• Smoothies

Raisins, raisins and other dried fruits

Kids love to munch on raisins. It’s good to know that raisins can help your toddler get a healthy dose of iron while also preventing constipation. One quarter cup of raisins contains about 1 mg iron.

Pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin Seeds contain iron, protein, healthy fats and fiber. A quarter cup of seeds has 2.5 mg of iron.

Make a trail mix using raisins, prunes and dried apricots. You can also add pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.

Remember that seeds and raisins can be choking hazards to very young children. These foods can be mashed or chopped into small pieces. Keep an eye on your child while they eat them.

Eggs

Iron, vitamins and essential proteins are all found in eggs. One hard-boiled yolk contains 1 mg iron.

Years ago, people have tried to limit egg consumption due to the cholesterol in eggs, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). research shows that eggs do not increase the risk of CVD.

Eggs are great for toddlers. They can be eaten in many different ways.

• Soft boiled with toast stick
• Hard boiled, whole or mashed
• Scrambled
• As an omelet
• In rice and noodles dishes

Add spinach or other iron-rich foods into omelets or scrambled egg. You can prepare them in different ways and see what your child likes.

Make sure that the eggs are fresh and cooked properly. Use organic free-range, fresh eggs sourced locally whenever possible.

Green peas

Green peas are rich in iron, protein, fiber and other nutrients. They are popular with toddlers, easy to prepare and go well with many different dishes.

Half a cup of green peas contains 1 mg of iron.

Peas can be added to stews, soups, and rice dishes. They are also great mashed with root vegetables.

When peas are in season, you can buy fresh peas or peas on pods. Ask your child to help shell the peas.

Consider mashing peas for babies to avoid choking hazards.

Tuna

Light tuna in a can is low-calorie and low-fat, and it also contains iron and other nutrients such as protein and omega-3 fat acids.

Three ounces canned light tuna in water contains 1 mg iron.

If you have a family history of seafood allergies, don’t mix shredded tuna and pureed veggies to increase your toddler’s iron.

Tofu

Tofu, a versatile and mild plant-based food, provides calcium, iron and other nutrients. If your child doesn’t consume meat, it can help provide them with some essential nutrients.

Iron is found in a half cup of tofu.

Tofu comes in different forms. Tofu firm can be chopped and added to stir-fries or salads, baked or used to make nuggets. Silken tofu is softer. It can be mixed with salad dressings or smoothies. Fruits and tofu are also great together for desserts.

Concerns have been raised about the potential harm isoflavones could cause to hormone balance. Experts believe that this is “unlikely.”

What are supplements?

According to National Institutes of Health around 12 percent of babies in their first year and around 8 percent of toddlers are low on iron.

If your doctor suspects that your child has iron-deficiency, they might prescribe iron supplement.

Keep all supplements away from children and follow the directions your doctor has given you. Consuming excessive iron may cause serious health issues.

Do not give iron supplements to your child without consulting with a doctor first. Most children don’t need supplemental iron.