The recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are that normal, full-term breastfed
babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first four to six months of
life and do not need any iron supplementation until four to six months of
age when they begin iron enriched supplementary foods.  There are those who
have even suggested that iron enriched foods are not needed until even later
in the second six months of life (7 to 9 months), but that remains
controversial pending further research.  There is certainly no need to begin
iron treatment during the first months of life in breastfed infants.  It may
actually be harmful because it may alter the bacterial flora of the
intestine in favor of more pathogenic bacteria.  It could also result in
excessive iron stores, which could be harmful as well.
                                        Larry Gartner
Lawrence M. Gartner, M.D.
Department of Pediatrics
The University of Chicago
5841 S. Maryland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637

Phone: (312) 702-0389
FAX: (312) 702-4523
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