Does breastmilk have enough iron for my baby?

Breastmilk has plenty of iron for your baby for at least the first six months of his life. Depending on your baby this can last for as long as 12 months. Iron in breastmilk is easier for babies to absorb as it is aided by the high lactose and vitamin C content. Breastfed babies don’t lose iron through their bowels unlike babies fed by formula milk. This is because formula is harder to digest and causes irritation of the intestinal lining in babies.

 

The reason formula contains more iron is because it is not as easily absorbed as breastmilk and it is therefore necessary to have higher levels of iron in formula to prevent against iron deficiency.

 

The only supplement you need to give your baby for the first six months is vitamin D3. You can rest assured that everything else is supplied by your breastmilk.