nutrition question on year old

[blacksalt]

I'm new at this, so I'm reading some books. The consensus seems that
after a year of age you change from formula to milk. When reading about
iron, the books say "use iron fortified cereal". The baby cereal and the
formula are both iron fortified. However, I'd rather start moving into
whole grains rather than the precooked, prechewed Gerber baby rice or
mixed grain cereal. Tastes like cardboard! If I do that I'm switching
away from both iron fortified formula and cereal.
What whole grain iron fortified cereals are out there? I don't care if
it is too 'big grained', as I can grind it finer. Food after food says
"0% iron" on the RDA. Baby is being raised veggie, so I can't just feed
beef and assume he's getting enough.
Another question. FOB (father of baby) is hot to get him away from cow's
milk, but is willing to allow goat's milk. I know my ex hub was raised a
veggie on goat's milk (in India) and grew up healthy, and the carton
doesn't have a warning about human kids. Anyone know of a problem with
goat's milk specifically related to babies?
TIA
blacksalt

[dragonlady]

In article >,
blacksalt > wrote:

> I'm new at this, so I'm reading some books. The consensus seems that
> after a year of age you change from formula to milk. When reading about
> iron, the books say "use iron fortified cereal". The baby cereal and the
> formula are both iron fortified. However, I'd rather start moving into
> whole grains rather than the precooked, prechewed Gerber baby rice or
> mixed grain cereal. Tastes like cardboard! If I do that I'm switching
> away from both iron fortified formula and cereal.
> What whole grain iron fortified cereals are out there? I don't care if
> it is too 'big grained', as I can grind it finer. Food after food says
> "0% iron" on the RDA. Baby is being raised veggie, so I can't just feed
> beef and assume he's getting enough.
> Another question. FOB (father of baby) is hot to get him away from cow's
> milk, but is willing to allow goat's milk. I know my ex hub was raised a
> veggie on goat's milk (in India) and grew up healthy, and the carton
> doesn't have a warning about human kids. Anyone know of a problem with
> goat's milk specifically related to babies?
> TIA
> blacksalt

I know of no problems with goats' milk, and knew several families that
sought it out because they had family members with problems with cows'
milk.

I fed my children almost no "baby food" at all; mostly they went
straight from breast milk to table food; I occassionally used a food
mill, but mosly just cooked stuff till it was soft, and mashed it with a
fork. Gerber has a good thing going, as they seem to have convinced
people that baby foods (and now special "toddler" foods) are necessary.
They aren't. They may be more convenient under some circumstances, but
many, many generations were raised without special baby foods!

As far as the iron goes, you might want to consider suplimental iron
(ie, mineral tablets) if you are concerned that your baby isn't getting
enough iron in their diet. However, another way to "fortify" the baby's
diet is to do the majority of your cooking in cast iron pots and pans.
(The old fashioned kind, not the ones that have some sort of enamel
coating.) It adds a surprising amount of iron to your diet. (Plus, I
think it's better for cooking in in general, but that's another issue.)

meh
--
Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care

[blacksalt]

dragonlady wrote:

> As far as the iron goes, you might want to consider suplimental iron
> (ie, mineral tablets)

How do you get a baby to eat a tablet. The liquid can stain teeth (I've
seen this), and, a minisule iron supplement constipates me **terribly**.
I'd prefer to put it in something with fiber.

> if you are concerned that your baby isn't getting
> enough iron in their diet. However, another way to "fortify" the baby's
> diet is to do the majority of your cooking in cast iron pots and pans.

For myself I do cook tomato sauce to add iron. I suspect all that acid
would make his little behind a little red. I recall that the tomato
acidity is especially helpful in leaching the iron out of the pan. If I
were feeding him the diet my mother fed us (omnivore with fresh veggies
and whole grains) I wouldn't worry, but no meat makes me concerned about
iron. I wasn't given a single vitamin my entire childhood (only 3 asprin
and no MMR, so I got very bad measles at 27) because of my mother's
"natural" leanings, and I'm all for that, but I'd rather skip the meat
these days.
Things are alittle tough because I'm the cook and the person with
education, but FOB is the homedaddy. I have to leave clear, basic
intructions, like "today feed him A,B, and C" because I work so many
hours. I actually sometimes line the food up.
blacksalt

[toypup]

"blacksalt" > wrote in message
...
> dragonlady wrote:
>
> > As far as the iron goes, you might want to consider suplimental iron
> > (ie, mineral tablets)
>
> How do you get a baby to eat a tablet. The liquid can stain teeth (I've
> seen this), and, a minisule iron supplement constipates me **terribly**.
> I'd prefer to put it in something with fiber.
>
The stain is temporary. It goes away when you stop supplementing.

