To continue the discussion on starting solids and iron
supplementation...

A study done by Pisacane in 1995 concluded that babies who were
exclusively breastfed for 7 months (and were not give iron supplements
or iron-fortified cereals) had significantly higher hemoglobin levels at
one year than breastfed babies who received solid foods earler than
seven months.  The researchers found no cases of anemia within the first
year in babies breastfed exclusively for seven months and concluded that
breastfeeding exclusively for seven months reduces the risk of anemia
and should be recommended in parts of the world where breastfeeding is
common and iron supplementation is not available or culturally
acceptable.

Janet Talmadge, IBCLC
Naperville, IL

Pisacane, A. et al. Iron status in breast-fed infants.  JPediatr 1995;
127(3): 429-31.

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