Exclusively Breastfed Infants: Iron Recommendations Are Premature

The authors of the new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations for prevention of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia conclude that “exclusively breastfed term infants [should] receive an iron supplementation of 1 mg/kg per day, starting at 4 months of age.”1 Prevention of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia are important public health goals. However, although late-preterm and low birth weight infants and other infants...