iron supplements

IgnatusDem · August 2012

DS's Dr. told us that we need to start supplementing his diet with iron drops by the time he's 4 months. However, most research that I've found done by AAP has shown that this isn't necessary for exclusively breastfed infants. Does anyone else supplement iron, or was told to?

moriaspencer · August 2012

From what I understand, the iron that babies are born with lasts up until they are about 6 months old. My pedi told me that since DD is BF, I could start giving her meats so that she gets iron. DD hasn't liked any meats so far. We have tried beef and turkey and they make her gag. Pedi didn't mention iron supplements at all. A little before 6 months I decided to switch from her vitamin d drops to one that has iron as well. DH was born anemic (sp?) and with her not liking meats, I wanted to be sure she was getting iron. The supplement only contains 67% daily value of iron, but i'm sure its fine as I wasn't even told to use it, I just did it on my own.

tokenhoser · August 2012

We have never supplemented iron.

Breastmilk has some iron, and what there is is very bio-available. I don't believe in supplementing willy-nilly, as iron is really hard on tummies and causes constipation. I would not supplement unless there was an actual diagnosis of anemia / deficiency.

We did introduce meat and egg yolk very soon after starting solids; it's taken him time to eat much of anything, but I did try to offer high iron and iron enriched foods.

ncbelle · August 2012

I never gave either baby iron supplements or iron fortified cereal. When their iron was tested at 12 months, their levels were excellent. My pedi was completely fine with this. Had their levels been low, we would have supplemented.

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