do i trust the pediatrician?

Lydia - posted on 11/13/2010

here is a good link from kellymom on the topic. i'd test the baby if he needs iron supplement. because if he'sok, too much iron can cause constipation, stomach pains.
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitami...

Rachel - posted on 11/13/2010

I know here in canada you can get iron drops for infants over the counter (well from behind the counter) no perscription is needed. a 9 months the ped had my son tested and then said he needed iron. I would rather give my son the drops than try to feed him rice cerieal. my son refused to eat food till 9 months and although his iron was low according to the blood test he lived and is a normal growing boy.

Jessie - posted on 11/12/2010

Can they not do an iron test for your son to see if he has enough? I don't know how this is done since we've never had it done but maybe?? I know they have iron supplements too but again have never used I am sure someone on here has though. My son started cereal around that age and was chowing down on purees and mushy, milked down (breastmilk) homemade foods at 5.5 months. In the begining I didn't plan to start until 6 months but the interest was def there and at 4.5 month he grabbed my sweet potatoes and actually managed to eat pieces I mushed up for him... so away we went. My grandma (who has 6 kids) is always amazed by the amount such a small kid can stuff in and still breastfeed in addition. He'll be 16 months tmro and is 22 lbs.

Katie - posted on 11/12/2010

I really like my dr, but I agree totally about dr's not knowing much about BF infants. Almost every time I go, my dr asks me how much formula she's drinking a day, so I mention that she's breastfed, and then she's like oh that's right. (I get the impression that not many of her patients breastfeed) She wanted me to start iron fortified cereal at 4 month, but I didn't want to start it until 6 months. At her 4 mo check up (She was actually 4 1/2 months) She dropped from the 50th percentile to the 25th percentile. So she said that she wasn't keeping enough calories down. (She started spitting up a lot around 3 months) So I was worried and took her suggesion and started her on solids. A month later we went back for a weight check up, and she was still in the 25th percentile. She told me to feed her more. I did that 1 day, and she spit up all the extra that I fed her. At her 6 month checkup (which was 6 1/2 months) she was still in the 25th percentile, but now the dr's not worried because she stayed the same. She thinks that she's just leveling out to where she's going to stay. I'm only 5'2" and my hubby's 5'7". (Both smaller than average) I was a little upset that I started her on solids so early, but I'm a first time mom, and I thought I wasn't giving her enough food. At least I know for next time. Go with your instint. If you don't think your baby needs solids, then don't give him solids. If it's just about the iron, then they can just give him a multi-vitamin with iron.

Lanna - posted on 11/12/2010

Find a new one that supports Breastfeeding!!! I didnt introduce cereal to my son until he was 8 months old.. Trust your instincts!! dont give in....The have suppliment for the baby if they need them. So continue on and good luck!!

Alisha - posted on 11/12/2010

That is a very hard decision to make I was in the same position with her. I learned to trust my judgment because when you live in a time that is a "formula fad" its hard to know whats right. Well breastfeeding is right!! But I did start my daughter on plain cereal at 4 months because she was ready and it was my choice. Of course she didnt have anything else and she wanted my breast just as much, so it worked for me!! Good luck sweetie.

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/11/2010

Personally I'd test the baby, if he was low I'd give iron drops.
Many baby vitamins don't have iron, so make sure the ones you have do have iron. Mostly I heard babies hate the iron drops cuz they taste horrible, but if his levels are low I'd make the effort to do the drops and not cereal.
That's how I would handle it personally, my son was sitting unsupported also at 4.5 months but we didn't start solids till 6 months and he didn't eat like any of them until around 10 months so I wouldn't push the cereal.
It could make things worse I say.

Minnie - posted on 11/11/2010

Maybe that blood work for your son would ease your worries? If it WAS low, at least then you would know you would positively need to take action to fix it. And then there are iron supplements of course, as others have suggested.

Brittany - posted on 11/11/2010

thank you all for the advice. i am well aware we need to see someone else but with our insurance its either him or the clinic and i tell you, that place isnt the best either. his dr. seems to be concerned about his iron but when i asked about testing he just said to give him the cereal and he'll be fine. :/ my son has been sitting supported at 3 months and unsupported since 4.5 months. i do give him liquid drops of vitamins and figure that should be enough. when i got my own blood work done to check my levels i was told he is literally sucking the iron out of me and i laughed and had a thought, "i'll be unhealthy if it means he is healthy". youre right, he is not a text book baby and only i really kow what he can need and what he is ready for. i have tried to give rice cereal to him and he makes the most rediculous faces and wants nothing to do with it. then graps for my boob. either its just that gross or he isnt ready. lol thank you all again!

