Prioritize iron-rich foods from the start

Make iron-rich foods a priority when starting solids because infant iron stores from birth begin to deplete around 6 months. The AAP recommends iron-fortified foods as among the first complementary foods, as iron is critical for brain development during the first two years of life.

Best Iron-Rich First Foods

• Iron-fortified infant cereal mixed with breast milk or formula
• Pureed or finely minced meat (beef, lamb, chicken, turkey) provides highly absorbable heme iron
• Pureed lentils, chickpeas, or beans offer plant-based iron
• Pureed tofu is another good plant-based option

How to Improve Iron Absorption

1. Pair iron-rich foods with vitamin C sources: Offer pureed strawberries, mashed tomato, or citrus alongside iron-rich meals. Vitamin C significantly increases non-heme iron absorption.
2. Avoid offering cow's milk as a drink before 12 months. Cow's milk is low in iron and can interfere with iron absorption.
3. Offer iron-rich foods daily once solids are established.

Tips

• Breastfed babies are at higher risk of iron deficiency than formula-fed babies because formula is iron-fortified
• If your pediatrician identifies low iron, they may recommend iron drops alongside dietary sources
• Meat purees can be mixed with vegetables to improve palatability for babies who resist them initially