*Originally published in 2017 – I am updating and re-publishing this as there seems lots of interest recently from people with low iron levels. I am still using this with my children. My two youngest take 1 sachet a day as a supplement as they do not eat much red meat and will still not eat leafy greens. My teenage daughter also takes this as she is vegetarian and a very active athlete*
A while back I wrote an article about how to cope with anaemia in children. As part of that I talked about how useful Spatone had been in dealing with childhood iron deficiency anaemia.
I first discovered Spatone whilst trying to find solutions for iron deficiency anaemia. I basically spent about six weeks experimenting with pretty much every iron supplement I could find, and trying to find innovative ways to get it into my child.
Children are unpredictable, some cope with things better than others, what works one week might not work the next, and many children are very sensitive to tastes and textures. This means that getting supplements into them isn’t always an easy task.
Why we need to be aware of iron levels
Iron is a key nutrient for growth and essential to carry oxygen around the body. If a person does not eat sufficient iron-rich foods, they may become iron deficient and suffer from the condition known as iron deficiency anaemia.
Symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia can include extreme tiredness, pale complexion, breathlessness and heart palpitations. Although people with this don’t always experience these symptoms.
Iron is also involved in the conversion of blood sugar to energy. Metabolic energy is particularly vital for anyone exercising to an intense level, as it allows muscles to work at their optimum during exercise or when competing.
Iron also plays a vital role in keeping the immune system working properly and it is vital for developing normal cognitive function in children.
Our bodies, although very clever, can’t produce iron on their own so we have to make sure we consume enough iron-rich foods to ensure our bodies can work effectively.
The problem with iron-rich foods
The problem with iron-rich foods is that many of the things rich in iron are things that are hard to get into children, and some adults too. Iron-rich foods include things like:
- Red meat
- Seafood
- Beans
- Dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and kale
- Dried fruit, such as raisins and apricots
- Iron-fortified cereals, breads and pastas
- Peas
The other issue is that things like tea, coffee and milk are well know iron inhibitors. With many children consuming high amounts of milk and many adults drinking lots of tea and coffee, it’s common for the absorption of any iron consumed to be inhibited.
How can Spatone help?
Spatone is a naturally occurring iron-rich water which is collected and packed straight from the source in the heart of Snowdonia, North Wales. It is collected, filtered and put into convenient, easy-to-open sachets. Spatone is suitable for vegetarians , has no artificial colours, and is gluten free.
One of the key benefits of Spatone over other iron supplements is the taste. It is basically undetectable when mixed with juice, making it much easier to get into children. Another key advantage of Spatone over other iron supplements is it’s ability to be absorbed by the body. Often it isn’t the amount of iron we consume that is key, but how much of it is absorbed. Spatone has been scientifically shown to have a bioavailability of iron (the amount of iron available to be absorbed) average of 40%, much higher than other sources.
Spatone is gentle on the stomach and can also be taken during pregnancy if iron levels are found to be low. The sachets make it very convenient to take with you anywhere you go, and you can easily add it to a drink when out and about.
Vitamin C helps the absorption of iron, so if you or your little one will drink orange juice, that’s the most effective way to take it. Just mix a sachet of Spatone with orange juice daily (twice daily if you are pregnant). My little man won’t drink orange juice so I mix it with cranberry juice and pineapple juice, and that does the trick.
I normally purchase Spatone from Amazon using my Prime account as I find that the best value and it arrives the next day. I buy the Apple Spatone as I find that is the easiest to hide, but you can buy a plain version as well.
We’ve gone from dangerously low iron levels to almost normal in six months and Spatone has been a large part of that change. It’s now a permanent feature in the kitchen and my handbag! I recommend Spatone Liquid Iron Supplement with added Vitamin C and Apple Flavour – Pack of 28 Sachets.
Have you used Spatone? Has it worked for you and your family?
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21 comments
Hi – thanks for a great article, very informative ? I can see this article is almost two years old, but just wondering how many sachets you had to give your son daily? We have been recommended 5 sachets of Spatone a day for my daughter who is iron-deficient, but I’m finding it hard to get that volume in daily and managing about 2 and a third sachets a day actually consumed. I’m glad to see his levels improved to almost normal after 5 months ? We’ve been treating for about 8 weeks so far, but seeing small improvements already, although there’s still a way to go.
Hi there – glad you are starting to see an improvement. I did 2 sachets a day initially in apple or cranberry juice as he doesn’t like orange juice. I then also used Fereglobin twice a day mixed in hot chocolate. I still use both with him but in much smaller quantities for maintenance. His eating is so much better than a couple of years ago but if he’s having a fussy week then I top him up.
