The Truth About Iron

Do Breastfed Babies Need Supplements?

By Gwen Morrison

Obviously, there was no indication that Groves' son needed a supplement to his diet. They left the office with the doctor's best wishes and advice to introduce solid foods when her child was ready.

"I refuse to supplement," Groves says. "I have since had two more children, both breastfed. I start solids when my children show signs that they are absolutely ready."

Groves admits that though she is not a doctor, she does not believe in the one-size-fits-all approach to supplementation. "I think it is unnecessary and even dangerous," she says. "At my daughter's 6-month well check, the physician's assistant handed me a prescription for vitamin supplements, including iron. They never checked the iron levels. I smiled, took the prescription and threw it out when I got home."

According to studies, including Dechant KL and Clissold SP Drugs of 1991, infants who were not exclusively breastfed for at least seven months did develop anemia by 12 months of age without the addition of iron-rich foods or supplemental vitamins. It was also concluded that infants who were breastfed exclusively for seven or more months had good iron status when checked at 12 and 24 months of age.

Alison Dellenbaugh from Cedar Park, Texas found that her second child, who was routinely checked at 9 months of age for anemia, was in fact anemic. Dellenbaugh's first child, who was also breastfed, was not anemic when checked by the doctor at the same age. "We just started feeding him a lot of iron-fortified baby cereal," she says. "When he was tested again at 12 and 15 months of age, he was no longer anemic."

Dellenbaugh was told by doctors that mothers should have enough iron to supply to their babies through breast milk for the first six months, and that after that, most babies get enough iron from solid foods. The test that is done by many physicians at 9 months old is intended to ensure that babies don't become anemic or suffer from other developmental problems due to an iron deficiency.

"Because inter-uterine iron storage is sufficient for approximately six months after delivery, and solids are introduced by 6 months, at approximately 9 months of age, the children are tested for anemia," Traina says. "They are then treated or not, according to the blood results. Treatment can be iron-rich solid foods or iron supplements based on the severity of the anemia."

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