As for the tablets, I used to crush multivitamin tablets with a mortar and
pestle and mix it in with DS's food.

[dragonlady]

In article >,
blacksalt > wrote:

> dragonlady wrote:
>
> > As far as the iron goes, you might want to consider suplimental iron
> > (ie, mineral tablets)
>
> How do you get a baby to eat a tablet. The liquid can stain teeth (I've
> seen this), and, a minisule iron supplement constipates me **terribly**.
> I'd prefer to put it in something with fiber.
>

Sorry -- I can't help with that.

> > if you are concerned that your baby isn't getting
> > enough iron in their diet. However, another way to "fortify" the baby's
> > diet is to do the majority of your cooking in cast iron pots and pans.
>
> For myself I do cook tomato sauce to add iron. I suspect all that acid
> would make his little behind a little red. I recall that the tomato
> acidity is especially helpful in leaching the iron out of the pan. If I
> were feeding him the diet my mother fed us (omnivore with fresh veggies
> and whole grains) I wouldn't worry, but no meat makes me concerned about
> iron. I wasn't given a single vitamin my entire childhood (only 3 asprin
> and no MMR, so I got very bad measles at 27) because of my mother's
> "natural" leanings, and I'm all for that, but I'd rather skip the meat
> these days.
> Things are alittle tough because I'm the cook and the person with
> education, but FOB is the homedaddy. I have to leave clear, basic
> intructions, like "today feed him A,B, and C" because I work so many
> hours. I actually sometimes line the food up.
> blacksalt

When I was having a problem with anemia (pregnant with twins) I cooked
everything in cast iron, even boiling potatoes or making oatmeal. I
know the acidic stuff is supposed to get even more iron, but I think
even just scrambling eggs or cooking veggies gets at least some.

I don't think I'd worry excessively about the iron, however; once the
baby starts eating table foods, just make sure you include the foods
that have lots of iron. I know a lot of vegetarians -- including folks
who are raising their kids vegetarian -- and none of them seem to have
had any real problems with iron. Even the handful who have gone all
the way to vegan eating seem to do just fine, as long as they learn how
to do it properly.

meh
--
Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care

[blacksalt]

dragonlady wrote:

> I don't think I'd worry excessively about the iron, however; once the
> baby starts eating table foods, just make sure you include the foods
> that have lots of iron. I know a lot of vegetarians -- including folks
> who are raising their kids vegetarian -- and none of them seem to have
> had any real problems with iron.

Some reversible anemia I can cope with, but the developmental aspects
have me concerned.

> Even the handful who have gone all
> the way to vegan eating seem to do just fine, as long as they learn how
> to do it properly.

Around here, everybody seems to be put on supplements..vit. and
iron...even the meat-eaters. (I was at a first birthday party last night
and two mothers told me baby is so constipated they have taken to
suppositories or oil enemas!!)
I was looking at the jars of baby food that FOB uses when I'm not home
to cook. Everything is either 0 or 2 or 4% (the latter on spinach only)
of MDR (I'm assuming of babies, not adults, but the jars don't say!).
He's been eating table food since 3 months (teeth and demanding), but
since I'm about to stop the formula with iron supplement and the cereal
with iron supplement, I'm trying to find out more. I have not seen a
nutritional table book that addresses children. I suppose I'll have to
get a regular one and try to tease out what he'll eat and what has what
in it and how this fits in his MDR and leave it all in block writing for
the SAHPapa whose only nutritional opinion is that edamame fixes
everything.
Thanks!
blacksalt

[Daye]

On 28 Jul 2003 04:51:02 GMT, (H Schinske) wrote:

> Also,
>there's no law that says you *have* to stop formula at a year, if you are
>particularly concerned about iron levels.

You can also get the toddler formula that goes into cow's milk. My DD
was on that for a while after her first birthday. We used S26 Toddler
in Vanilla flavor. It is cheaper than infant formula too!

--
Daye
Momma to Jayan
EDD 11 Jan 2004

[Beth Kevles]

HI -

The truth is, you don't wean from formula (or breastmilk) to cow's
milk. YOu wean your child to a varied, healthy diet. Once your child
is eating a good variety of solids, ANY milk becomes completely
unnecessary.

