The iron stores that babies are born with gradually deplete over time. And breast milk contains very little of this important micronutrient.
In breastfed infants, a liquid iron supplement should be introduced when the baby reaches four months of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a daily and consistent dosage of 1mg per kilogram of the baby's weight until you introduce meat (and other iron-rich foods) into their diet [1].
If the baby is on formula, iron supplements may not be necessary. Check the composition of the formula you choose, and make sure it contains at least 12mg of iron per deciliter if your baby is older than four months.
If your baby is on mixed feeding, and breast milk makes up more than half of their daily intake, then iron supplements are also needed.
Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in infancy can harm the development of the baby’s nervous system and can result in significant problems by the time they reach school age [1].
