During the first 1,000 days of life, your little one’s brain develops at an amazing rate. In fact, a two year old toddler’s brain is twice as active as that of an adult! To power all that learning, they need a healthy balanced diet, which includes plenty of iron.
Iron is one of a range of nutrients that is particularly important for health. It helps to make red blood cells, which carry oxygen from the lungs to body tissues.
Toddlers who do not get enough iron, can be at risk of developing a disorder called ‘iron deficiency anaemia’ and as a result can be tired, listless, and are sometimes irritable. They may also pick up infections easily.
Simple tips to ensure your toddler is getting enough iron:
- Offer your toddler a regular supply of iron rich foods. The best sources of iron to support this remarkable stage of the first 1,000 days include meat, chicken and fish. These sources are called ‘haem iron’ which simply means blood iron which is easy for your little one to absorb and use.
- Including meat, chicken or fish as part of a mixed daily diet toddlers has been shown to be effective in preventing anaemia.
- Other sources of iron include breakfast cereals and milks with added iron, eggs, vegetables or beans. These sources are referred to as ‘non-haem’ sources and are not as easily absorbed but are still important.
- A simple way to boast your toddler’s uptake of iron is to include a source of vitamin C. Vitamin C rich sources include strawberries, blackberries, kiwi, oranges and tomatoes.
- Tea and coffee will not only keep your toddlers up past bedtime but have been shown to prevent iron in foods being absorbed – they are not suitable drinks for toddlers.
- Even with a varied diet, it can be difficult for toddlers to achieve the required amount of iron necessary for healthy growth. We know that 23% of Irish one year olds are not getting enough iron. As part of a balanced diet, Growing Up Milks have been shown to be a good source of this important nutrient.
