Supplemental Iron, Juice and Solids in Breastfed Babies

Here are some quotes from AAP policy statement on juice:

"CONCLUSIONS

1.Fruit juice offers no nutritional benefit for infants younger than 6 months.

2.Fruit juice offers no nutritional benefits over whole fruit for infants older than 6 months and children.

3.One hundred percent fruit juice or reconstituted juice can be a healthy part of the diet when consumed as part of a well-balanced diet. Fruit drinks, however, are not nutritionally equivalent to fruit juice.

4.Juice is not appropriate in the treatment of dehydration or management of diarrhea.

5.Excessive juice consumption may be associated with malnutrition (overnutrition and undernutrition).

6.Excessive juice consumption may be associated with diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal distention, and tooth decay.

7.Unpasteurized juice may contain pathogens that can cause serious illnesses.

8.A variety of fruit juices, provided in appropriate amounts for a child's age, are not likely to cause any significant clinical symptoms.

9.Calcium-fortified juices provide a bioavailable source of calcium but lack other nutrients present in breast milk, formula, or cow's milk.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.Juice should not be introduced into the diet of infants before 6 months of age.

2.Infants should not be given juice from bottles or easily transportable covered cups that allow them to consume juice easily throughout the day. Infants should not be given juice at bedtime.

3.Intake of fruit juice should be limited to 4 to 6 oz/d for children 1 to 6 years old. For children 7 to 18 years old, juice intake should be limited to 8-12 oz, or 2 servings per day.

4.Children should be encouraged to eat whole fruits to meet their recommended daily fruit intake.

5.Infants, children, and adolescents should not consume unpasteurized juice.

6.In the evaluation of children with malnutrition (overnutrition and undernutrition), the health care provider should determine the amount of juice being consumed.

7.In the evaluation of children with chronic diarrhea, excessive flatulence, abdominal pain, and bloating, the health care provider should determine the amount of juice being consumed.

8.In the evaluation of dental caries, the amount and means of juice consumption should be determined.

9.Pediatricians should routinely discuss the use of fruit juice and fruit drinks and should educate parents about differences between the two."

From http://www.marie.org/bf/index.html...

"The only need an infant has for solid food is for some extra iron. Breastfed babies are rarely anemic and maintain their iron status at the same rate as formula-fed infants with no additional food or iron supplements for up to nine months. Some babies can even go as long as one year but in one study 30% of the babies who got only breast milk that long did develop anemia.

Nothing is as nutritionally dense as breast milk. Breast milk has around 20 calories an ounce and is made up of protein, fat and carbohydrates in the exact percentage for optimal health plus numerous vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients.

Most foods we give young babies are mostly or all carbohydrates, have less micronutrients and are less then 20 calories an ounce.

For example, rice cereal, a common first food for babies, is 15 calories an ounce."

http://www.aap.org/policy/re9729.html...
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/bf/aapbrres.htm#p...
http://www.aap.org/policy/re0047.html...