Stay Strong with Iron

Iron

in your diet

Iron is an important mineral that carries oxygen through our bodies. Most people are able to get enough iron from their food to meet their body’s iron needs, but it has to be the right food.

Eating foods that are high in iron may help you or your children have more energy, feel more rested, and be healthier overall. Children with healthy iron levels are able to learn better.

baby-girl

Foods

high in iron

Meats

Beef
Turkey
Chicken
Pork
Fish
Oysters
Shrimp

Vegetables

Broccoli
Spinach
Beans
Lentils
Turnip Greens
Mustard Greens

Grains

WIC Approved Cereal
Whole Grain Iron-Fortified Bread
Brown Rice
Whole Wheat Pasta
Whole Wheat Tortillas

Other

Tofu
Raisins
Prunes
Apricots
Figs

Tip

Foods with small or soft pieces of meat, like pasta with meat sauce, chili, or meatloaf are usually easier for children to chew.

How to

get enough iron

– Oranges
– Grapefruit
– Tomatoes
– Bell Peppers
– Broccoli
– Potatoes
– Strawberries
– WIC Approved Juices

get-iron

Signs of

low iron

When our bodies get very low on iron, it is called anemia or being anemic. It takes time for a low iron level to become normal. Contact your health care provider with concerns.

Tip

Limit children to two cups of milk per day. Milk can make your child feel full and reduce the intake of iron rich foods.

Iron

in your diet

Iron is an important mineral that carries oxygen through our bodies. Most people are able to get enough iron from their food to meet their body’s iron needs, but it has to be the right food.

Eating foods that are high in iron may help you or your children have more energy, feel more rested, and be healthier overall. Children with healthy iron levels are able to learn better.

baby-girl

Foods

high in iron

Meats

Beef
Turkey
Chicken
Pork
Fish
Oysters
Shrimp

Vegetables

Broccoli
Spinach
Beans
Lentils
Turnip Greens
Mustard Greens

Grains

WIC Approved Cereal
Whole Grain Iron-Fortified Bread
Brown Rice
Whole Wheat Pasta
Whole Wheat Tortillas

Other

Tofu
Raisins
Prunes
Apricots
Figs

Tip

Foods with small or soft pieces of meat, like pasta with meat sauce, chili, or meatloaf are usually easier for children to chew.

How to

get enough iron

– Oranges
– Grapefruit
– Tomatoes
– Bell Peppers
– Broccoli
– Potatoes
– Strawberries
– WIC Approved Juices

get-iron

Signs of

low iron

When our bodies get very low on iron, it is called anemia or being anemic. It takes time for a low iron level to become normal. Contact your health care provider with concerns.

Tip

Limit children to two cups of milk per day. Milk can make your child feel full and reduce the intake of iron rich foods.

Feeding a 6-7 Month Old

Feed solids with a spoon and from a bowl, never from a bottle.

Feeding a 10-12 Month Old

Breast milk is the most important source of nutrition for your baby, even after you start offering solid foods.

Feeding a 8-9 Month Old

Feed solids with a spoon. Never put cereal in a bottle.

Tips

Mom new born home

Breast milk and formula feeding:

Around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of age, babies may experience a growth spurt when they feed more often.

As they grow babies can hold more milk, so feedings may become further apart and take less time.

To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

Start offering whole milk when your baby is one year old.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months and beyond.

feeding solid foods

Feeding solid foods:

Wait to offer solid foods until your baby:

To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

Try one new food at a time. Wait 5 days before trying another new food to watch for allergies. Food allergies may include wheezing, rash, or diarrhea.

Introduce peanut butter around 6 months. Spread a small, thin smear of peanut butter or nut butter thinly on a cracker.  Watch your baby for any reaction for the next 2 hours.

Babies under one year should NOT have honey due to the risk of botulism. Also, babies should not have foods that can cause choking like nuts or whole grapes.

All babies are different. Talk with WIC or your baby’s healthcare provider about your baby’s needs.

Feeding Cues

Feeding a 4-5 Month Old

Before teeth come in, wipe gums with a soft, clean wash cloth after each feeding, especially before bed.

Feeding a 0-3 Month Old

Newborns have tiny tummies and need to be fed often. In the first few weeks, you may need to wake your baby to feed if they sleep longer than 4 hours.

Growth Spurts

Many babies are fussy during a growth spurt and will want to nurse longer and more often. This is called cluster feeding. This is your baby’s way of helping you increase your milk supply so that you can keep up with their needs. Remember, the more your baby nurses, the more milk your body makes.

Growth spurts can happen at any time, and every baby is different.

They often happen at these ages:

two-three-weeks

2 to 3 Weeks

6 Weeks

three-months

3 Months

six-months

6 Months

What foods can I get?