I have a mom with baby who has a hgb. 0f 8.3, hct. 27. We both feel confused by the complexity of issues surrounding anemia and her ped who blames "too much breast milk interfering with solid intake" as the sole problem. 1) If hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, and MCHC are all below the normal range, in a baby (13 mo.old),is iron deficiency anemia the only reasonable diagnosis? The ped says it's so clearcut. 2) Can a baby's anemia be treated by treating the mom; i.e., can breastmilk be goosed up enough to provide enough iron to treat anemia? Or even to maintain a good level, once it's treated? 3) Does the iron in food sources, or in iron supplements (ferrous sulfate, I think), inhibit the uptake of the iron in breastmilk? 4) vice versa: Does breastmilk inhibit the uptake of iron from other sources? 5) Baby is quite heavy, above 95th %ile, nurses a lot, eats some but not lots. Does mom need to cut down on nursing so that baby can eat enough iron-rich solid food? Ped says she should. Ann B. Fritz RN,BC Philadelphia, PA