 Show
What Does Iron Do?Iron is a mineral that has many functions. Iron helps red blood cells carry oxygen through the body and supports a child’s ability to learn. Having enough iron in the body can help prevent iron deficiencyalert icon and iron deficiency anemia.alert icon What Happens If My Child Does Not Get Enough Iron?If your child does not get enough iron, your child may develop anemia.alert icon Anemia is when there are not enough red blood cells in the body or your child’s ability to carry oxygen throughout the body is lowered. There are many causes of anemia. In young children, one common cause is not enough iron. Children who do not receive enough iron either from iron-rich foods or supplements are at greater risk for developing anemia. When Does My Child Need Iron? And How Much?All children need iron. It is important at all stages of your child’s development. Babies fed only breast milk, only formula, or a mix of breast milk and formula have different needs when it comes to iron. Talk to your child’s doctor or nurse about your child’s iron needs at his or her next check-up. Preterm babies often need more iron than full-term babies. In addition, preterm babies may need extra iron beyond what they get from breast milk or infant formula. Talk to your child’s doctor or nurse about your child’s iron needs at his or her next check-up. Breast Milk
Formula
Mix of Breast Milk and Formula
Once My Child Starts to Eat Solid Foods, How Can I Make Sure My Child Gets Enough Iron?When your child is about 6 months old, you can start giving solid foods to your child. Make sure to choose foods that contain iron. Iron found in foods comes in two forms: heme and non-heme iron. Heme iron is commonly found in animal products and is more easily absorbed by the body. Sources of heme iron include:
Your child needs to be screened for anemia. At around 12 months, your child’s doctor or nurse will likely test to see if your baby has anemia. Anemia can occur among children who do not get enough iron. Talk to your child’s doctor or nurse about anemia and iron at your baby’s next check-up. Non-heme iron can be found in plants and iron-fortified alert icon products. This type of iron is less easily absorbed by the body and will require careful planning to get enough iron for your baby. Sources of non-heme iron include:
Pairing non-heme iron sources with foods high in vitamin C can help your baby absorb the iron he or she needs to support development. Vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetablesexternal icon include:
Making sure your child is getting enough iron is important. Some children may need more iron than others. Talk to your child’s doctor or nurse about iron at your child’s next check-up. Like the rest of the family, your toddler needs to eat a variety of foods. Here are some tips on the different sorts of food to offer your child, plus a few it's best to avoid. Fruit and vegetables contain lots
of vitamins, minerals and fibre. It's good to introduce lots of different types from an early age, whether fresh, frozen, canned or dried, so your baby can enjoy new textures and flavours. Try to make sure fruit and vegetables are included in every meal. Dried fruit, such as raisins, should be given to your toddler with meals, rather than as a snack in between, as the sugar they contain can cause
tooth decay. Different fruit and vegetables contain different vitamins and minerals, so the more different types your toddler eats, the better. Don't worry if they'll only eat one or two types at first. Keep offering them small amounts of other fruit and vegetables so they can
learn to like different tastes. Some children don't like cooked vegetables, but will nibble on raw vegetables while you're preparing a meal. Starchy foods, such as bread, breakfast cereals, potatoes, yams, rice,
couscous, pasta and chapattis provide energy, nutrients and some fibre. You can give your child wholegrain foods, such as wholemeal bread, pasta and brown rice. But it's not a good idea to only give wholegrain starchy foods to under-2s. Wholegrain foods can be high in fibre and they may fill your child up before they have taken in the calories and nutrients they need. After age 2 you can gradually introduce more wholegrain foods. Milk and dairy productsMilkBreast milk is the only food or drink babies need in the first 6 months of their life. It's best to carry on breastfeeding alongside an increasingly varied diet once you introduce solid foods. Infant formula is the only suitable alternative to breast milk in the first 12 months of your baby's life. Whole cows' milk can be given as a main drink from the age of 1. Whole milk and full-fat dairy products are a good source of calcium, which helps your child build bones and keep teeth healthy. They also contain vitamin A, which helps the body resist infections and is needed for healthy skin and eyes. Try to give your child at least 350ml (12oz) of milk a day, or 2 servings of foods made from milk, such as cheese, yoghurt or fromage frais. Semi-skimmed milk can be introduced from the age of 2, provided your child is a good eater and growing well for their age. Skimmed or 1% fat milk doesn't contain enough fat, so isn't recommended for children under 5. You can use them in cooking from the age of 1, though. You can give your child unsweetened calcium-fortified milk alternatives, such as soya, almond and oat drinks, from the age of 1 as part of a healthy, balanced diet. Toddlers and young children under the age of 5 shouldn't have rice drinks because of the levels of arsenic they contain. If your child has an allergy or intolerance to milk, talk to your health visitor or GP. They can advise you on suitable milk alternatives. CheeseCheese