At what age should iron supplementation begin for breastfed infants?

Iron supplementation for breastfed infants is recommended to begin at around 4 months of age. This recommendation is based on the fact that breast milk, while rich in many nutrients, contains relatively low levels of iron. As infants grow, their iron stores, which they acquire from the placental blood supply during pregnancy, begin to deplete by around 4 to 6 months of age.

At this age, infants may not be receiving adequate iron from breast milk alone to meet their developmental needs, especially as they start to grow rapidly. Consequently, introducing iron-fortified foods or iron supplements at about 4 months helps prevent iron deficiency anemia.

While iron-rich complementary foods can be introduced around 6 months, the timing of supplementation at 4 months helps ensure that the infant's iron levels are maintained proactively, thereby promoting healthy growth and development.