Iron deficiency

Hey, Im so sorry to hear you are struggling with this.
Rooibos contains negligible amounts of tannin, so shouldnt interfere with iron absorbsion as much as regular tea (which also contains caffeine which also interfears) A little rooibos should be fine. Chamomile tea is also tannin free.

Iron needs Vitamin C to be absorbed, so always take your iron supplement with a nice big dose of vitamin C (if taken at the same time it is apparently most effective)

Good sources of iron are red meats (including the best known source liver), followed by white meat and fish, follwed by green leafy vegetables like spinach.
Dried apricots are also reasonable source and are quite a nice snack for toddlers (my little boy LOVES them)

Iron fortified cereals also contain high levels of iron, and are fair sources, but just be aware....Rice, Oats and wheat can actually inhibit iron absorbtion in the GUT, so the levels indicated on the side of the box isnt what will eventually be in her system to convert into red blood cells:)

Milk and dairy also inhibit iron absorbtion so should not be eaten when you take the supplement (part of the reasons iron level have to be so high in formula compared to the levels found in human milk)

Another easy way to add iron into the diet is to cook in cast iron cookware (like the potjie pots). Think slow baked lamb stew filled with veg high in vitamin c (tomatoes, brocolli etc), cooked in a iron crock pot and you have a winner:) Cast iron is much healthier to cook in than the PFTE non stick cookware anyway:)

Hope that helps:)

As far as I know it's actually normal tea that affects the absorption of iron due to the caffeine in it, not rooibos. But i could be wrong.

Also suggest SpaTone iron supplements to your paed. It's a liquid and is said to be the most easily absorbed iron around, suitable from 2 years old, and has the least side effects. you can google SpaTone and you'll find a website all about it. I am currently taking it.

If she does need the injections then i deifnitely don't think it's wrong you trying to talk her through it. Kids/babies react to parents' reactions, so the happier and more light-hearted you are about the whole thing, the better she'll respond and the less upset she'll get by it all.

Thanks 1st timer, sorry i didnt reply sooner!

we've managed to cut back the rooibos tea, and I'm also giving some chamomile tea. we had blood tests last week, and her iron levels have increased nicely. we're just below average now.

So we're starting iron supplements again and waiting another month before new blood tests before deciding on iron injections!

But, she is still sleeping so poorly... I'm just hoping as the iron levels pick up, the sleep will return!

Shame that sounds horrible! I looked into the tea issue. Basically the tannin inhibits iron absorbtion (sp?). Real tea has a lot of tannin. Rooibos has significantly less - but still some. At least that's how I understood it.

What about normal milk? There are also lots or iron fortified brands of cereal, porridge and milk at pnp etc.

Thanks Joybaby! For now, Dr said to stay off any iron supplement, her body needs a rest. I know a GP told me years ago that your body can become used to getting a certain vitamin and then stop absorbing it. back then he told me to skip certain days and change my multivitamin from time to time.

I'm going to suggest chelafer to the paed next time I chat to him! Thanks.

I'm going to give more beetroot, she loves beetroot! And I'll make some liver pate and let her help me, she loves helping in the kitchen, and then she might enjoy eating it!

I'm just trying to prevent any illnesses for now, and catch them in time. You know how it goes!

And we'll cross the bridge of injections in 4 weeks time!

I'm still confused about the rooibos tea thing though...? Some people say its normal tea with the tannins that is bad, others say its rooibos! Mmm... I'm trying to wean off the tea, but who wants a bottle of water before going to bed....?

I think the sleep is related to the iron levels being so low, that and the moon (lol). But who knows.... there's always something going on.... school, activities, teething, bit of stuff nose, difficult to say!

Joybaby, good luck with K and next week, in my prayers!

Hi MommyN
Shew wish I knew what to say! Giving injections to a 2yr old cant be fun!

Have u ever heard of Chelafer? It's a fairly new iron supplement on the market.
Its make up is slightly different in that it doesnt have as bad constipation side effects.
Iron helps the absorption of nutrients in food - so obviously very important in keeping the immune system healthy.
Speak to ur doc to see if u can give that a try? And a good multivit ofcourse.
There is vidaylin with iron - not nice but after hospital visit's the dr's often prescribe it.
I give K Viral Guard Junior and Omega 3 and Chelafer.

Unfortunately getting sick in winter is inevitable, but got to make sure they are as prepared as possible for it!
Is the sleep related to the iron problem? Could it be developmental?
You must be exhausted hun!!!

PS Try beatroot - also very good for iron.

Sarah-Jane, now 26 months old, is now really battling with iron defiency. Paed has recommended we stop all supplements for 4 weeks, then re-test and start injections from there on.

She eats really well, but I'm going to try increase iron-rich foods, liver etc. I myself dont favour liver, so this is going to be something I also have to do.

I have been aenemic myself, and still on iron tablets.

Anyone had experience with the injections?

They say they are extremely painful. I saw a GP today and she said she still has a fear of needles thanks to iron injections as a child! And she's a Doctor!

I'm going to try talk Sarah through it, and hopefully I wont have to take Nathan with us (now 14 months old) so I'll try make it as much of a pleasant thing as possible - or is that wrong?

I will also see if I am allowed to apply Emla gel. Hope it will help!

Kind of dreading this, but now that she's started playgroup, she has already got tonsillitus and the Dr says with winter coming, if her iron is low, she'll pick up everything. Its only the third course of anti-bitics in over 2 years!

Of course, she's been sleeping very poorly. Some nights getting 4 - 6 hours total, and then having a full day ahead and sometimes an hour nap or some days no nap.

And what is the theory of rooibos tea inhibiting the absorbtion of iron? Is it just rooisbos, or caffeine free tea too? She loves her tea! She is drinking more water, luckily, so we've cut back the tea to about 200ml total for the whole day. What do I replace it with? She weaned herself from my breastmilk at 11 months and stopped formula herself at 14 months. Someone suggested Milo, but with water? And doesnt it give energy... last thing we need at night!

She hates herbal teas, but I thought of putting it in her tea bottle and she might wean herself off tea then? Hoping! Else just throw a tantrum like she's so good at doing at the moment!

Any suggestions for the injections, iron rich food and tea situation?