Iron Supplements

TimnLiz

My pedi suggested that we start giving LO iron and vitamin D supplements in addition to BM.  He mentioned that there is some staining involved with the iron, but that was that.  Are my beautiful CDs going to get yucky?  How can I avoid staining my dipes?

Nikki1007

DD was on it and never stained her diapers. her clothes when she spit the nasty stuff out was another story. Give it to him in the bath, then nothing gets stained!

MWoodside

Hmm that's strange.  Babies are born with appropriate iron stores for about 6 mo.  At that point fortified cereal or certain produce purees provide enoguh iron.  Iron supplements can lead to constipation also.  Just food for thought.

agreenaffair

yeah, babies should have their iron stores for six months, but I also read that the iron comes when the cord is pulsating slightly after birth, and if the cord has to be cut right away because of it being wrapped around LO's neck, then they may not get all the iron they need (I don't know how true this is) -

Someone else posted something similar on the EF board, and molasses was also suggested - it is extremely high in iron - I am a vegan, so I often eat cream of buckwheat cereal with a tsp of molasses on top ... good luck, hopefully if you do have to give a supplement the breastmilk will prevent constipation - also, vitamin C helps the absorption of iron, and calcium inhibits the absorption of iron