exclusive bf @ 6 mths - iron levels and vit supplements????

[weeonion]

hi folks. dd is 5mths exclusivly bf. planing on starting blw next month but have heard that as their iron levels fall - they may need supplements? does anyone know if this is true and if so - what do we give??

Hi weeonion
My Ds is 5.5 and exclusively bf, we have just started blw. Althought they say the iron levels fall, they apparantly just 'begin to fall'at 6 mths. If you have a healthy diet this shouldn't be a problem. Initially blw isnt about the nutrition as they wont swallow enough but what i've done is made sure I introduce Iron rich veg from the beginning. Later on when they are a bit older you can also start introducing cereals fortified with Iron if you're worried. Breast milk can sustain a baby for a year, so I'm keeping my diet healthy (ish ), giving loads of fruit & veg whilst BLW and wont be giving ds any supplements.
x

it's one of thsoe common spread myths...whilst it is true that Iron levels do deplet over time...there is no need to supplement, because whilst exclusively breastfed the Iron that is in your bm is in a very easy apsorbable (sp?) form....

I think it's rubbish too, but it is advised in the Birth to Five book for bf babies and fussy eaters! For goodness sake!