How to Help Your Child Battle Anemia

Your two year old seems to 'drift' from sitting with you at the kitchen table to the sofa, then drifts to lay down on the floor in front of the t.v.; he or she picks up a favorite toy then puts it down...2 or 3 hour naps are a regular thing each day and even still, your little one goes to bed exhausted at 7:30 pm and sleeps until 8 or 9 the next morning. Occasionally this might be nice, but being excessively tired or 'dull' or lacking energy might be a sign of many things going on with your bundle of joy..one of which could be anemia. Anemia occurs when the body does not build or replace enough red blood cells to carry enough 'food' and oxygen to the busily working organs and tissues of the body, thus resulting in lethargy, paleness, muscle weakness and fatigue. Children can become anemic if they are in the midst of a vigorous growth spurt, have been ill, or have a very iron or vitamin C restricted diet and while having an anemic child is something to take seriously, there are many things you as a parent can easily do at home to help your child battle anemia.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   Cheerios and strawberries! Yum!!

   By increasing your child's intake of vitamin C, you can also boost their intake of iron as iron needs vitamin C so that it can be absorbed by the body. It's doubtful that your child or toddler will want a big new york strip steak and a grapefruit for breakfast tomorrow...but he or she might LOVE a bowl of iron fortified cereal (like Cheerios!) in milk with a small sippie cup of orange juice; or cut up a few fresh strawberries to go on top of her fortified whole grain waffles and you've got a fun and tasty way of starting the day off full of much needed vitamin C and iron without your anemic child ever knowing what you're up to!

2. 
    
   Eat more whole grain breads.

   Nix white breads for enriched whole grain breads (especially if you're going to toast them or grill them--like garlic breads, bagels or English muffins with jellies, or dinner rolls as children hardly notice the difference with these) Whole grain breads offer more fiber and more iron than regular bleached flour made breads or buns.

3. 
    
   Eat beans for iron!

   If your little one is picky about meats; try using various types of beans, peas, or lentils to add some fiber and iron to his or her diet. Tacos with a touch of refried beans IN the hamburger meat, regular baked beans, red beans and rice, a handful of lentils tossed into homemade vegetable soup, pickled bean mixtures like 3-bean salad, or even a chick-pea dip like hummus can all add some variety, culture, fiber, AND iron to your child's diet.

4. 
    
   Use old fashioned iron skillets.

   Toss the Teflon and opt for old fashioned iron skillets. Iron skillets are made from cast-IRON and if you cook foods in these skillets, then the foods can and will actually absorb a small portion of the iron that leeched off of the skillet during the cooking process; particularly acidic foods like tomato sauces or simmered gravies, pan fried or cooked down fruits, and eggs.

5. 
    
   Offer dried fruits as a snack!

   Dried fruit is rich in iron and antioxidents. Dehydrating fruit gets rid of water but it also serves to concentrate nutrients and vitamins AND IRON. Dried apricots, figs, raisins, and prunes are all usually favored by children but may need to be cut into smaller pieces for tiny teeth to chew. Snacking on dried fruit is much healthier than cookies or potato chips as well and will also serve to help your child battle anemia in a sneaky way!

6. 
    
   Drink plenty of water or fruit juices.

   Watch iced tea intake...a glass or two every so often is a nice treat; but studies have shown that a substance called tannic acid in iced tea greatly hinders iron absorption. Drink water or vitamin C enriched juices on hot days to prevent dehydration and help your child's body absorb as much iron as possible.

7. 
    
   Add spinach and romaine to your salad mix!

   Give your child choices. Show them various foods or pictures of foods and let them choose what they would like to eat--but only give them choices that will increase their iron absorption. For breakfast, let them choose a bread/starch (iron fortified cereal, bread, waffle, etc.) with a fruit and either a boiled or scrambled egg OR bacon with a whole grain bagel and some natural fruit jelly on top...by letting them 'choose' a little bit of what they want to eat, it may make them feel like they have more control of their diet and open their mind to eating different things. Use Romaine lettuce mixed with spinach in your dinner salad rather than strait iceberg and opt for vegetable BEEF stew rather than strait vegetable. If your little one is picky about meat in the marinara; try putting your ground beef in the blender for 5 minutes and turning it into puree before adding it to the red sauce--they will never know the difference!

8. 
    
   Talk to your pediatricain about adding an iron suppliment to your child's diet.

   Add a children's multi vitamin each day. Most toddlers and small children love the little grape, cherry or orange flavored multi vitamins and they can add a much needed boost to your little ones immune system and iron count. Speak with your pediatrician about adding vitamin supplements before giving them to your child and become aware of iron poisoning as well.

9. 
    
   written by mumstheword

   If you felt that the tips provided in this article might help you battle your child's anemia a little better; then please don't forget to post your comments before you leave this page! Thanks so much for reading and rating my work here on ehow!

Tips & Warnings

• always check with your doctor or pediatrician before adding to your child's diet or giving him/her nutritional or vitamin supplements
• if your child is constantly weak, pale, lethargic or listless seek advice and testing from your family doctor or pediatrician immediatly as these may be symptoms of a serious medical condition or very severe anemia