Probably a stupid question re iron for babies...
OK, so at Toby's 8 week check the GP prescribed vitamins for him to start taking from six months. I'm guessing this happens everywhere - his ones are Abidec multivitamin drops for babies and children.
I was under the impression that one of the things that babies need to be given from 6 months is iron, because they are born with 6 months worth and need to be given iron when that runs out until they start eating meat (or other iron rich food).
Toby is now just over 6 months and so I have been giving him the recommended dose of these vitamin drops. They smell and taste foul - he hates it and I feel bad giving him something I wouldn't take myself but obviously want to make sure he gets everything he needs. However I have just checked the box and as far as I can tell there is no iron supplement in these drops - just various vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6, another B called nicotinamide, C and D).
Am I being really dumb?? Is the iron derived from these vitamins somehow?? Or should I be giving him something else to ensure he gets enough iron - and if so, should I keep going with these ones?
Thanks in advance!
C
Edited to add this PS: we have started weaning this week so he is having some solids but as we are just starting he is only having a tiny amount once a day and he doesn't actually ingest much. So I wouldn't rely on solids as a source of iron for a while yet!
[Modified by: charlotteb on 17 July 2010 05:21:18 ]
I was under the impression that one of the things that babies need to be given from 6 months is iron, because they are born with 6 months worth and need to be given iron when that runs out until they start eating meat (or other iron rich food).
Toby is now just over 6 months and so I have been giving him the recommended dose of these vitamin drops. They smell and taste foul - he hates it and I feel bad giving him something I wouldn't take myself but obviously want to make sure he gets everything he needs. However I have just checked the box and as far as I can tell there is no iron supplement in these drops - just various vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6, another B called nicotinamide, C and D).
Am I being really dumb?? Is the iron derived from these vitamins somehow?? Or should I be giving him something else to ensure he gets enough iron - and if so, should I keep going with these ones?
Thanks in advance!
C
Edited to add this PS: we have started weaning this week so he is having some solids but as we are just starting he is only having a tiny amount once a day and he doesn't actually ingest much. So I wouldn't rely on solids as a source of iron for a while yet!
[Modified by: charlotteb on 17 July 2010 05:21:18 ]
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Replies
Em x
Mithical - sorry I should I have mentioned Toby is EBF (save for the weaning attempts, lol!)
Have since been doing some research and you are all absolutely right, there is no need to give iron supplements - and in fact I read that if your baby is BF or FF with iron fortified formula (which I think all formulas are for 6 months plus) then it can actually be detrimental to give iron supplements as you saturate LO's system with iron and they end up absorbing less than they would have otherwise! Even vegetarian babies apparently don't need iron supplements.
So am feeling much better now, thank you so much - will concentrate on weaning and introducing some red meat - yum!
C