Is breast milk a good source of iron??

[princessmel]

My Dd (nearly 18 months)has yet another ear infection and more antibiotics.

She had some at start of Jan and some just befor xmas. Also some before that, but there was a bigger gap between them.

Anyway, yesterday the gp said she looked 'pale and wan' and asked if she was a good eater. I said not a fab one but she tries most things. She doesn't eat a huge amount. Her meals are a smaller than some similar age children.
She said to give her plenty of Iron rich foods and I just wondered if breast milk is rich in Iron.
She has 2 breast feeds a day and whenever she wakes in night.
She does eat solid food btw!

She said she was reluctant to do blood tests on babies and that her lips looked a nice colour. Do you think she was wondering about aneomia?(sp)

all the iron in breastmilk is absorbed by a baby unlike the iron in formula and cow's milk.

looking 'pale and wan' is such an opinion i don't think the doctor should have said it. a child with an ear infection is not exactly going to be hopping around and looking pink in the cheeks from the activity. and does your gp see your dd often enough to know she is looking paler than normal? is your daughter active and happy?

They do get iron from breast milk. Other good sources of iron:

• dried apricots - these are an easy sell. Other dried fruits are also good.
• molasses - good in cooking, or with peanut butter on toast
• seeds
• beans
• meat (any kind)

She's probably absolutely fine for iron, but if you're concerned, think about how much of these things she eats.

Hmm not that much NQC. She eats raisins and apricots. Has wheetabix for breakfast .

She sees her quite a lot Kiskidee. She was vey ill looking yesterday. Couldn't actually stay awake. Hot. Not like her at all.

When she doesn't have an ear infec then she is like a diff girl. Its so sad, I try my best but I'm still always at the docs. I really though that by bf her she'd be less likely to keep getting ill. Better Imunne system and all that.

She's probably fine. They do just get ear infections. My DS1 had loads of ear infections around this age. He's five now, and is never ill.