When can premature babies eat baby food

Introducing solid foods to preterm infants in developed countries

. 2012;60 Suppl 2:31-8.

doi: 10.1159/000335336. Epub 2012 Apr 30.

D J Palmer¹, M Makrides

Affiliations

Affiliation

¹ School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia. [email protected]

PMID: 22555187
DOI: 10.1159/000335336

Free article

D J Palmer et al. Ann Nutr Metab. 2012.

Free article

. 2012;60 Suppl 2:31-8.

doi: 10.1159/000335336. Epub 2012 Apr 30.

Authors

D J Palmer¹, M Makrides

Affiliation

¹ School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia. [email protected]

PMID: 22555187
DOI: 10.1159/000335336

Abstract

The addition of solid foods to an infant's diet is required to provide adequate nutrition, as eventually an infant will be unable to consume a sufficient volume of breast milk to meet their nutritional needs. The timing of this important dietary change for infants born preterm (<37 weeks of gestation) should take into consideration their delayed early gross motor developmental progress, increased nutritional requirements, organ immaturity, increased gut permeability and increased risk of hospitalization from infections. Good head control is important for safe eating of solid foods: this developmental milestone may be delayed in preterm infants up to 3 months of corrected age. One randomized controlled trial has demonstrated improved nutritional intakes with the introduction of nutrient-dense solid foods from 13 weeks of uncorrected age, resulting in improved nutritional iron status and greater rate of growth during infancy. There is neither current evidence for an increased infection rate with an early introduction of solid foods in developed countries, nor is there evidence that in preterm infants maturation of renal function is reduced. However, one observational study has determined that preterm infants who had 4 or more solid foods introduced prior to 17 weeks of corrected age, or who had any solid foods introduced prior to 10 weeks of corrected age, had an increased risk of eczema development. A compromise is needed to balance the nutritional benefits of commencing solid foods from 13 weeks of uncorrected age with the risks of increased eczema development, along with ensuring developmental readiness. Based on the current evidence, 3 months (13 weeks) of corrected age seems to be an appropriate age to commence nutrient-dense solid foods for most preterm infants. Further research, with an emphasis on immediate as well as longer-term consequences, would be valuable to provide more specific evidence-based guidelines regarding the introduction of solid food for preterm infants.

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When Can Premature Babies Eat Baby Food?

A baby is considered premature if he's born earlier than the 37th week of pregnancy.

A preemie should be introduced to solid foods around four to six months after his expected due date -- rather than his actual date of birth, notes FamilyDoctor.org.

Since a preemie lags behind a full-term newborn developmentally, it can take him longer to learn to swallow. Feeding solids to a premature baby before his time increases the risk of choking.

Significance

Subtracting the number of weeks your baby was born early from her anticipated date of birth correctly measures your preemie's real or adjusted age. If your little one was born eight weeks premature, at eight months she is six months old for all intents and purposes, and it may be time to think about adding baby food to her heretofore liquids-only diet.

Knowing when to add solids to your baby's diet isn't an exact science, but waiting too long -- just like starting too early -- carries its own risk.

Delaying baby food until your infant reaches an adjusted age of seven months or longer can cause your baby to reject anything but milk or other liquids. In addition, a baby is born with iron reserves that last only six months, after which time he needs food to meet his iron needs, reports the Auckland District Health Board in New Zealand.

Readiness Signs

When to Introduce Baby Food

Learn More

Your baby will offer many clues when he's ready to give solids a try. Head control is important when it comes to eating baby food. The ability to hold his head up in an infant seat or high chair and open his mouth when he sees the spoon heading his way are positive signs that solids are in order. Trying to grab your food when you're eating is also a sign that he craves more than milk.

Being able to move food from a spoon into his throat with ease is an important sign of readiness.

If you attempt to feed your infant a spoon of cereal and it gushes out of his mouth and drips onto his chin, the messy moment is probably a clear sign that he's not yet able to move food to the back of his mouth, which allows him to swallow. Don't despair; it will take time for him to get the hang of consuming something other than liquids.

The First Solid Food

Serving your preemie a sampling of single-grain iron-fortified cereal like oatmeal, barley or rice mixed with infant formula or breast milk once daily is a good way to get her started on solids, notes March of Dimes.

