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Anemia (Long)

kimmygirl77kimmygirl77 member
in Toddlers: 24 Months+

Hello all! I mostly lurk and love the advice I see here. My problem is: my 2 year old DD is anemic. We found out last month at her 2 year well check. It doesn't surprise me because I can't seem to get her to eat any meat at all. Maybe a hot dog once in a while, but I know that is not enough. She is so picky it is not even funny. All she wants to eat is Macaroni and grilled cheese. I have tried so hard to get her to eat other things that have iron, but she will not eat it. Eggs: nope. Peanut butter: nope. Cheerios: only like 6 and then she is done. Spinach: Nope. the list goes on.

We are on iron supplements now and will be for the next 3 months so that I can get her levels back up. My concern is after we are done. How am I going to get her to eat what is good for her? I don't want to end up here again. I am scared for her and I feel like I have failed her....

So what do you do to get your little ones to eat??

 

EDIT: For got to mention that she drinks milk ALL day long. The only other thing she will drink is water. I am reading that milk blocks the absorption of iron. I have tried to give her other things like juice, but she spits it back out and makes a face. I have even tried to water it down, thinking that maybe it was too sweet. She still won't have it. Should I only do water for a little while??
 

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Re: Anemia (Long)

  • AEN1029AEN1029 member

    I was anemic at two, as well. My mom started to "hide" my veggies in things that I did like to eat. (ie- use a food processor to finely chop broccoli and put it on her grilled cheese) I'm sure google will have some good "hide healthy food" recipes for kids.

    As far as only drinking milk. DD1 is obsessed with milk. I was going through a whole gallon a day because it was all she would drink. I have tried every juice out there until I found a couple that she likes and now, I refuse to give her milk when she demands it. Kids won't let themselves starve or go thirsty so if juice is all she's being offered, she will eventually drink it. From what I've read, milk has a protein called casein in it and it is addictive. I now only allow two cups of milk per day. One with breakfast and one before bed. She gets juice and water for every other drink throughout the day. This took a little time and patience on my part, but she's pretty good about it now. Good luck!

    BabyFruit Ticker
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  • Megan.SwensonMegan.Swenson member
    Have you tried things like Pedia Sure or Carnation Instant breakfast. That is what I have been doing to get my LO to gain some weight and get the nutrients she needs.
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  • kimmygirl77kimmygirl77 member
    imageMegan.Swenson:
    Have you tried things like Pedia Sure or Carnation Instant breakfast. That is what I have been doing to get my LO to gain some weight and get the nutrients she needs.


    i havent, but i am going to try. i am also looking at making fruit smoothies and throwinf veggies in... i am going to call it icecream and see if she will take it!!!!
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  • rlyttlerlyttle member
    Have you tried those veggie/fruit pouches? DS loves them and it's an easy way to get him to eat vegetables. I know it's not a lot, but he would never eat some of the vegetables otherwise. Plus he can just suck those pouches dry in about 30 seconds and I think he thinks it's cool. Do you give a daily vitamin? 
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  • kimmygirl77kimmygirl77 member

    imagerlyttle:
    Have you tried those veggie/fruit pouches? DS loves them and it's an easy way to get him to eat vegetables. I know it's not a lot, but he would never eat some of the vegetables otherwise. Plus he can just suck those pouches dry in about 30 seconds and I think he thinks it's cool. Do you give a daily vitamin? 

     

    I don't give a vitamin now. Pedi only wants her on the iron supplements, for now. We have to do these supplements for 3 months. Once she gets back to normal, I will look into a multi-vitamin. I just hope she gets well and that this anemia is caused by her diet and not something else. We have to go back next month to see if the iron is working, if not we have to have some tests done to find out why she is anemic. 

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  • spiffy7spiffy7 member
    If you try juice again, do half or a 1/3 of juice and the rest water. The smoothie is another good way. I made peanut butter a fun dip for apples and carrots. I also do peanut butter on breakfast stuff pancakes, oatmeal rather than syrup or brown sugar. Try beans too. My son loves beans with some cheese or crackers.
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