Tehini for baby??? Iron?

[Harmony08]

It seems to be high in iron. Has anybody given it to their baby?

What do you give for iron?

[cristeen]

I'd be more worried about your own iron levels... get that resolved and your BM should be providing all the iron baby will need.

[LauraN]

The Lebanese feed their babies hummus (which is made with Tahini, chickpeas and olive oil) practically as a first food. I'd want to make sure that I soaked the chickpeas for a good long time before making the hummus, though. I'd also make sure that the tahini was made with only sesame seeds and didn't have any bad oils added (like soybean oil!)

That said, I agree with the PP--BM is the best source of iron for babies, it's the most readily absorbable. If my baby was low in iron, I'd start cooking in an iron skillet and eating lots of iron-rich foods myself.

[anomaly13]

I agree with pp about breastmilk. you can try blackstrap molasses, I used to make homemade ceral and add just a little of the molasses to it. but I would also do the under eye check to see if iron is low first. (gently pull down on skin under eyes and see how red the inside are, the reder the better if it's pink/light then iron levels are low)

[vbactivist]

It's my understanding that you can't increase the iron in your breastmilk. That your baby is born with sotres of iron (gotten through healthy amounts from mom during pregnancy) and than afterwards only absorbs a small amount through breastmilk, no matter what the moms diet is.

Does anyone have info on this?

[organicmidwestmama]

your babe is over 6 months? if so you can give soft egg yolk with a bit of salt, soft mashed meat cooked in beef stock, cooked liver ect. all are high in easily absorbed iron.

[wholewheatmama]

Originally Posted by vbactivist

It's my understanding that you can't increase the iron in your breastmilk. That your baby is born with sotres of iron (gotten through healthy amounts from mom during pregnancy) and than afterwards only absorbs a small amount through breastmilk, no matter what the moms diet is.

Does anyone have info on this?

Kellymom addresses this well: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/iron.html


I gave my babe tahini (in hummus) at about 7-8 months old. She *loved* it! Just be aware that sesame allergies are possible, so be on the lookout for any signs: http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipe...by-sesame.html

[EnviroBecca]

Sorghum syrup has lots of iron, as well as other good stuff. It can be used to sweeten just about anything. We like it in oatmeal, pumpkin, and baked goods.

My son loved hummus from an early age, but he didn't like tahini by itself.

Once your baby has teeth, there are some wholegrain sesame crunchy snacks that are very good, nice size and texture for little fingers, and tasty dipped in tomato sauce (which also has iron, esp. if cooked in an iron pot). My food co-op sells them in the bulk section.

[Vancouver Mommy]

Pumpking seed butter is also high in iron.

[lolo'smom]

Originally Posted by vbactivist

It's my understanding that you can't increase the iron in your breastmilk. That your baby is born with sotres of iron (gotten through healthy amounts from mom during pregnancy) and than afterwards only absorbs a small amount through breastmilk, no matter what the moms diet is.

Does anyone have info on this?

dd had a "low" iron level at 1 year (which ended up being 0.4 too low, so hardly low at all - I asked for the numbers) but I did get some info from our doc which is different from yours, he said the baby is born with some stores and once that is gone the best source is breastmilk, iron fortified cereals and green leafy veggies and other foods (liver - yuck!) being second. he said that the iron in the bm was absorbed very well and there was less absorbed from food sources...