Keeping Tabs on Baby’s Iron

Keeping Tabs on Baby’s Iron

September 8th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Babies are at a very high risk for iron deficiency anemia, a condition that results from a lack of iron in baby’s system. Most anemia is caused by a diet that is low in iron. While the best thing you can do to prevent iron deficiency anemia in your baby is to make sure there is enough in baby foods, being vigilant about anemia is a good idea too. Because iron-deficiency anemia can be hard to distinguish from other problems, you will probably need your pediatrician’s help to make sure your baby is getting enough iron.

Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia

The most common symptoms of low iron are fatigue, dizziness, lack of appetite, paleness, and changes in heart rate. Most of these you are unlikely to notice in a baby, mainly because your baby can’t tell you what she is feeling, or because they require medical instruments and training to detect.

In the long term, iron deficiency can lead to behavior and learning difficulties, the severity of which depends on how long your child suffered from anemia and how serious the deficiency was. These long term effects, however, should be avoidable with vigilance and early detection of the problem.

Because the symptoms can be hard to notice and easy to confuse with other problems, your doctor is the best person to determine whether or not your baby is getting enough iron.

How Your Baby’s Doctor Diagnoses Low Iron

Most babies will have a simple blood test done between 9-12 months of age to check for hemoglobin levels in the blood. Because iron helps the body to create hemoglobin, low levels are a sign of iron deficiency. A CBC (complete blood count) test will also show the number and size of your baby’s red blood cells. If the count is low and the red blood cells are small and less pigmented, odds are good your baby isn’t getting enough iron.

There are other tests your baby’s doctor may perform, including checking iron levels in the blood directly, and checking your baby’s stool for signs of blood. In most cases however, a diagnosis won’t require extensive testing. The results of the blood tests should be enough for your doctor to recommend a therapy if necessary. This may involve both diet changes and iron supplements.

Preventing Anemia

The best way to prevent anemia is to make certain your baby’s diet contains enough iron. During the first year of life most babies will get the required amount of iron from breast milk or iron-fortified formula. After the first year, however, the risk may increase as babies no longer breast or bottle feed and switch to cow’s milk. Cow’s milk is known to block iron absorption in large quantities, so keep your baby’s consumption in check, not more than 24 ounces a day. Be sure to feed a diet full of iron rich foods such as meat and poultry, eggs, leafy green vegetables and legumes.

You can also give your baby a daily multivitamin supplement that includes iron. Serve it separately from milk to be sure it is absorbed fully. As long as you follow these preventative measures, your baby is unlikely to develop an iron deficiency. If you need more concrete assurance, however, you can request that your baby’s doctor perform the blood tests to check for iron deficiency anemia.

How Long to Continue Baby Cereal

How Long to Continue Baby Cereal

September 1st, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

How long your child should continue to eat infant cereals depends on a number of factors. Your child’s diet, timing of weaning from breast-feeding or formula, and your doctor’s opinion are all considerations when deciding at what point to stop infant cereal and switch to more grown-up baby food.

Why Infant Cereal?

It may seem like oatmeal is oatmeal, but there is a difference between baby cereals and those meant for adults. Baby cereals are designed to meet the nutritional needs of infants, which differ from those of adults. Because most babies are not able to eat the same varied diet as a grown person, they require extra nutrients. They are also growing and developing at a rapid rate, which means their little bodies need certain things more than an adult might.

The main difference between a baby cereal and the average box of oats is iron. Cereals designed for babies have been fortified with this important mineral, which helps your baby’s growing body to create new red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. Some infant cereals are also fortified with DHA and ARA, which are thought to support eye and brain development. In addition to these, baby cereals contain a number of other vitamins and minerals to help your baby grow.

At a certain point, when your child has become proficient at chewing and swallowing other foods, it will be possible to get the entire spectrum of required nutrients from a varied baby food diet. Particularly during the first two years of life, however, most children need an extra boost in the nutritional department.

