Iron (children)

Why it matters from 6 months

Around 6 months, babies need iron from food as well as from milk. That's why iron-rich foods are among the first foods many families offer. After the first birthday iron still matters, especially as toddlers move from formula or breast milk to cow's milk.

Iron-rich foods by age

• From around 6 months: finely minced or slow-cooked beef or lamb, shredded dark chicken meat, egg cooked all the way through, flaked fish, iron-fortified baby cereal, mashed lentils and beans, and soft tofu.
• Toddlers and older children: meatballs, chili with beans, lentil soup, egg dishes, hummus and iron-fortified breakfast cereal.

Pair it with fruit or vegetables

Iron from plant foods and eggs is easier for the body to use when a fruit or vegetable rich in vitamin C is on the same plate. Try lentils in tomato sauce, fortified cereal with strawberries, beans with soft red pepper, or tofu with broccoli. Batch-cook lentils or minced meat and freeze it in small portions, so an iron food is always close at hand.

Keep milk from crowding out meals

Before 12 months, cow's milk isn't a drink yet, though it can go into cooking, yogurt and cheese. After the first birthday, lots of toddlers love milk so much that it fills them up before dinner. Serve it with meals in an open cup and offer water between meals. Ask your pediatrician how much milk is right for your toddler.

Read more

• Iron-Rich Foods After 6 Months
• Iron-Rich Foods for Toddlers

References

1. CDC: Iron (Infant and Toddler Nutrition)
2. NHS: What to feed young children