Weaning at 6 months - am getting paranoid about this reducing iron thing.

[Tinker]

Baby now 7 months and isn't really taking to this weaning malarkey at all, Food still just sort of sits in her mouth, tongue doesn't seem to know what to with it. I wouldn't be especially bothered about it except that I keep reading about iron stores depleting from 6 months old. So, what to do? Do I panic? Help!

Don't panic! Just keep trying without getting too het up. I really wouldn't worry about a 6 month old baby not taking to weaning, unless weight was dropping through the centiles.

Not had her weighed for a while, trying to avoid further panic

i found this confusing too. there is a lot of mixed information about iron, iron stores, best sources of iron etc. My ds was a v slow weaner too - didn;t really properly strat solids till 9 months. But i understood taht milk (whether breast or formula) has iron in it - and it is the easily absorbed kind. I wouldn't worry too much.

No panic allowed! I bet her tongue will work things out over the next few months. It will take a while for her iron stores to deplete- I think they don't do a routine test for anaemia until at least 9 months in the US?

Tinker, join the club! ds 7 months too, is eating some finger food at lunchtime (we've tried carrot, apple and parsnip and he seems to like them all, especially apple) but not really much at all. I don't reckon there's a huge problem with the iron thing - though it's something I've been thinking about a bit and am going to start taking iron tablets again. I'm just going to keep trying, gradually introduce more things (very carefully as history of allergies) and not worry! ds is alert and healthy, smily and playful, and that's what matters to me.

i panicked about this too (ds2 is now 10 months) but has recently turned into a broccolli addict

Don't panic!! The phrase you need to hold onto is "start to deplete.." ie from 6 months the iron stores start to be used up, but as breastmilk contains readily absorbed iron then there is no need to worry at all. The recommendation for extra iron from 6 months is based on very old advice from when scientists didn't know that breastmilk contained iron. Unfortunately a lot of people, including health professionals are not up to date. My old HV kept barking on about it during ds's 8 month check.

This link (& the further links within it) should help ease your mind.

Phew! Thanks all, I will officially cease to panic. She's very alert and active (especially at night - har, har, har) so not worried about her development. Yes, I will hang on to phrase "start to deplete". My iron levels were sky high when pregnant so hope/assume she's getting enough that way.

Think our babies are very similar age foundintransleightion (mine born on 21 May)

Just read that link. Very reassuring, thanks.