Other Sources of Iron

Fortified infant cereal isn’t the only way your baby can get extra iron. Most doctors will recommend a liquid vitamin and mineral supplement for your baby, especially after weaning from the breast or bottle is complete. Some of these supplements contain iron – be sure to check the label to be sure before you buy.

If you are planning to breastfeed into the second year, your baby will get more iron than if you switch entirely to whole milk. This still may not be enough, especially as your baby nurses less often over time.

Keeping Infant Cereal in The Mix

As your baby gets older and enjoys thicker, chunkier foods, infant cereal might not be as interesting, especially as it tends to be bland. There are a number of ways to make infant cereal a bit more interesting to an older child, Mix it with chunkier fruits or vegetables, or add raisins and a touch of honey for taste – but don’t do this until after a year old, as honey is not safe for babies under one. You can also blend it with a thicker oatmeal that might be more interesting to your older child’s palate.

If you can’t get your older child to eat infant cereal, don’t despair. There are many other ways to get enough iron in your little one’s diet. Be sure to use iron supplements, and offer iron rich foods such as meat, poultry, eggs, green vegetables and beans. There are also some cereals on the market meant for adults that have been fortified with iron, such as instant oatmeal. Check labels to look for added iron before you buy.

If you are concerned about your child’s iron intake, talk to your pediatrician. A simple blood test can check for anemia to make sure your little one is healthy.

Vital Minerals for your Pregnancy Diet

Vital Minerals for your Pregnancy Diet

July 20th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

There are a number of minerals that are essential to life, and they should already be a part of your diet prior to becoming pregnant. However, once you have a baby growing inside you, there are a few minerals that become extra important to support that baby. Getting more of these minerals in your pregnancy diet will ensure your baby is growing and developing right on track.

Some minerals can be stored in the body, while others can not. Those that can be stored will offer a supply for the baby to draw on throughout the pregnancy. You will need to replace them daily, however, so that your own needs are being met as well. Those that the body does not store are even more crucial to your daily diet. You need to replace them every day through the foods you eat to make sure there is enough for you and your baby too.

Make sure that you are getting enough of these two absolutely essential minerals during your pregnancy, along with all of the minerals your body needs.

Calcium for Bones and More

Well-known as the mineral that supports healthy bones, calcium also does a lot more. It also supports the muscles, circulatory system, and the nervous system as well. It’s an essential mineral for a healthy body, and it becomes even more essential during pregnancy. As the baby draws on the mother’s calcium supply through the placenta, the mother must continue to replace it. Otherwise, the baby will draw on the stores of calcium from the mother’s bones, which can result in problems such as osteoporosis later in life.

Consume calcium along with vitamin D to ensure it is absorbed well into your system. Dairy products are the best source of calcium, but other foods such as leafy greens can provide it as well. This mineral becomes especially essential during the second and third trimesters, but you should go ahead and increase your intake right when you find out you are pregnant.

Iron for Your Blood

Because the volume of blood in your body increases dramatically during pregnancy, iron becomes more important than ever before. Iron helps to create red blood cells which carry oxygen throughout the body. Too little can result in anemia which is unhealthy for mother and baby too. Iron is also responsible for helping baby’s muscles to develop properly.

Iron rich foods such as red meat, poultry, and fish are great sources of this important mineral. Beans, green vegetables such as broccoli and berries like raspberries and strawberries also provide iron. If you are at risk of anemia or have already been diagnosed, your doctor may prescribe a supplement. You will likely be tested for anemia during your pregnancy as a precaution.

Like calcium, iron will become even more important in the second and third trimesters of your pregnancy. But making the right changes to your diet as soon as you know you are pregnant will make it easier to get all of the iron you need for yourself and baby as well.

These two minerals are the most essential to your baby, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the minerals in your prenatal supplements aren’t important. You need a complete and balanced diet, along with the help of a supplement, to make sure you are getting everything you need.