Told I need to start rice cereal for iron ~ help? - Page 2

[nia82]

DS was 3 weeks early and his placenta detached within 3 minutes after birth, so it is as if his cord got clamped early. At 9 months an anemia check is standard, our stupid military base refused to and I had to take matters into my own hands (I made up a reason to go to urgent care and asked the doc there to order a CBC, which he gladly did after hearing the story). He was very anemic by then, but he was a risk group (early baby, little cord blood). I did have to supplement him with iron drops for a while, but then he started solids and it normalized. I wasn't anemic throughout the time... I might consider having my second baby tested at 6 months just because of the history with DS. His HB was at 5!!!! But within 90 days it was in normal ranges.... I think we caught it on time...

[tzs]

iron rich foods are pretty easy....

beans are great, babies love 'em and are great for practicing pincer grasp (i coat with olive oil for fats)

oatmeal

blackstrap molassis

liver (chopped liver and pates are both mushy)

eggs (you can do just yolks if you are worried about allergies)

yogurt

cheese (you can do cheese shreds)

i did use the earth's best baby oatmeal...not as a "food" per se but as a thickener. you can mix it with yogurt or runnier purees or soups to make it easier for them to self feed and it adds iron as a bonus.

[Quinalla]

If you actually need more iron in your baby's diet, rice cereal is a terrible source. Sure, it has lots of iron, but it won't be absorbed much if at all. Meat is the best way But yes, while there is only a small amount of iron in breastmilk, it is absorbed extremely well. If there is no reason to think your baby is deficient, I wouldn't worry about it, and if you do think she could be, give her meat or something else if you don't want to do meat that has iron that is easier to absorb over rice cereal. My pediatrician tested at 9 months for iron and my baby was fine, but she's always been a meat eater and I have never been iron deficient, so she was getting plenty from breastmilk too I'm sure.

[Ninetales]

I feel a little dumb for asking, but how do you prepare meat for a baby?  Mine is 10 months and she's only ever had little tiny pieces of roast chicken off my finger as far as meat.  Do you give them big pieces, little pieces, or what?

[tzs]

Originally Posted by Ninetales 

I feel a little dumb for asking, but how do you prepare meat for a baby?  Mine is 10 months and she's only ever had little tiny pieces of roast chicken off my finger as far as meat.  Do you give them big pieces, little pieces, or what?

chicken soup chicken is really soft. chopped liver and pate is soft and mushy. ground meats are really easy too....meatloaf, meatballs, meat sauce for pasta, etc....

and then we also did little pieces too. like beef shreds from asian food work really well.

i know some people will let them suck on a bone with a little meat on it.

[Buzzer Beater]

Originally Posted by Asiago 

This is a great article on this subject. The sources are all listed at the bottom of the page.

http://thebabybond.com/Iron%20Supplements.html

 I recommend reading this article. It changes my perception of things a bit... I think I am sending this to my HCP.

"Several studies on babies exclusively breastfed for up to 12 months of age demonstrate that their iron levels remain satisfactory.^8-11 On the other hand, babies who are weaned onto formula or fed solid foods before 6 to 9 months may develop anemia. "

[dogretro]

Our ped told me that the reason for iron lowness is b/c maternal stores of iron drop after six months.  I figure, no big deal, I give dd2 vitamin drops.  Also, regular cereals, like Cheerios, have iron in them & are good for practicing the pincer grasp.  Oats are also good fiber and good for the heart.  DD2 has always fed herself & she eats all kinds of things, so I do not worry about her.  She still loves to nurse, too :)  She probably doesn't really need the vitamin, but it makes me feel better.  I eat well, but rarely remember to take my vitamin; I almost always remember to give her hers.

I am okay w/ using baby cereal as a thickener if feeding baby food, but I would not feed it to my own kids plain.  That stuff tastes NASTY!  DD2 hates all baby food.  She wants something to chew!

[sosurreal09]

they told me the same and i demanded a test and guess what? her iron was fine...they are so full of it.

[texasfarmom]

Hi Dixielane~ I couldn't read your post and reply that I have the same *exact* concerns as you. (In fact, I've read other posts by you, and you and I seem so much alike! ; )  ) Our pediatrician also recently told me that I NEEDED to start rice cereal. She also said I need to start giving a vitamin D supplement. I'm not theoreticalloy opposed to that, but I don't really think she needs it. You've already heard great advice from pps. I looked at kellymom for advice on the iron situation when I was told that as well. No rice cereal here either. Bring on weird looks from family and friends. :)

[Pirogi]

Originally Posted by nia82 

DS was 3 weeks early and his placenta detached within 3 minutes after birth, so it is as if his cord got clamped early. At 9 months an anemia check is standard, our stupid military base refused to and I had to take matters into my own hands (I made up a reason to go to urgent care and asked the doc there to order a CBC, which he gladly did after hearing the story). He was very anemic by then, but he was a risk group (early baby, little cord blood). I did have to supplement him with iron drops for a while, but then he started solids and it normalized. I wasn't anemic throughout the time... I might consider having my second baby tested at 6 months just because of the history with DS. His HB was at 5!!!! But within 90 days it was in normal ranges.... I think we caught it on time...

I thought (but am not 100%) that in the studies of early vs "delayed" cord clamping, that "delayed" was defined as at the three minute mark.  Not trying to be argumentative at all, but even with this small amount of delay, it was found that babies whose cords are left intact for just three minutes have much higher iron stores at 6 months than those in the early cord clamping (ie, immediately after birth) group.  Does anyone know if there have been studies that looked at ... err, significantly delayed cord clamping and iron stores in the first year of life?  Like, 15 minutes or more?
 

[SilverFish]

a great source of iron i discovered is pumpkin seed butter (you can find it at the grocery store with the almond, cashew, and sunflower seed butters). we don't eat meat, and dd isn't great at eating things like beans yet, so i wanted something high iron that was also a good source of fat and yummy tasting (and not a nut or other allergen). i think this fits the bill. i stir it into mashed sweet potatoes, squash or other roasted veggies, i spread it on crackers and pitas, and sometimes she just licks it off my finger. it is really divine in mashed veggies though.

[sosurreal09]

mmmmmmm pumpkin seed butter