Key points on the importance of iron for babies starting solids
- about 1 in 4 pēpi (babies) 6 to 12 months of age have low iron levels
- start offering iron-rich foods as soon as your baby starts solids
- continue to offer iron-rich foods daily to prevent iron deficiency
- iron-rich foods are important whether you are spoon-feeding or using baby-led weaning
- iron-rich foods are important regardless of whether you are preparing homemade food or using store-bought baby food
Babies run low on iron stores by 6 months
By 6 months, your baby will be starting to run low on the stores of iron they were born with.
By around 6 months, they can't get all the iron their bodies need from breastmilk or formula alone. So it’s important to start introducing solids when your baby shows interest in solid foods. This is usually when they're about 6 months old.
Continue to breastfeed or bottle feed, as well as giving them solids, until they're one year or older.
Why iron is important
Pēpi need good levels of iron in their body to:
- help transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body
- support brain development and learning
- provide energy
- support healthy growth
Iron deficiency
It’s important for pēpi to get enough iron to prevent iron deficiency. Iron deficiency happens when your child’s iron levels drop below the healthy range.
Signs of iron deficiency vary depending on how low the iron level is. Some of the signs may include:
- tiredness
- being irritable
- fast heartbeat
- having pale skin
- slower growth and development
When to start iron-rich foods
Pēpi are ready for solids if they:
- are around 6 months old
- can hold up their head and sit with less help
- can open their mouth as food approaches
- can keep food in their mouth and then swallow it, instead of pushing the food out
- show signs of biting and chewing
Give your baby iron-rich foods when you first start introducing solid food. Then continue to give them iron-rich foods daily. Introducing solid foods late (after 6 months of age) leads to lower iron levels. So providing iron-rich foods as first foods is important to help to prevent iron deficiency.
Ways to start solids
There are 2 main ways that parents and whānau start pēpi on solids.
Spoon-feeding
Spoon-feeding is when a baby is offered soft, mashed or puréed foods on a spoon by a parent or caregiver.
Baby-led weaning
Baby-led weaning is based on a baby being offered safe solid foods to feed themself. Usually, these will be soft pieces of finger-sized food that they can hold in their hand rather than being fed from a spoon.
What Food To Give Your Baby At Around 6 Months
Iron-rich foods to feed your baby
Spoon feeding
Purée these foods when first starting solids:
- cooked red meat or chicken
- cooked fish or seafood
- cooked tofu, beans or lentils
- baby cereal - check the ingredients list on the label to see if iron has been added
Find out how to prepare and purée foods for your baby when they’re starting solids.
What Foods To Give Your Baby When They Start Solids
Baby-led weaning
Make sure these foods are soft enough to easily squash between your thumb and forefinger or on the roof of your mouth with your tongue.
Make sure the pieces of food are long enough for your baby to hold and still have some of the food sticking out of their fist.
Iron-rich foods you can try include:
- strips of cooked steak
- meat (beef or lamb) koftas
- tofu sticks (pan-fried)
- bean or lentil patties or fritters
- toast fingers (remove crusts) topped with:
- cream cheese mixed with baby cereal (iron-fortified)
- hummus mixed with baby cereal (iron-fortified)
- homemade pâté
When preparing food for your baby, remember not to add salt or sugar.
Vitamin C helps iron absorption
Vitamin C helps pēpi absorb iron from their food. Eating lots of foods rich in vitamin C will help improve iron absorption. Vitamin C rich foods include:
- citrus fruits such as oranges and mandarins
- kiwifruit
- cauliflower
- broccoli
- taro leaf
- tomatoes
- strawberries
Support for when your baby is starting solids
PlunketLine offers parenting advice, including advice about feeding your baby.
PlunketLine is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on 0800 933 922 for advice and support for you, your baby and your whānau. Calls are free from cell phones. You do not need to be registered with Plunket to use this service.
