Last Thursday my daughter had her follow up weight check. If you remember, she fell off the chart at her 15 month appointment and the pediatrician wanted to make sure she was staying on her own curve and not plateauing in weight. Height and head circumference were just fine.
So we beefed up the healthy calories and really focused on structured meals and snacks to make sure she had as many opportunities to eat healthy, caloric foods as possible to keep her on the right track.
And the results?
In six weeks she gained 11 ounces. Enough to keep her on her own curve and out of the ‘danger zone’ of plateauing on the curve.
But, and that’s a big but, the pediatrician wanted to see a bit more of a gain to get her back onto the charts. We’ll continue to make sure she’s offered a variety of nutritious meals and snacks as well as making sure the foods we feed her are higher in calories.
Now that we’ve gotten the weight issue taken care of we’re fine, right? Wrong.
At the 15 month check up my daughter’s iron levels were low. The pedi re-checked the numbers again this time and they’re still low. Now we have to supplement with iron drops. Not easy for a girl who doesn’t eat much.
Not only am I now trying to offer lots of foods, I’m also trying to offer foods that I can hide the iron drops in. And this girl eats maybe 5 bites of one thing at a time. Not great when the metallic flavor of the iron supplement needs to be masked by the food or drink it’s in.
I still have yet to get a full dose in her. And she needs two doses a day, every day.
Luckily I have an awesome BFF who recommended a few products to try out. She currently uses Floradix Iron & Herbs
I actually first heard of this brand back at BlogHer’11 last year and have even received samples at a few events I’ve attended over the past few months. I’ve put a call in to the pediatrician to see if he approves of this alternative.
They even have a kids multivitamin I’ve heard great things about called Floradix Kinderlove Children’s Multiple Vitamin
We’re also making Green Monsters every day and are considering adding chlorella or spirulina. There isn’t a ton of iron in the chlorella or spirulina but it’s very easily assimilated. There’s also a chewable called Nature’s Plus Animal Parade Kid Greenz
And on top of the supplements I am also watching her Vitamin C consumption as well since it’s supposed to aid in absorption of iron. So along with the iron drops I’m also offering orange juice, melon, strawberries, apricots, kiwi, broccoli, tomatoes and potatoes.
I’m going to try my best to get her iron levels up and decide on a course of action. If it’s not one thing it’s another! So is life…
A positive in this is the fact that my daughter is a smart, funny, and very personable 16 1/2 month old and we are blessed that our problems are ones we can address and resolve. I know that some families aren’t as lucky.
Have any suggestions for increasing iron? I’d love to hear them!
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Greetings! Very helpful advice within this article!
It is the little changes that produce the biggest changes.
Thanks for sharing!
Very interesting! THanks for sharing such valuable info.
@Jesi (kids-clutter-and-chaos.blogspot.com)
Thank you! I’m definitely going to get one of these for her and my son.
Definitely something to watch. Also, many people have Vit D deficiency which causes tiredness!
I used to have low iron myself, as a teenager. But eventually I kind of outgrew it – so I hope that your little one does too! I imagine it’s pretty stressful for you as a momma – we always worry too much!
Hope she keeps growing and doing better and better 🙂
My son had to have iron drops when he was a baby too. He took them easily though. Be careful though, they did stain his teeth 🙁 What about those fruit/veggie pouches that are sold everywhere? My kids love those. They also have something called a Sili Squeeze where you can put your own pureed fruit or veggies or yogurt or whatever in and they can squeeze and slurp it out like the pouches. I just ordered some but I’ve heard good things about them. Good Luck! http://thesilico.com/