iron supps for 8mo bf

[doulawoman]

So we were at our pediatrician appt yesterday and he insists dd needs iron supps...she has no signs of anemia, that is juts because we don't feed her iron -fortified cereal. The reason I don;t is because I'm leery (I worked in a health food store) or the absorbability of the form of iron and the other additives in it...dd was at the appt fr digestive issues..constiopation, refux etc. she mostly has breastmilk but is starting to eat mroe solids...apple/banana sauce, pureed kale, squash, carrots, brown rice cereal (not fortified) we haven;t done meat yet, but we do bone broths several times per week. I aslo drink a lot of nettle infusion and take iron supps sometimes...Is this really a concern?
I'm pretty "crunchy" and I like to do things as naturally as possible esp with a babe with such a sensitive gut. Anything we've tried, even probiotics that *may* contain traces of milk causes her awful pain. Even baby tylenol makes rashes and other weird symptoms...
x posted in life with a babe

[Llyra]

I wouldn't give it without a blood test showing that babe is deficient. We had finger sticks done for each of my kids at a year old, and only one turned up anemic. Oddly enough, she's the one who got a bottle of iron-fortified formula every day, AND the only one of my three who actually LIKED the darn baby cereal.

If you as the mama really actually suspect babe might be anemic, I would request the finger stick. It's pretty non-traumatic, and then you know for sure. Or you could go ahead and introduce some iron-rich foods and see how babe does. Finely diced liver might work, if you can find a good source. Clam broth comes to mind, too. Red meat in general is a good source-- my kids at that age were able to handle very finely diced meat in a broth or sauce. You can puree carrots and mix finely chopped meat with them, and it's yummy. Egg yolk is an adequate source, too, and a nourishing food in general. But I wouldn't go pushing those if babe is unwilling. I'd just introduce them, and see how it goes.

But otherwise-- I wouldn't give it, nor would I start pushing that cereal on a happy healthy baby. If you really like the ped otherwise, and want to stick with him, I would just nod and smile and let him believe you're giving it. But if this is a ped who's already handing out lousy advice on other topics, I'd be shopping for a new doctor.

[Koalamom]

I too wouldnt give iron to a babe that young if it wasnt confirmed with a finger prick test.

[Panserbjorne]

for a kiddo like that I'd do lactose free cell salts and alternate calc phos and ferrum phos which will both help with digestion and increase the ability to utilize iron.

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time of it. Best of luck.