Iron Fortified Milk For Toddlers

Mix of breast milk and formula.

Iron fortified milk for toddlers.

Once your child starts to eat foods introduce your child to foods that contain iron. Once she is 4 to 6 months old though she will likely begin to need some extra iron which usually comes in the form of iron fortified baby cereal. Pediatricians recommend children drink 16 to 24 ounces 2 to 3 cups of fortified cow s milk a day to meet calcium needs. Many toddlers who refuse other meats will.

Fortified cereals and oatmeal are a good way to ensure your toddler gets enough iron. Standard iron fortified infant formulas contain enough iron 12mg dl to support your growing child s needs. Fortified cow s milk can be a part of this diet but not the only thing. If the infant is not being breastfed they should be on a formula that is iron strengthened.

A serving of iron fortified cereals typically has 100 percent of the daily value for iron in just one serving. Ferrous dialyzable iron was higher p 0 05 in products targeted for infants compared with those targeted for toddlers. For older children good sources of iron include red meat chicken fish beans and spinach. When a baby is breastfeeding he or she will get their iron from their mom.

Most commercial infant formulas sold in the u s. When it concerns how much iron children need it is different at every age. Breast milk is low in iron but the iron is well absorbed by the child s body. Increase the iron content even more by putting the meat on a slice of fortified white bread which can offer around 1 mg of iron.

When you begin serving your baby solids typically between ages 4 months and 6 months provide foods with added iron such as iron fortified baby cereal pureed meats and pureed beans. At first unless your baby was premature or is already anemic your baby will usually get all of the iron she needs from breast milk or iron fortified infant formula. While unfortified cow milk is rich in calcium phosphorus magnesium and protein it is relatively low in certain micronutrients that are important for growth and development. If your child drinks too much fortified cow s milk he or she may not be hungry for other foods with important nutrients.