International Board of Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Practice Exam

What two micronutrients should be added to the diet of breastfed babies around six months of age?

1. Calcium and magnesium

2. Iron and zinc

3. Vitamin D and iron

4. Zinc and vitamin C

The correct answer is: Iron and zinc

At around six months of age, breastfed babies have increasingly higher nutritional needs that cannot be fully met by breast milk alone. The correct micronutrients to add to their diet during this transitional phase are iron and zinc. Iron is crucial for infants, as their iron stores from birth begin to deplete by around six months, and breast milk provides limited iron. Introducing iron-rich foods helps prevent iron deficiency anemia, which is a common concern in this age group. Foods such as pureed meats, fortified cereals, and legumes can provide the needed iron. Zinc plays a vital role in growth, development, and immune function. It is also important for proper cellular function and metabolism. Like iron, the amount of zinc in breast milk may not be sufficient to meet an infant's growing needs after six months, making it important to incorporate zinc-rich foods such as meats, seafood, dairy, and fortified grains into their diet. While calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin C are also important nutrients, their specific supplementation or dietary introduction around six months doesn't hold the same immediate significance as iron and zinc do due to the particular risks associated with their deficiencies at this developmental stage.