Iron and babies

Why is iron important for babies?

• Iron carries oxygen in the body and helps create energy for growth.
• Iron is essential for normal brain development.
• Iron helps maintain a healthy immune system.

How much iron does a baby need?

 
A study found that children consuming meat at least 4 times a week were less likely to be low in iron.₁ Haem iron which is well absorbed by the body can be found in red meat, chicken or fish, but red meat is the best source of this high quality iron in the Australian diet.₂

Will a baby digest red meat?

Both red and white meats are easily digested by most six month-old babies.

Won’t a baby gag on red meat?

Red meat is suitable for babies from around six months but needs to be prepared carefully to make it easier for your baby to eat.

Three easy steps to an iron-rich diet:

• Continue breast milk or iron-fortified formula. Cow or soy milk should not be introduced as the main milk drink before 12 months.
• Offer iron-rich foods regularly. Introduce iron-rich foods shortly after six months. High iron foods include beef, lamb and liver. Medium iron foods include fish, pork and chicken.
• ‘Food-combine’ to maximise iron absorption at meals. Meat or a vitamin C-rich food, such as fruits and vegetables, increases the absorption of iron by up to four times from low-iron foods such as cereals, vegetables, legumes, eggs or nut pastes.

Also read more on:

• Guidelines for introducing solids

References

1. Karr et al. (1996) Iron status and anaemia in preschool children in Sydney. Aust NZ J Public Health 20:618-622. 
2. NHMRC (2003) Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia Incorporating the Infant Feeding Guidelines for Health Workers. Canberra:Commonwealth of Australia.