Good luck and feel free to ask any other questions x
Thanks for the quick reply ? So far my daughter is rejecting everything except Spatone mixed with apple juice, so we’ll see how the levels are at her blood test in about 4 weeks. If not much progress on this regime, we have to do an iron infusion (as traumatic as that is!) . Here’s hoping we can avoid that ?
We just avoided an infusion. Levels were so low. Go with what works for your daughter. It took me ages to work out through trial and error what our best combination was. If she will have the Spatone, go with that. If the volume of apple juice is a problem just try smaller quantities of apple juice. Our little one struggled with the volume of liquid so i simply gave him a smaller cup of apple juice with 2 sachets in. We used the apple Spatone and I used a bottle with a straw x
Hi what’s the most sachets you can take per day if iron deficient?
Is 5 sachets allowed .I would like to know as my iron is so low
Hi Rachel,
I’m not a doctor, so I can’t advise you. I can tell you that we used 2 sachets a day with my son when he was really low, combined with a dose of fereglobin and that was enough to send his levels in the right direction. He was incredibly low and the only other option was an infusion at the hospital.
Love your article! I have twin girls who have just turned two. They were diagnosed as having dangerously low iron when they where 11 months (they where 6 weeks premature) we took a Canadian iron supplement for 6 months as we where living in Canada. We are back in England now and my girls have been waking up a lot more (every two hours) and I have a feeling it’s due to their iron levels dropping (they used to have such bad restless legs!) anyhow I brought spatone yesterday and just wanted to see how others have found it. So pleased it worked for your little guy! My girls aren’t having their bloods taken until end of the month so I am just giving them one a day for now and if I find out they have extremely low iron I’ll up it. Do you know any information on giving it even if iron levels are ok (just in case I am wrong)? I am still breastfeeding ? and feel that even though they eat iron rich food they don’t absorb them fully because of my milk!
As far as I know it’s safe to give as a supplement even if levels are OK. Levels good here now but I still use it as an insurance really. So if i feel they haven’t had enough in a week i will use a sachet. Good luck and i hope the levels improve soon. x
2 sachets can be used per day in pregnancy and when ours son was very poorly we used 2 sachets a day plus a dose of fereglobin. We then gradually reduced this as the levels returned to normal.
My son is nearly 2.5 and had a blood test when 9 months we had just started weaning and his levels where 9 and I was told he was anemic. He was prescribed iron drops and he took them well. I got him retested when he was aged 18 months and still slightly anemic at 10. During the time he was prescribed iron drops he was breastfeeding. Now at 2.5 I am wanting to get his iron reviewed. We have tried a few supplements but little one never really tolerated the taste there was a tropical supplement Animal Parade with iron however my son did not like the taste. He eats a carried diet and stopped milk feeds at 24 months so am wondering if this was affecting his absorption. I want to get his blood checked again to make sure he is maintaining. Any ideas how long it takes to regain iron levels and sustain these. Just a bit worried his levels have been low because of his breast milk although the breast milk is like liquid gold. We don’t give him dairy, eggs or red meat but he otherwise eats a varied diet with pulses, chicken and fish and greens. Also ideas of supplements that taste good.
Hi there, It took around 18 months for my son’s to be back to what the consultant considered a safe level. He was at 7 when we started. I used to mix the spatone with cranberry juice to help absorption as he wouldn’t drink orange juice. I do think his progress was hindered by his milk absorption but I agree breastmilk is so important. He is 7 now and I still top him up with the fereglobin. For example, if I think he’s had a fussy week with his food then I will top him up. Fortunately he eats well now but when I think back to where we were back then. He would just eat pasta, gingerbread and strawberries at one point. Good luck and just keep going x
My son is 1 and borderline low on iron. I would much prefer to use this than another liquid supplement that the dr mentioned. I see it says 2 and up for ages but do you think i could try it for him?
Thank you!
I’m not a doctor, so I wouldn’t like to advise you, but all i can say is that what they gave us in hospital had no chance of entering my son’s system, hence why I had to experiment to find what worked for him. You could ask your doctor, it really is so easy to use.
Thanks for your advice. Did you give your baby spatone at 6 months ? If so how did your baby do? My baby is holding his breath hear and there. Also waking up a lot. Wondering if he is anemic ? But also would rather give him spatone over other iron supplements if it’s safe. Thank you so much!
I meant to send my question to you. Did you give hour baby spatone at 6 months and how did they do? I am worried my baby is anemic and would rather give spatone over other iron supplements. Thank you so much!
It’s normal for babies and toddlers to wake during the night and doesn’t mean they’re anaemic. I wouldn’t give it to such a young baby without instruction from a doctor.
No I wouldn’t give it to a six month old, My son was 3 when he started having this. Are you breastfeeding? I would discuss your concerns with your health care professional.
thnak you for sharing