Haven't given 8 month old much red meat - starting to fret about iron intake

[PassionKiss]

I don't eat a lot of red meat and talking to other mums at baby group it seems a lot of babies are eating blended up sunday roasts and sausages etc.

DD has a lot of veg, pasta, cheese, fish, some chicken etc. I was happy she was getting lots of goodness from my breastmilk still but my confidence in that has been knocked over the last few days . . . I don't give vitamin drops either (slack mummy )

She looks healthy and energetic to me so I'm sure she's fine but I'm just looking for ideas on what to give to ensure she is getting enough iron - I feel really clueless on this!

[foxytocin]

What you are doing means she is getting enough iron. Stop fretting and keep enjoying your baby.

[mmmmmchocolate]

I'm sure she's fine too! There is more iron in the dark meat on a chicken than the breast so if she has that that will help up the iron intake. I dont eat lots of read meat either so I batch cook and freeze chilli or bolognaise for DD1 and beef casserole for DD2. They have that once a week if I can't be bothered to cook. Also I wouldn't think sausages are great for an 8 month old very fatty and salty. It sounds like she has a great diet though :)

[thisisyesterday]

my 3 babies have never had vitamin drops and we are also vegetarian

i have 3 happy healthy boys, of 6, 3 and 18 months. stop fretting!

it's true that breastmilk doesn't contain too much iron, but the iron it does have is almost ALL absorbed by your baby, so really no need to worry
if she's eating green leafy veg and other iron-rich foods that's good too

[exexpat]

Sounds fine to me. My DCs have never had meat (didn't have vitamin drops either) and are now tall, strong, healthy 12 and 8 year-olds.

The kind of good varied diet you're giving them sounds much better than sausages.

[BornToFolk]

DS has never had red meat and is a healthy 3 year old.
Good, baby-friendly sources of iron include breakfast cereal (Weetabix and Ready Brek), dried apricots, wholemeal bread, chickpeas, baked beans, eggs.

[Goingspare]

And I don't think there's iron in vitamin drops for young children because they're not supposed to have too much (so the pharmacist told me when mine were small, anyway).

[PassionKiss]

Thanks all.

Oh good - she does have wholemeal pita, eggs and I've just made a big batch of chickpea veg curry for her.

She doesn't have a lot of green, leafy veg either as I don't tend to buy it - I will try harder with this, will get spinach and broccoli tomorrow!!

Baked beans - never thought of them for babies, I could get a low-salt one to try.

Thanks, some good ideas for me here!