In the Western diet, however, milk is relied upon as a source for
calcium, protein and fat. So when you wean your child from formula,
make sure that those three things (especially the calcium, which is the
hardest to deliver to kids) are sufficiently in your child's diet.

The reason babies consume formula (or breastmilk) in the beginning is
that it is a "complete" food (and continues to be for well over a year,
so use it if you need it). But babies start to eat solids, and so rely
less and less on formula for their nutritional needs.

If you're breastfeeding, it's a good idea to continue to nurse for well
over a year. It's not the nutrition that matters after about 12 months
(although you'll be very grateful that you're nursing when your child
comes down with his or her first stomach virus) but the breastmilk
actually boosts the child's immune system, providing antibodies to
everything that YOUR body encounters. (The immune system isn't fully
developed until about age 5, which is the age that children self-wean in
non-industrialized societies.) But I digress.

In short, don't fret about milk. Wean to a varied diet, and see if you
can get your child to drink WATER as a primary fluid.

--Beth Kevles

http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the milk-allergic
Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be construed as medical
advice. Please consult with your own medical practicioner.

[Nikki]

blacksalt wrote:
> I'm new at this, so I'm reading some books. The consensus seems that
> after a year of age you change from formula to milk. When reading
> about iron, the books say "use iron fortified cereal".

Browse the cereal section. I think many are iron fortified. Cheerios are
and I think Cream of Wheat is as well. Cream of Wheat was a favorite for
both mine when they were young. Raisons have iron don't they?

Good luck
--
Nikki
Mama to Hunter (4) and Luke (2)

[kal]

If you are raising a young child without meat it will be important to make sure he or she is getting adequate protein, iron, calcium and vitamin B12. You may know of other children raised on a vegetarian diet without vitamin/mineral supplements, but do you really want to take a chance with your child? It can be difficult to calculate out the adequacy of your child's daily diet and it may help you rest a little easier.

Non-heme iron (heme is iron from meat sources) is a little more difficult to absorb so it is beneficial to have a vitamin C source with it. This could mean you offer a little juice with a fortified cereal or offer broccoli or potato at dinner with a fortified rice or noddle dish. Try to frequently offer beans and enriched cereals these are really 2 of the best sources of iron other than meat. Other foods to include are tofu, peas, spinach and enriched breads, tortillas, rice and pasta. You should be checking the labels as a lot of foods can be enriched. It is true that some of the iron from cast iron cookware is leached out into the food during cooking.

It is okay to continue on formula past a year. I would actually recommend it if you will be offering a vegetarian diet. Please note that between 1 year and 2 years it is important for a child to have more fat in their diet. This is usually done by offering 2 cups of whole cow's milk. The extra fat is critical during this time for brain/neural development. After 2 it is okay to switch to lower fat. If using goat's, rice or soy milk look for the higher fat and also look at the percentages of vitamins A and D and calcium. You want to make sure you are getting a similar amount of nutrition (as compared to whole cow's milk).

I hope this information is helpful for you. This is an important time in your child's development. I would recommend meeting with a Registered Dietitian just to make sure your child's diet is adequate if you are restricting any food groups. [/QUOTE]

[kal]

If you are raising a young child without meat it will be important to make sure he or she is getting adequate protein, iron, calcium and vitamin B12. You may know of other children raised on a vegetarian diet without vitamin/mineral supplements, but do you really want to take a chance with your child? It can be difficult to calculate out the adequacy of your child's daily diet and it may help you rest a little easier.

Non-heme iron (heme is iron from meat sources) is a little more difficult to absorb so it is beneficial to have a vitamin C source with it. This could mean you offer a little juice with a fortified cereal or offer broccoli or potato at dinner with a fortified rice or noddle dish. Try to frequently offer beans and enriched cereals these are really 2 of the best sources of iron other than meat. Other foods to include are tofu, peas, spinach and enriched breads, tortillas, rice and pasta. You should be checking the labels as a lot of foods can be enriched. It is true that some of the iron from cast iron cookware is leached out into the food during cooking.

It is okay to continue on formula past a year. I would actually recommend it if you will be offering a vegetarian diet. Please note that between 1 year and 2 years it is important for a child to have more fat in their diet. This is usually done by offering 2 cups of whole cow's milk. The extra fat is critical during this time for brain/neural development. After 2 it is okay to switch to lower fat. If using goat's, rice or soy milk look for the higher fat and also look at the percentages of vitamins A and D and calcium. You want to make sure you are getting a similar amount of nutrition (as compared to whole cow's milk).

