13 Month Old with Anemia

3 of my kids have been anemic between 9mo and 15mo. Are you using a supplement? The one that we have found to be most effective is called Ferrets IPS. It is a liquid with a flavor, so it is much easier to give to little ones, and it doesn't bother tummies like so many other iron supplements do. It is not a prescription supplement, but it is not typically just sitting out, so we did have to ask the pharmacist for it.

Having worked with the same pediatrician with all of my kids, we have worked together over the years to more efficiently treat the anemia when it does happen with my kids. One thing that he learned when my most recent anemic baby was having issues was that pomegranate juice is loaded with vit C and really makes a difference in the iron absorption. It's expensive, so I bought a bottle and then froze it in ice cube trays and would just melt one of the cubes and give it to my son immediately following the iron supplement. Though he was the most anemic of any of my kids, he came out of it the fastest, had the greatest level of recovery, and began gaining weight again faster than any of them. I really think the pom juice made a difference!
It isn't just dairy that interferes with iron absorption, it's calcium. So if he's drinking calcium fortified OJ, that will be just as much a problem as drinking a glass of milk as far as blocking the iron.
Don't worry too much about meat, there are plenty of other iron rich foods out there that toddlers tend to do much better with. There is a decent list here: http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/nutrition/iron.html, although it you just google "iron rich foods" you should come up with a number of lists.

GL!

I wasn lucky enough to be able to get my daughter's iron levels up when she was still eating purees - chard, spinach, etc. I've recently been revisiting the idea with "super smoothies" that have steamed and pureed greens with various fruits. Most days I serve it she's pretty in to it. (Not my idea - a mom I was chatting with on the street suggested it and I had one of those "duh" moments!)

I would ask your doctor for advice on which iron supplement to give your son, as well as other alternatives for iron rich foods. Maybe call a nutritionalist, or do a websearch for the foods? A regular daily vitamin may not be enough to resolve the anemia.
I don't know about milk blocking absorption, because I have been anemic before and was never advised to restrict milk. It doesn't sound like you son has to much dairy for a normal diet (assuming dairy don't block absorption). My son has about 30 oz of milk a day, and as much cheese and yogurt as he can eat. You also might look for some iron fortified breads or cereals if he eats those. My main advice though, is to talk to his doctor.

Iron suppliments are harder for the body to absorb than iron found naturally in foods. Look for non-meat sources of iron. Also try disguising the meat if he won't eat it. Puree it and mix it in with food that he will eat. Liver is especially iron rich, but also has a strong taste and shouldn't be eaten too often for other reasons. But maybe you're little guy would try it if it's disguised.

As far as dairy & vitamin C, what matters is when it is eaten compared to the iron. Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron if it is taken at the same time (give him the supplement with his orange juice). Calcium can inhibit absorption if taken at the same time, so don't give him dairy when you give him the iron. And it sounds like he has less dairy than many kids (he's getting 3 servings, recommended is 4 I think)

Also, please, please, make sure that you always keep any vitamins with iron in them (kids, adults, any) out of reach and sight of him. It only takes a few to reach toxic levels and can be deadly. My kids got into the vitamins that were supposed to have a child-proof cap and ate who knows how many; fortunately ours didn't have iron so they were OK. But take every precaution you can!

As an anemic pregnant womanm, I can sympathize. Ask your pediatrican about the supplement. I ended up on a prescription iron pill because the OTC supplement and iron-fortified foods I art weren't enough. Once iron gets low, it's hard to get it back up with food alone.

Calcium does hinder absorption. I was told to avoid dairy for 1-2 hours before and after taking my supplement.

I was anemic during pregnancy and the advice I was given was to consume my dairy at the opposite part of the day from when I took my iron supplement. So I drank milk, had cheese, and yogurt in the morning and took my supplement in the evening with OJ to get the best absorbtion on the iron. You don't want to cheat his bone growth (calcium) to get better iron absorbtion. Good luck to you!

Hi D.-

I had this same issue & posted this question about a year ago. If you click on my name, it should lead you to the questions I've asked & read the great responses. For what it's worth, we almost never used the drops, but after eating red meat about 4-5 times a week (and some spinach I made or as Happy Baby spinach & mango cubes or Dr. Praegers spinach bites), she was fine 6 months later at her check. She had ground beef (grass-fed, which is better for them) with ketchsup or meatballs I made with egg, breadcrumbs, worchester sauce & ground apple a lot. Good luck!

There are many non-meat sources of iron available, most notably leafy greens. I think I remember reading that dried apricots are high in iron. Perhaps Google "vegan sources of iron" for some non-meat ideas.
Remember, too, that "slightly anemic" means "mostly fine." If you're eating a mostly whole foods diet and paying attention to eating well during your pregnancy, this slight anemia will likely resolve itself. Good for you for being so proactive.
Best wishes!

Mine was anemic at his 9 and 12-month appointments, but checked out just fine at his 15-month. I had been giving him a daily iron supplement, but honestly wasn't that consistent about it, so I think he kind of just outgrew the problem. He does eat some veggies with iron, but not a lot of meat. Also, the thing about dairy blocking iron is only a problem if the dairy and iron are consumed at the same time. If there is even a half hour between, his body will be able to absorb the iron just fine.

My son was anemic at that age too, and continued to be so no matter what we did until he was 3. We did EVERYTHING, and then stopped stressing about it... he had no problems, no symptoms and so we just did what we could and tried not too worry too much about it as long as he continued to not have problems. When we went in for his 3 year check, he was just about normal and now he is fine (he is 4 now). Good luck with him!