Hung up on iron intake

[Keznel]

I'm concerned about my DD's iron intake. She is 7months and still on aptamil first milk. I did the maths with the iron content in her formula and its giving her around 3-4mg per day. The recommended daily intake is 11mg. I asked advice from my HV and she said as long as she's eating a varied diet of solids it should be fine. She is however not great at eating savoury stuff, but will eat fruit til it's coming out her ears! So I'm not convinced her solid diet is making up the extra 7mg she needs. Wondering am I the only one with this concern, or am I just a big sucker of the advertising campaigns from follow on milks 'give your baby the extra iron they need'? Any thoughts advice would be appreciated

[ElphabaTheGreen]

You're being a sucker

'Follow on milks' are a rort, invented by the formula companies to flout the ban on advertising formula for babies under 6 months. They changed the formulation slightly to justify the difference, but really it's just so they can get their brand names out there to the parents FFing their newborns. NHS doesn't recommend follow-on milks - first milks are absolutely fine up until one year, then cows milk thereafter. Is your DC drinking over a pint of formula a day? If not, vitamin drops are recommended, mainly for the vitamin D I think, but they do contain iron as well.

[Keznel]

She averages about 22-23 floz a day so that's just over a pint The HV mentioned a vit supplement but was very non committal with a 'its up to you' attitude which is generally her answer to all my questions! I know I'm over anxious but am a first time mum scared I'm going to break the baby

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Yes, you are being a sucker . Firstly, where have you got the 11mg recommendation from? I've just had a quick look, not sure what I've read was correct but it said that between 7 and 12 months its 7.8mg per day.

As for the big iron con have a read here, its a great article on iron and formula advertising. Agree too that the NHS don't recommend follow on or toddler milks at all and there is some evidence that they can lead to impared development.

Don't forget too that the baby's iron stores don't just run out the day they reach 6 months. If your baby was full term and receives the recommended 20floz of first milk per day between 6 and 12 months, it is very, very unusual for them to develop anaemia.

As for the foods, I'd just keep offering the savoury for some meals but don't offer the sweet things if she refuses the savoury. At 6 months there is no reason she can't eat most of what you eat provided you eat fairly healthily . You can just stick it on her tray and let her feed herself (babyledweaning) or if you prefer mush it up with a fork and spoon feed her.

If you are really worried about her iron intake then you could just

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Forgot to mention that the NHS currently recommend vitamins for all babies, see here and if you are concerned about iron deficiency you need to take her to the GP for a blood test.

[LilyVonSchtupp]

Yeah, I wouldn't worry about iron intake at this age. IIRC bread and infant cereals are iron fortified.

[hattymattie]

Do not supplement iron for a baby other than though formula or unless you have medical advice - you can overdose on it. The formula milk should be fine - I've raised three children - breast then follow-on milk they have all been fine.

[GlaikitFizzog]

Dried apricots are high in iron if you are looking for a sweet alternative. Also when I was weaning ds I mixed sweet and savoury, the cut the amount of the sweet down until it was just savoury. I did blw and a bit of purees just so I knew he was taking something every day.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Agree about the dried apricots, DD used to love those . Your DD might also like Chicken and apricot puree.

[Keznel]

The 11mg I got from a website just doing a google search but yes have seen 7.8mg quoted as daily amount too. Thanks for all comments I have now calmed down a bit about it jiltedjohnsjulie the link about vitamins very interesting I'd of thought HV's should be passing on this advice! But your link to the article about iron took me to a book 'my child won't eat' Also like the apricot & chicken suggestion I do a grown up recipe of chicken, broccoli and apricot bake so will give her some of that next time I'm making it.

[Keznel]

Chicken leg for tea - hilarious

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Yes I agree that HVs should be informing mums about the vitamins too, especially as it is NHS advice. Sorry about the link, will try to do it again later .

Just love that chicken leg video too, he just looks so happy

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

The article on iron is here. It is aimed mainly at bfers but the same things mostly apply to ffers, and explains things like the different types of iron, all of which is useful to know.

Glad you've calmed down a bit too .

[Keznel]

jiltedjohnsjulie thanks for the link to the article, I am convinced - first milk forever! Well until she's 1 anyway I now have some very interesting facts to quote when I get strange looks from other mums at the classes we go to, when I say we're still on first milk!

[Drladybird]

I think it is easy to be concerned about iron. I always felt that HV made me anxious by talking about the extra supplements I needed to take (when bf) and then give to my child. I did some research to look into iron and put it here: iron amounts and sources. My daughter is vegetarian so I was initially concerned but I am now happy that she has had sufficient iron. There are plenty of sources from dried fruit to seed butters (to spread on bread).

Thanks for sharing the link to the article jiltedjohns- makes interesting reading.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Only wish I knew half of this stuff when DC1 was litte .