I hope this information is helpful for you. This is an important time in your child's development. I would recommend meeting with a Registered Dietitian just to make sure your child's diet is adequate if you are restricting any food groups. [/QUOTE]

[shinypenny]

blacksalt wrote:
> I'm new at this, so I'm reading some books. The consensus seems that
> after a year of age you change from formula to milk. When reading
about
> iron, the books say "use iron fortified cereal". The baby cereal and
the
> formula are both iron fortified. However, I'd rather start moving
into
> whole grains rather than the precooked, prechewed Gerber baby rice or
> mixed grain cereal. Tastes like cardboard! If I do that I'm switching
> away from both iron fortified formula and cereal.
> What whole grain iron fortified cereals are out there? I don't care
if
> it is too 'big grained', as I can grind it finer. Food after food
says
> "0% iron" on the RDA. Baby is being raised veggie, so I can't just
feed
> beef and assume he's getting enough.

I raised my girls veggie for their first few years of life (up until
around grade school). They did fine without meat and always had
excellent iron levels (my ped insisted on testing them, concerned that
I was going to do them harm by not feeding them meat... ARGH!). We
never took any iron supplements. So, it can be done!

I think you are on the right track, eschewing the Gerber stuff, and
asking the right questions. Here is a helpful link with tips to
increase absorption, as well as a list of non-meat iron sources:

http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu/Handouts/dietiron.html

When you compare the meat vs non-meat sources, it does appear that meat
is much more higher than non-meat. However, that only tells you part of
the story. On a careful vegetarian diet, one's ability to absorb iron
may actually be more efficient.

In addition to cooking in a cast-iron pot, it's a good idea to ensure
your child gets foods rich in vitamin C, as this will greatly improve
absorption. Almonds, broccoli, baked beans, dried fruit (cook it first
so the child doesn't have to chew it), peas, rice, spinach are all good
sources.

You asked about iron-fortified cereals. I feed my kids cheerios and
Total, both of which I believe are fortified. I think oatmeal is too
(check labels).

Be aware that too much iron can cause constipation. Therefore, I'd try
not to go too overboard on this one nutrient. It's important, yes, but
too much of a good thing can be bad, too.

And remember the body does store iron. It's likely your baby was born
with high iron stores if you ate well during pregnancy, and for the
first year that iron store has stayed high because of the formula. Your
one-year-old can likely go several months on a less-than-perfect diet,
as he becomes used to table foods, and not suffer much.

jen

[shinypenny]

blacksalt wrote
> Around here, everybody seems to be put on supplements..vit. and
> iron...even the meat-eaters. (I was at a first birthday party last
night
> and two mothers told me baby is so constipated they have taken to
> suppositories or oil enemas!!)

Yep, it's insane, the marketing people telling everyone to eat meat and
drink milk:

- Too much milk, and your body leaches iron....

- But that's okay, just eat more MEAT....

- Except that too much meat, and your body leaches calcium....

- But that's okay, just drink more milk!!!!!!!!!

- Oh, and take a SUPPLEMENT!

When my 2nd was born they ran the mother/baby iron tests on us both.
Docs were all concerned because I was 100% veg during the pregnancy,
which occurred while #1 was only 9 months old and still breast feeding.
I got numerous stern lectures all throughout that pregnancy by my
OB/GYN about depleted iron stores due to back-to-back pregancies and
nursing, the dangers of vegetarianism, did I want to risk my baby's
health???, etc, yaddah yaddah.

Tests came back and doctor was floored. Said that he'd never, in all
his years, seen such excellent results. I told him, "That's because all
your patients eat too much meat and drink too much milk, and their
bodies are so out of whack, they **** out the vitamin supplements you
prescribe because they don't know what to do with it." He was so
impressed, he even asked me to write down my diet so he could study it
and share it with his patients.

It's all pretty easy and doesn't take too much analysis, just follow a
few simple rules and your body will get the nutrition it needs:

1) Stay clear of processed foods
2) Eat whole grains
3) Eat tons of veggies and fruit (including dried fruit)
4) Eat beans and nuts regularly. If you're not vegan, then cheese and
eggs are good choices too.
5) Take in enough calories for your energy needs

And no, throwing away the patty and eating the rest of the McD's meal
is NOT a good vegetarian strategy. :-)

jen