So my son is 10 months and we EBF and we are doing baby led weaning. BUT I can't figure out what to give him to boost his iron. I don't really want to give a supplement and he will not take cereal at all. I got multigrain cereal but he just won't eat it. He presses his lips together unless he can feed himself. An ideas what he can feed himself... so far there is nothing he won't eat. It has to be stuff he can feed himself that is not a choking hazard.
Thanks for the info I was just worried about these dark circles under his eyes that keep getting worse. He sleeps fine and BF all the time so I am not worried about milk intake. I guess I am worrying about nothing.
PS my DH says the dark circles aren't as bad as I think they are.
Why do you need to boost his iron?
Take him to the doctor and ask that his iron is checked. My EBF was anemic at nine months, and they say it is pretty common. It is something that needs check by the doctor.
Why do you need to boost his iron? Did his dr tell you his iron was low? Does he have teeth?
Will he eat cereal such as Cheerios? Most cold cereal is fortified with iron, just try to avoid the sugary cereals and go with something that has whole grains. I also agree with the other posters that you don't need to be too concerned with his iron intake unless he has had tests that show it is low. My son was also EBF and didn't start eating solids until he could feed himself, around 9 months old. If I remember correctly, your baby will receive enough iron from breast milk since it is absorbed better by the body than iron that is found in vitamins or added to food.
Here are some ideas from other mom blogs/threads ....
http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/86843/iro...
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/news/?p=406
I like to sneak in fresh spinach that I have wilted myself chopped up and mixed in with other foods. I have always been boarderline anemic not enough to need iron pills on a regular basis but enough to not be able to give blood.
I use to mix cooked spinach and yogurt and my son loved it. Also mixed spinach with bananas. Spinach is high in iron. Also you could make a lentil soup of sorts then puree it and try giving him that.
Protein sources of iron are the most easily absorbed, and red meat has the highest levels of iron. Liver (chicken liver, beef liver) actually has significantly more iron than other cuts of meat, although I don't know if liver is safe for an infant. Beans (ex. black beans, lima beans, navy beans, lentils) are good sources, as are green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale.
If you cook things in a cast-iron skillet, it increases the amount of iron absorbed from foods, too.
Ive heard apricots are really high in iron. If you purchace dried apricots and then take a sauce pan and add just enough water to cover the bottom of the pan, place the apricots in lining the pan and let them steam until they are all plumped up again and then puree them for him.
Good Luck
