Is there enough iron in breast milk after 6 months?

[mammainlove]

Hi, does any-one know if breast fed babies need extra iron supplements after 6 months? I've started my 7m.o DD on solids a month ago, as well as bf which i hope to continue for another year or so. I try to feed her organic veg and rice etc i make myself, but keep hearing that she needs extra iron (mainly from grandparents!) None of the organic ground rice/oats I've seen in the supermarket have added iron. I'm not sure what to believe or how to get iron into her diet...

She'll get iron in her food, especially if you are including red meat and dark green leafy veg, as well as in her milk. Supplements are unnecessary for most healthy children.

They DO NOT need that Cow and Gate follow on stuff with the advert with the huge tippee cup. A child would only need that amount of milk/fortified milk if said milk was their only source of iron - which for any child past 6 months who is weaning/eating, it is not! That's why that ad got banned.

I never added iron, vegetables like broccoli have more than enough of it. No need in my point of view.

Fed her iron rich food, eg beef? No need to still be using babyrice at 7 months.

My DNephew was anaemic at 18 months and it was severe enough to affect his health, he was still BF but SIL never gave him red meat as she prefers chicken which is low in iron. And he was allergic to sesame and egg.

iron rich food

Hi

Have a look at this

www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/iron.html

This is an excellent evidence-based breastfeeding resource for pretty much everything. Hope it helps.

But in summary, there is no evidence that healthy babies need supplements. Until a universal iron screening programme is introduced to actually get data, any theories about iron deficiencies in the bf baby are just that: theories and speculation.

mammainlove - maybe check this out with your HV? If your hv is on the ball and well-informed, she'll tell you that the iron in breastmilk is very well-absorbed and that a baby of this age moving on to solids should have sufficient iron without needing any supplements (too much iron is as bad as too little, in fact). Babies do start to need more iron from about this age, but there's normally no need for a rush, or for large quantities, and deffo not for supplements.

By this age, your baby can have a range of foods and many of the foods she will enjoy will have iron - bread, pulses, dried fruits like apricots, meat (unless you are veggie), eggs....again, your hv can help with this. Or there may be some good suggestions on the weaning board on mumsnet :)

Thanks guys that's really helpful :)

Blatherskite, no not seen it....nice to be asked after though :)