Iron: the nutrient to plan for

3 min read

Babies are born with iron stores that run low at around 6 months, just when milk alone can no longer supply enough. Iron matters for brain development, so it is the nutrient to plan around in the first months of solids.

Good sources are red meat, dark poultry meat, fish, egg, lentils and beans, tofu, and iron-fortified infant cereal. Meat and fish iron is absorbed best; plant iron is absorbed better when eaten with vitamin C, such as pepper, tomato, broccoli or fruit.

Aim to offer at least one iron-rich food a day, and more as your baby eats more. Munchlet tags iron-rich foods and puts them first in daily suggestions.

Cow’s milk as a main drink before 12 months can lower iron levels, so keep to breast milk or formula. Ask your pediatrician about vitamin and iron supplements, which are recommended differently in different countries.