Nutrition
Iron deficiency is affecting our children's development
Infants have high iron needs because they are growing so fast. Many New Zealand children don't get enough iron. Infants from 6 months to 2 years are most at risk.
Children who don't get enough iron may not learn as well, they may get sick more often, and be grumpy and tired. If children are low in iron as infants,
they may have problems learning when they get to school.
Iron comes from the food we eat. For the first year, babies should drink breast milk or infant formula milk. Don't give your baby normal cow's milk until he or she is a year old.
From about 6 months, babies need an extra source of iron. Red meats are the best source, and babies can eat soft minced lamb and beef from about 6 months.
What can you do to help a baby get enough iron?
- Give advice on Breastfeeding
- Suggest use of an infant formula if not breastfeeding.
- Advice when to introduce baby cereal with extra iron (eg. Farex) as one of the first foods and when to add soft minced lamb, beef and other meats to baby's foods from 6 months,
feeding meat at least 3 - 4 times a week.
- Remember to advise parents not to give babies tea to drink and not to give babies cow's milk until after 1 year.
- Stress the importance to never give babies and children iron supplements without the doctor's advice - they can cause bad side effects or even poisoning.
Reference booklet: "IS YOUR BABY GETTING ENOUGH IRON" is available through Plunket.
(Reference: WellChild Health Prefessionals Booklet 2004)
Further information can be found on the website New Zealand Beef and Lamb
Information regarding nutritional advice and resources relating to WellChild/Tamariki Ora can be obtained from
Dr Cameron Grant, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
University of Auckland
Ph 09 373 7599 ext 86192
Fax 09 373 7486
cc.grant@auckland.ac.nz
Fiona Carruthers
New Zealand Beef and Lamb
Ph 09 489 7119
Fax 09 489 7164
fiona@nzbeeflamb.co.nz
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