Iron Needs of Babies
Healthy full term infants are born with a supply of iron that lasts for 4 to 6 months.
Iron in human breast milk is well absorbed by infants. It is estimated that infants can use greater than 50% of the iron in breast milk as compared to less than 12% of the iron in infant formula. The amount of iron in cow's milk is low, and infants poorly absorb it. Feeding cow's milk to infants also may result in gastrointestinal bleeding. For these reasons, cow's milk should not be fed to infants until they are at least 1 year old. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants be exclusively breast fed for the first six months of life. Gradual introduction of iron-enriched solid foods should complement breast milk from 7 to 12 months of age. Infants weaned from breast milk before 12 months of age should receive iron-fortified infant formula.
You can click here for liquid vitamin and mineral supplements for toddlers.
20.09.2007. 19:24
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