My doctor says my nursing babys iron is just a little low? Supplements necessary or better nutrition fine?

My doctor says my nursing baby鈥檚 iron level is just a little low and that we need to give him poly-vi-sol with iron. He is 9 and half months old. I suspect that breast milk and the few solids he eats should be giving him enough nutrition. I really don't want to give him supplements, as I don't want to compromise his digestive system. If I were to give him more iron-rich foods, shouldn't that be enough? I put a call in to the doctor already to see what the exact level was and also if I can give him iron-rich foods first to see if it helps before they test his blood again in a month. The test today was done by blood from his big toe, and in a month they will do it from his arm. Is the toe method less accurate? Why else would they need to take the blood sample from the arm in a month? A comment the doctor made made me think this.

I actually take him out into the early morning sun for a few minutes for some real Vitamin D.

Increasing iron rich foods should improve his levels, but you need to be sure you can provide an equivalent amount to the Poly-Vi-Sol. I'm not sure why you are so concerned with giving supplements... isn't ensuring he has enough iron better than having an anemic child?
Here's a site with sources of iron rich foods...
http://www.mcgill.ca/studenthealth/infor...

You can increase your protein intake to increase iron naturally in your breastmilk. Sometimes direct iron supplementation can cause constipation. Best, G

The cereals are fortified with iron. Try those. Also, I have read that too much dairy can inhibit the absorption of iron so stear clear of yogurt and cheese. Why are you concerned about giving him vitamins? My pediatrician told us to give our 2 month old tri-vi-sol (he's now almost 6 months and still take it) (without iron) because we exclusively breastfeed. He needs vitamin D because he's not laying out in the sun or anything. I was under the impression that all breastfed babies took a vitamin D supplement and since they don't sell only vitamin D, tri-Vi-sol is what people use.