Dear Friends:

I have a question about iron absorption in breast fed babies.  I've read
conflicting information about it and I wanted to know if anyone could
help me out.

A healthy 9 month old baby who has been nursing well and started on
solids at around 7 months is considered borderline anemic.  He is being
given some bites of things such as beans, sweet potato, bananna, apples,
and zuchini.  Nothing store bought or with iron added.

One place I read stated that ANY iron in the baby's diet, whether
naturally occurring in food or iron drops, or iron fortified foods,
adheres to the natural iron in breast milk, preventing it from being
absorbed by the baby.  Another place I read stated that iron in foods
where it occurs naturally WILL be absorbed by the baby; if the iron came
from foods which were "iron fortified," such as cereals, it would not be
absorbed, and would bind with the iron in breast milk, preventing its
absorption.

I'd apprecitate some help!!

Thanks,

Tricia Raiford
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