Lillian:  "INFACT Canada offers more support for breastfeeding as not being
a cause of anemia." 

[Ron] I didn't mean to suggest that breast feeding causes anemia. Neither am
I defending the use of formula feeding for infants. The addition of iron to
cow's milk or soy-derived formula is probably not very beneficial because
the supplements are largely countered by the formula constituents that
either impede iron absorption or cause iron loss. Breastfeeding is best for
the infant and paleo mothers are probably more able to breastfeed.
Nonetheless, milk, whether human or from another mammal, provides very
little iron. 

Infant iron sufficiency for the first six months outside the womb (a period
of rapid growth) is dependent upon the transfer of iron from the mother
during the final weeks of pregnancy. Thus, if the baby is born prematurely,
or if the mom was iron deficient during that critical, final stage of
pregnancy, the infant is likely to have insufficient iron reserves and
should receive iron supplementation regardless of the manner of feeding. 

As the baby grows, its blood volume increases and more iron is needed for
increased hemoglobin production, brain development, neurological
development, immune development, etc. If adequate iron stores were not
established prior to birth, the infant must receive iron supplements for
good health and normal growth. 

I strongly suspect that paleo women are better able to provide the necessary
iron during pregnancy and they are more likely to provide iron-rich foods
when babies begin to eat solid foods. 

I hope this post has made my thoughts clear on this issue. 
  
Best Wishes, 
Ron