Is he getting enough iron?

Nutritionist Caroline Bunker says: Once your child reaches his first birthday it's fine to switch from breast or formula milk to drinking ordinary cows' milk. At this age he is growing rapidly and, as you say, it's important to ensure he gets enough iron in his diet.

Iron is needed to make healthy red blood cells, and for normal growth and development. Lack of iron may lead to anaemia, which can delay your child's physical and mental development. A varied diet including some iron-rich foods each day will help ensure your child gets the iron his body needs.Poultry, eggs and red meats such as pork, beef and lamb are rich in a type of iron that is easily absorbed by the body. Plant foods such as green leafy vegetables, bread, beans, lentils, dried fruits adn fortified breakfast cereals also contain useful amounts of iron, but in a form that makes it harder for your body to absorb it.

Also, vitamin C boosts the absorption of iron from plant foods, so try to give your child a source of vitamin C at the same meal as the iron-rich food. For example, give dilute fruit juice or orange segments along with breakfast cereal or beans on toast, vegetable sticks with houmous or fruit salad that contains both fresh and dried fruit. 

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