Rachel - posted on 11/11/2010

you can get liquid iron for babies and give that and not have to worry about the cerieal if iron is the problem I would suggest just giving them the iron without the stuff that they can't digest

Len - posted on 11/10/2010

You may want to have a test done so you know one way or another. Our health department office will do them for free, you may want to see. Then you will know if your little one is getting the iron he needs. I personally started all three of mine on cereal at about 5 months, not because the doc recommended it but because they would mouth the whole time I was eating and try and grab at the spoon/forks. I started them at about a teaspoon and almost all got pushed back out of there mouths, so they just got a taste and it helped them feel included in meal time. Good luck.

Jodi - posted on 11/10/2010

First of all, the iron in cereal is nearly undigestable for infants, what little is in your milk is easily digestable so there is need for less. Has your child shown any signs of anemia? Has your child been tested for low iron? Has your doctor given ANY reason besides your anemia to pass on this advice? I too am very anemic, but my pediatrician assured me my baby was fine and backed it with a small blood test which showed my daughter's iron level were perfect, despite my anemia.

Secondly, you stated "I know by now to listen to every other thing he says..." I wouldn't suggest that whole heartedly. Your doctor doesn't know your child like you do, very rarely is a child the "text book" child about whom they're taught. Educate yourself instead of being potentially misled by a well meaning doctor. Your doctor may well be right on every other issue, but as parents it's our responsibility to ensure they get the best care possible, and that means not blindly following every piece of advice we get...even from our doctors. I trust my pediatrician 100%, but I still look into any suggestions she makes concerning my daughters health so that I'm making a well informed decision, instead of basing it off of ONE source.

Best of luck with your LO!

Callie - posted on 11/10/2010

I wanted to exclusively breastfeed for at least 6 months and our ped. is extremely supportive of bfing. She's even encouraging me to continue extended bfing and forget the cows milk till my daughter weans herself. What our ped. had me do was give her a vitimine D supplement that also had some iron in it that way it wouldn't be replacing her nursing. Our first doc. was all about formula and following the gerber steps when it came to baby food which I was not comfortable with. I decided to switch doctors and found our current ped and couldn't be happier. She is very supportive of bfing including extended bfing (didn't push cows milk or weaning) and homemade baby food. She nursed and made baby food for her son. I would definitely encourage you to think about looking for a new pediatrician if possible. Its amazing how much more confident you are as a mother when you know your doctor has very similar beliefs as you and will give you an answer you can trust.

Carolyn - posted on 11/10/2010

Lisa makes alot of sense but in your case how do you know you passed on enough iron to your child in utero to last up to 6 months post partum if you yourself are highly anemic and unable to retain the iron yourself ?

his advice seems logical to me especially given your condition, can you be sure you are passing iron through your breast milk ?

just something to think about.

you dont necessarily have to start hardcore on the cereal either, could be as little as a tablespoon a day until you are more comfortable with it.

it would be wonderful if the recommendations by LLL applied to everyone but there are always exception and you may be the case.

i dont think you should dismiss his advise based on his suggestion for forumla, its apples and pears ..

Minnie - posted on 11/10/2010

Current research shows that breastfed infants typically have enough iron stores to last at least six months. If they were allowed their full blood supply at birth (the cord was not cut early) they can have an iron store to last at least nine months.



It's important to consider in this case that the cereal your doctor is suggesting is low in nutrient bioavailability. The iron in it is difficult for your baby to absorb and utilize. What little is in your milk is far far more easily used by your baby, so there doesn't have to be much there. And of course, your baby has his own iron stores.



It's hard to make a decision with conflicting opinions- you have your doctor, who is supposed to be educated (but in truth, doctors are educated to diagnose and treat illness, not provide infant nutrition advice, unfortunately) and on the other hand, you have your intuition.



La Leche League suggests waiting on solids until the baby is able to sit on his own, pick up food, put it in his mouth and swallow it. For most babies, this is around six months. It may be a bit sooner for some, much later for others. Waiting until he feeds himself ensures that his body is ready.