The primary care pediatric nurse practitioner performs a well baby examination on a 4-month-old infant who is exclusively breastfed and whose mother plans to introduce only small amounts of fruits and vegetables in addition to breastfeeding. To ensure that the infant gets adequate amounts of iron, what will the nurse practitioner recommend?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

CElemental iron supplementation of 1 mg/kg/day until cereals are added is recommended for exclusively breastfed infants starting at around 4 months of age to prevent iron deficiency until iron-rich solid foods are introduced. Monitoring the infant's hemoglobin and hematocrit at every well-baby checkup is also a good practice to ensure the infant maintains adequate iron levels and to detect any signs of anemia early.

The Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Performs a Well Baby