Infants and Iron/Vitamin D

I have been making my own food for my infant daughter and since I haven't been giving her iron fortified cereal and I have been exclusively breastfeeding I was concerned she wasn't getting enough iron. I talked to my lactation consultant and she said that around 6 months infants go through all the iron stored in their body. I could either give her foods fortified with iron or I could talk to my pediatrician about giving her an iron supplement. I spoke with my pediatrician at my daughter's 6 month checkup and she recommended I give her Enfamil® Poly-Vi-Sol® with Iron Drops.

 

    Enfamil® Poly-Vi-Sol® with Iron Drops

You can find it anywhere they carry baby products such as Target and Walgreens. It is just one dropper full a day and a box costs around $10. It doesn't taste very good, my daughter hated it at first, but you can add it to your child's food to make easier.  Another important vitamin that infants bodies need is Vitamin D. Our bodies produce Vitamin D with sun exposure. Babies need 2 hrs a week or 17 minutes a day (face only exposed) or 30 minutes a week or 4 minutes a day (stripped down to diaper) for the body to produce the right amount of Vitamin D. Severe Vitamin D deficiency can cause rickets. If you know your child isn't getting enough Vitamin D you can buy a supplement for them. The Enfamil PolyViSol already has Vitamin D in it, along with some other vitamins, so you only have to buy one supplement to get everything your child needs.