can form part of a healthy, balanced diet for babies and young children, and provides calcium, protein and vitamins like vitamin A. Babies can eat pasteurised full-fat cheese from 6 months old. This includes hard cheeses – such as mild cheddar cheese – cottage cheese and cream cheese. Full-fat cheeses and dairy products are recommended up to the age of 2, as young children need fat and energy to help them grow. Babies and young children shouldn't eat mould-ripened soft cheeses, such as brie or camembert, ripened goats' milk cheese like chèvre, and soft blue veined cheese like roquefort. These cheeses may be made from unpasteurised milk and may therefore carry bacteria called listeria. You can check labels on cheeses to make sure they're made from pasteurised milk. But these cheeses can be used as part of a cooked recipe as listeria is killed by cooking – baked camembert, for example, is a safer option. Beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteinsYoung children need protein and iron to grow and develop. Try to give your toddler 1 or 2 portions from this group each day. Beans, pulses, fish, eggs, foods made from pulses (such as tofu, hummus and soya mince) and meat are excellent sources of protein and iron. Nuts also contain protein, but whole nuts, including peanuts, shouldn't be given to children under 5 in case they choke. It's recommended that boys have no more than 4 portions of oily fish (such as mackerel, salmon and sardines) a week, and girls no more than 2 portions a week. This is because oily fish can contain low levels of pollutants that can build up in the body. Remember, don't stop feeding your child oily fish – the health benefits are greater than the risks, as long as they don't eat more than the recommended amounts. Helping your child get enough ironIron is essential for your child's health. It comes in 2 forms:
If your child doesn't eat meat or fish, they'll get enough iron if you give them plenty of other iron-rich foods, such as fortified breakfast cereals, dark green vegetables, broad beans and lentils. If young children fill up on milk, it makes it difficult for them to get the calories and nutrients they need from a varied diet. These children are more likely to lack iron, which can lead to iron-deficiency anaemia. This can affect your child's physical and mental development. Foods containing fat, sugar and saltFatYoung children, especially those under the age of 2, need the energy provided by fat. There are also some vitamins that are only found in fats. This is why foods like whole milk, yoghurt, cheese and oily fish are so important. Once your child is 2, you can gradually introduce lower-fat dairy products and cut down on fat in other foods – provided your child is a good eater and growing well. By the time your child is 5 they can eat a healthy balanced diet like the one recommended for adults. Keep an eye on the amount of fat (particularly saturated fats) in the food your family eats. Try to keep it to a minimum. The following tips will help you reduce the amount of fat in your family's meals:
SugarBrushing your child's teeth regularly and visits to the dentist are essential to help keep your child's teeth healthy. It's also important to keep the amount of added sugar they have to a minimum. Added sugar is found in fizzy drinks, juice drinks, sweets, cakes and jam. It's best to offer your toddler water or whole milk to drink. Semi-skimmed milk can be introduced once they're 2 years old. You can also offer diluted fruit juice (1 part juice to 10 parts water) served with meals. Serving it with a meal helps to reduce the risk of tooth decay. From age 5, it's OK to give your child undiluted fruit juice or smoothies, but stick to no more than 1 glass (about 150ml) a day served with a meal. The sugar in raisins and other dried fruits can cause tooth decay. It's best to give these to your toddler with meals rather than as a snack in between. SaltThere's no need to add salt to your child's food. Most foods already contain enough salt. Too much salt can give your child a taste for salty foods and contribute to high blood pressure in later life. Your whole family will benefit if you gradually reduce the amount of salt in your cooking. Try to limit the amount of salty foods your child has, and always check food labels. More on children's food
How can I add iron to my toddler's diet?The following foods are an excellent source of iron that many toddlers will eat:. Iron-fortified breakfast cereals. Many breakfast cereals, including those made for children, are fortified with iron. ... . Oatmeal. ... . Meat. ... . Peanut butter sandwiches. ... . Dark chocolate. ... . Eggs. ... . Beans and pulses. ... . Which foods would you suggest adding to the diet of a child at risk for iron deficiency?How Can I Help My Child Get Enough Iron?. beef, pork, poultry, and seafood.. dried beans and peas.. dried fruits.. leafy dark green vegetables.. iron-fortified breakfast cereals and breads.. What can I give my child for iron deficiency?You can help your child absorb iron by offering foods rich in vitamin C — such as citrus fruits, cantaloupe, strawberries, bell pepper, tomatoes and dark green vegetables.
What should be included in a toddlers diet What Should toddlers avoid at this stage of development?It's important for toddlers to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy and fortified soy alternatives. Avoid foods and beverages with added sugars and choose those with lower sodium. Experiment with flavors, colors, and textures to see what your child likes.
|
Which of the following types of foods can be added to a toddlers diet to prevent iron deficiency?
zusammenhängende Posts
Urheberrechte © © 2024 membukakan Inc.
