Iron, breastfeeding and blw

[anemaskell]

Please could I ask for some advice? My lo is 7 months and have started blw - he is not eating very much and I’m concerned about the iron levels, as I know he needs some from food. I have read he needs 11 ml a day which he isn’t getting. Should I start supplements? He is breastfed...

Vitamin C also going well - he loves mango and strawberries so have been taking advantage of this!

Hi OP, I think if you're aware of the issue and are offering iron rich foods regularly then things should be ok. There is a recent study from New Zealand that showed BLW is as effective as traditional weaning if you are aware of the requirements for iron/zinc and provide the right foods. It's pretty much one of the only studies done on BLW, it's a pretty new concept and I definitely think you are right to be thinking about this! (I'm weaning my third ebf baby, 1st two were BLW, this one I'm spoon feeding iron rich stuff alongside finger foods).

My DS2 was recently hospitalized, had blood tests and was not anaemic. He is 16 months, breastfed from birth and continuing, and feeds himself BLW-style. He is also vegetarian, as am I. From what some people have been saying here it would be impossible for him to have got sufficient iron. I wonder how it's possible that he isn't anaemic?

All breastfed babies should get a vitamin supplement, I think you can get them free from your HV. I'd consider iron too if your baby isn't a good eater.

Broccoli and steak sounds super. Nice job! Remember iron is stored in the body, unlike some nutrients (e.g. Vitamin c), so not getting it every single day can be made up for eg with lots of meat /iron rich at other times. Whereas the same is not true of other nutrients eg the water soluble vitamins where the daily requirement is needed all the time.

Check tho trust Vitamin d supplement is being had as that is really essential -- esp as we are now getting into winter time.

Yes I’m giving him other vitamins - A, C and D. Thanks!

That’s very interesting AssassinatedBeauty - could I ask what iron rich foods your little one eats as BLW?

Looking at @Appraiser's list, pretty much most of the vegetarian foods that are listed there. None of us are wild about eggs, but I will do things like egg fried rice which gets eaten. Both my children will eat tofu, pulses and so on as well as a variety of green veg.

OP - congratulations, you are doing great!:)

sauceyorange - Kellymom is a brilliant website when it comes to breastfeeding but, unfortunately, some of other articles (e.g. the one about iron deficiency) are plain wrong.

I provided a link to the Scienceofmom blog that explains why Kellymom's post on iron deficiency is misleading. Of course, we are only talking about risks and probabilities so it does not mean every baby that is not getting iron rich food will end up with iron deficiency but why take risks when the problem can be prevented relatively easily?

FWIW, I haven't given my DD any iron supplements but, like OP, I am also wary of her iron intake and try and make sure she gets iron rich food. Luckily, she also likes broccoli and beef:).

Had success with these! https://gardentherapy.ca/baby-iron-muffins/[smile]