Hello Everyone,
Just wondering what all of your wise thoughts might be concerning iron
fortification and starting solids in light of this "new" information. I am
wondering how it would also relate to the still common recommendation for
infants to start solids with iron fortified cereal. I don't have a box
around here, can anyone tell me how much iron they would get from a serving
of rice or oat cereal? How much is  a serving?
	Quoted from the first paragraph of the article
 	"Healthy, well-nourished children fed iron-fortified formula as
infants scored an average of 11 points lower on IQ tests at 10 years of
age than similar children fed low-iron formula, investigators announced here
at PAS 2008, the Pediatric Academic Societies and Asian 	Society for
Pediatric Research Joint Meeting."
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/574363?src=mp&spon=9&uac=22922DG To
access the article, click on this Web address, or cut and paste it into a
browser window

As a LLL Leader I have always  shared with mothers the LLL information on
starting solids. It used to be in their starting solids reprints and now it
is on their website at the following link.
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/firstfoods.html
It states,
	"Commercial, iron-fortified cereals are often the first foods served
to babies who are not breastfeeding because they need the extra
iron, but breastfed babies are rarely anemic as the iron in human milk is
well-utilized. If there is concern about the baby's iron levels, a
simple test can be done in the doctor's office."
Basically this position advocates for more natural first foods and starting
pureed meats earlier rather than cereal. I found my own 5 children refused
the cereal and many mothers report similar reactions from their infants.
Judy Gutowski, BA, IBCLC

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome