Background: Despite the fact that iron deficiency anemia has been less widespread in recent years, it remains the most common nutrient shortage worldwide. Objective: To investigate the relation between newborn feeding habits and iron deficiency anemia. Patients and method: This study is a hospitalized-based study performed in a central teaching hospital in Baghdad, from 1^st March 2020 to 1^st February 2021, to determine the prevalence and causes of IDA in infants between six months and 12m of age. Full history was taken from the mothers, and an assessment of nutritional status was done to all cases. Mean corpuscular volume and hemoglobin, serum ferritin, serum iron, and total iron-binding capacity were measured in (n=133) infants. Anemia was defined when hemoglobin level was lower than 10.5 g/L, and serum ferritin belw12µg/l, iron deficiency when ferritin level and mean corpuscular volume were lower than 12 µg/L and 74 fL, respectively, or serum iron below 9µmol/l and TIBC more than 50µmol/. Results: Current study showed that 28 (21%) of the 133 infants were exclusively breastfed up to 6 months and 24 (18.8%) of the 133 were partly breastfed, i.e. were fed with breast milk and solid food at the time of the study. Also, infants who were exclusively breastfed until the age of 6 months had significantly lower s.iron (7.49±6.13)) and ferritin (77.71±.07)) and infants who were breastfed with added solid food, (7.95±6.53), (21.37±31.37). Most of the cases of IDA have a past history of the previous hospitalization due to chest infection and gastroenteritis, also this study shows there's a significant decrement in risk of ID. An infant who gave iron and vit. Supplementation. Conclusion: In infants aged 6–12 months, iron insufficiency and iron deficiency anemia are prevalent. In addition, the current study found that infants who were exclusively breastfed for up to 6 months outperformed those who were partly breastfed at the time of the study, i.e. were fed breast milk plus solid food. Infants who were exclusively breastfed until they were 6 months old had considerably lower S.iron and ferritin levels than those who were nursed with solid food. The majority of IDA cases have a history of previous hospitalization for chest infection or gastroenteritis, and this study found a significant reduction in the risk of ID. Iron and vitamin supplementation was given to a newborn.

          Keywords: feeding patterns; iron-deficiency anemia; infants