B/Fing and Iron intake?

Skatcat

We had a f/up with the GI doctor today, and apparently, my kiddos aren't getting enough iron in their diet. They did get some sweet potato for a few days, but we've been trying all the different veggies and fruits, and since they only get one solid meal a day at this point, I didn't start giving them oatmeal again until yesterday.  And on top of it, I've been making my own oatmeal from organic rolled oats, which doesn't have a lot of iron in it. He wants me to buy the infant cereal with iron added. Anyone else get this advice?

Formula-fed babies don't need to worry since formula has a lot of iron in it already.

neen01

I know that iron is a concern since I bf so I have always given her the baby oatmeal.  It has a ton of iron in it and I will continue to do so once a day to make sure she gets enough. 

MayBride2B2007

i have been giving hadley the happy bellies oatmeal with probiotics per our pedi's recommendation.  i can't get her to take vitamins (it's a losing battle with meds for her and since i desperately need her to take her prevacid, that's the battle i fight each day).  i only give her one solid meal a day so far (oatmeal up until this week and now oatmeal mixed with a veggie).  i've never been told she wasn't getting enough iron so i assume the oatmeal does the trick.

Skatcat

May: What's the iron content in that cereal, is it fortified? I give them probiotics too, but seperately.

TheButlers:)

Our pedi said the same thing actually.  She wanted us to continue rice cereal from a spoon in addition to the solids because of iron.  So maybe try just the boxed rice cereal instead or maybe in addition to the oatmeal?

MayBride2B2007

skat, it is 60% daily intake.

stargirlkate

i ve heard this from a lot of people.  iron is a real toughie, i m sure bens anemic and i know very well that i am.  now that hes a big boy we eat cream of wheat a couple times a week at least bc it so much cheaper than the infant cereal but is also fortified.  at least its good to know that iron in food (as opposed to supplements) is usually better absorbed by the body so theyre getting more out of the cereal than they would from the vitamin drops (which are the nastiest thing on earth - they gave ben the grossest breath and he always spit it out, even if it was mixed into a bottle!) 

sdkrlm

Avery is anemic right now and is on some big iron supplements

but... you can give your babies some poly-vi-sol - which is a multi vitamin with iron in it that should help

when they start eating finger foods, cheerios are FULL of iron as well

Sueball1

Actually, our pedi was concerned for us with iron too- apparently, unless they are taking 32 ounces of formula a day they aren't getting the amount of vitamins and esp. iron that they need. She had us add the Poly-Visol too (sp?). I just throw it in his oatmeal/fruit combo to hide the taste. Although he's on a solids strike now so I guess I should try putting it in his formula now? Geesh. These kids make it so tough, huh?

847Christine

Not sure what foods they're eating these days, but here are foods that are good for iron:

• avocado
• broccoli
• chicken
• dry beans
• meat
• spinach

jnealet

We (meaning DH) gives Ems her vitamins every day.  It took some trial and error but she'll take it and not spit any out if we give it first thing in the morning, before she nurses.  I think it's a half starving/half asleep win for us.

I should probably also say that I wake Ems up every morning, she likes to sleep in so she hasn't gotten herself worked up or anything like that.