Most babies will be able to tolerate a variety of foods by the time they’re eight months old. The important thing to keep in mind is starting them slow and picking foods high in iron and protein.
Here, in this article, we have enlisted the top 7 iron-rich foods that you should include in your baby’s diet.
Have a look!
- Dark leafy greens like Swiss chard, spinach, and kale are loaded with iron, fiber, and protein. These green veggies can be added to soups, stews, and purees.
2. Peas are an excellent source of iron when it comes to solid food options for babies. You can add them to purees and soups or serve them mashed with rice or bread.
3. Eggs: It is suggested to introduce eggs into a little munchkin’s diet at the age of 8 months. As they contain high amounts of protein and iron, not to mention other essential vitamins and minerals like Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, lutein, and choline. You can serve them boiled, scrambled, or as an omelet for breakfast, along with some toast or pancakes.
4. Spinach is loaded with many healthy nutrients; iron is one of them. Add chopped spinach to your kid’s diet by making soup or a meal.
5. Dried fruits like prunes, raisins, and dried apricots are rich in iron and fiber. You can add these to your child’s diet by adding them to their cereal or making a pudding with it.
6. Turkey, chicken, and lean red meat are also loaded with protein and iron. Adding this to your child’s diet will help them grow stronger and healthier.
Fresh fruits like blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries are good healthy sources of iron. You can feed these fruits pureed or as a mash to your baby. If your baby is more than 6 months old, you can also add these fruits to his oats or cereal porridge.
What Happens If They Don’t Get Enough Iron?
If you don’t get enough iron, it can cause anemia – a condition where your body is lacking enough healthy red blood cells to bring oxygen around the body. Anemia can leave you feeling weak, and short of breath, and cause headaches and/or dizziness.
It’s important for both you and your baby to get enough iron as low levels in babies can lead to poor growth, delayed motor skills, and impaired brain development.
How Do I Know If My Baby Needs More Iron?
This is an important question because when you know the exact time your baby’s need for iron increases; you can prepare yourself and your baby beforehand so that he or she doesn’t lack anything essential. Your little munchkin requires more iron after 6 months of age. As they start eating solid food, they no longer depend on formula milk or breast milk, which has high amounts of iron in them. So make sure that you give your child foods rich in iron from this point onwards.
If you find any of the below symptoms in your baby:
1. Fatigue
2. Pale skin
3. Irritability
4. Sluggishness and delayed development
It may be the indication that your little munchkin is suffering from IDA (Iron Deficiency Anemia).
It is because your baby does not get a sufficient amount of iron from natural sources. In such a case, iron supplements for babies may be the best option.
Iron supplements are available in several forms like liquid, chewable, gummies, etc. However, before choosing any of these, it is recommended to consult a pediatrician before giving any iron supplement to your little one.
I hope you find all the information shared in this blog proves useful. To know more about iron supplements for babies, women, and adults, stay tuned!
Originally Published at 7 Iron Rich Food to Add To Your Babies Diet
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