The grains themselves aren't a source of iron, it's just baby cereal is fortified with iron. In any way, the whole babies-must-eat-cereals because they run out of iron is really kinda a myth. Baby's iron stores run out between 6-12months, at which time if you are still breastfeeding or doing formula they are getting iron from that, as well as slowly from the foods you are incorporating into their diet. You can try to look for other iron rich foods, I think dark leafy greens (try steaming and pureeing them) as well as lentils and beans (I'm pretty sure those are ok at that age). Also it helps to know iron is more easily absorbed when vitamin C is incorporated with it as well so maybe try to combine iron-rich foods with fruits and vegetables that have lots of vitamin C. I'm sorry, I can't remember which ones and I'm a little rusty as to what I was feeding DS at that time!!
He was pretty much on all vegetables and fruits by then, as well as starting some meats and dairy (just yogurt really). I took a baby nutrition class when he was about 8mos old and it was very informative.
I bought into the whole DS MUST start with cereal thing, did rice cereal for a few weeks and he hated it, so cut it out completely by 7mos and just stuck with fruit and veggies until then. As for the don't introduce fruit thing because they won't like their veggies, I don't know about that one. Everyone is individual, some babies probably don't even like fruit but love veggies! I do both, DS likes veggies and loves fruit but I'm not worried that he'll only eat fruit. He eats a bit of everything.
I used my own instincts a lot and I think we've done very well with solids. As for the vaccinations, I hear ya on that one, a WHOLE other discussion! lol
