Sarah - posted on 05/31/2009 ( 3 moms have responded )
57
8
My son is 9 months and has a gag reflex so he isn't eating regular food. He is solely breastfed (and baby food &cereal). My doc recommended to supplement with formula so he doesn't get iron deficient. The problem is that I've tried a few and they don't taste good and he won't eat it. Any recommendations?
Sign up for Circle of Moms and be a part of this community! Membership is just one click away.
Join Circle of Moms
Charlotte - posted on 05/31/2009
221
26
If he's eating cereal why does the Dr feel he needs formula? There is iron in the cereal (that's kinda the main reason for giving cereal, isn't it?). There is also iron in breastmilk, though in very small amounts. (But the iron in breastmilk is also very easliy absorbed and breastmilk also contains vitamin C wich aids iron absorption.)
The kellymom site lists some foods that are good sources of iron here: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitami...
Foods that are high in iron include:
- breastmilk
- winter squash
- sweet potatoes
- prune juice
- meat & poultry (beef, beef & chicken liver, turkey, chicken)
- mushrooms
- sea vegetables (arame, dulse), algaes (spirulina), kelp
- greens (spinach, chard, dandelion, beet, nettle, parsley, watercress)
- yellow dock root
- grains (millet, brown rice, amaranth, quinoa, breads with these grains)
- blackstrap molasses (try adding a little to cereal or rice)
- brewer's yeast
Honestly, I think your Dr is being pretty irrational. Recomending formula because he's concerened the baby might become iron deficient? Has he even checked your son's iron levels? Is your son even at any risk or iron deficiency? There are many, many tastier and healthier ways for a breastfed 9 month old to recieve iron.
And, no, I don't think there are any good tasting baby formulas. They all taste nasty.
Carolyn - posted on 05/31/2009
26
12
try to stay away from the omega 3 ones they taste and smell fishy. I use Enfamil and I must have tried everyone out their while I was trying to wean. Try adding a little vannila yop to it as long as he can tolerate yougurt.
Martha - posted on 05/31/2009
139
70
Cereal is a good source of iron. If he is eating cereal, I wouldn't introduce formula. My first had a pretty strong gag reflex, too, and was slow to start eating solid foods. Around 9 or 10 months I introduced scrambled egg yolks or hard boiled egg yolks mixed with expressed breast milk. She liked those. The occasional egg yolk and baby cereal were her only source of iron, and at her 1 yr well child check her blood test showed she was NOT anemic. She got plenty of iron without eating formula. If you are still concerned about him getting enough iron, you could also try iron drops. Be careful, though, because too much iron can cause constipation.
|
Top Communities |
Topics |
Top Features |
Learn More |
 |
3 Comments
View replies by