Stop feeding your baby solids if she seems disinterested in what you have to offer, turns her head in the opposite direction of the spoon or starts crying. Return to breast or bottle-feeding for awhile before attempting solids again; adjusting to solids takes time, and in the early months, most of your preemie's nutritional needs are being met from breast milk and/or formula.

Considerations

How to Feed a Baby Gerber Puff Cereal

Learn More

A variety of foods, including vegetables, fruits, meats and eggs, should be incorporated into your baby's diet over the next several months, advises HealthyChildren.org. Don't be surprised if your baby makes funny faces or shakes his head no when you try to serve him a new food that has an unfamiliar texture or taste.

It may take a few tries before your baby willingly accepts a new food. Offer one new food at a time -- one or two per week is ideal -- to help identify foods that may cause an allergic reaction.

Baby food for premature babies under one year old. Formulas for small babies

Babies born before the 37th week of pregnancy are considered premature. Of course, they need increased attention and special care.

Dry initial milk formula adapted by Valio Baby 1 NutriValio for feeding children from birth to 6 months Read more

All these babies are underweight - newborns weighing more than 1. 5 kg are considered simply premature, up to 1.5 kg - premature with low body weight, less than 1 kg - premature with extreme weight. The nutrition of such babies is calculated strictly individually, always by a doctor, because there is a huge difference between a child of 1.5 and 2 kg in weight. nine0003

Breast milk is the ideal food for a premature baby. Surprisingly, the milk of a mother of a premature baby is different from that of a mother whose baby was born at term. It is much less fat, but the percentage of protein is increased in it - namely, this “building material” is simply necessary for a baby born prematurely. However, very often natural feeding of a premature baby is impossible (after all, the birth itself before the term is most likely provoked by adverse factors in the life or health of a young mother). In this case, the baby needs to choose an adapted mixture. These are now produced by almost all manufacturers of baby food. They are usually marked with the prefix PRE (PRE) and are suitable for premature and small babies. Both of them need more calories, vitamins and trace elements to grow and get stronger. nine0003

How baby food for premature babies differs from conventional formulas:

Lots of protein. It is necessary for gaining muscle and fat mass.
The predominance of whey proteins, and not casein, which is poorly absorbed by premature babies. The ratio of 60:40 is as close as possible to the composition of breast milk.
An increased amount of fats that help digestion.
Adapted vitamin-mineral complex - increased content of iron, calcium, copper, vitamins D, E and C.

Mixtures for premature babies are recommended to be diluted with special bottled water - ordinary boiled water is too heavy for such a crumb.

The volume of the mixture for feeding should be prescribed by a doctor. Of course, with such a baby, there can be no question of feeding on demand, the child is so weak that he may not “ask” for food. The scheme must be correctly calculated - do not let the baby "starve" for more than three hours. However, feeding a premature baby too often is also not worth it - he will not be able to digest food from the previous meal. Also, be attentive to the recommendations of doctors, do not increase the dose of the mixture on your own. No matter how much you want the baby to get stronger and gain weight as soon as possible, you cannot overfeed him. nine0003

#PROMO_BLOCK#

The use of special formulas is usually stopped when the infant has gained 3 kg. At this time, you can switch to a regular formula, for example, Valio Baby, which is as close as possible in composition to breast milk, adapted for children of different ages and made in Finland from real cow's milk.

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Complementary foods for premature babies - Articles about baby food from pediatricians and MAMAKO experts

Premature babies are babies born before the 37th week of gestation. Prematurity is not determined by birth weight, but by the date of preterm birth. nine0003

— Alla Anatolyevna, premature babies have special nutritional needs from the first days of life. What factors influence the initiation of complementary foods in preterm infants and when to introduce complementary foods to a premature infant?

— Prematurity can be of different degrees, so the principles of feeding and nutrition of children will also be different.

Timing of the introduction of complementary foods in premature babies

— From birth, a premature baby receives only breast milk or powdered milk formula, but there comes a time when he can no longer satisfy his needs with them. The main task of complementary foods is to diversify the diet and increase the amount of nutrients - proteins, fats, carbohydrates - so that the baby can fully grow and develop. nine0003

When a baby is born on time, it is started on solid food at 5.5-6 months. Pediatricians determine when it is time to feed a premature baby as follows: the term of his prematurity is added to the age of the baby. For example, a child was born at 35 weeks, 5 weeks ahead of schedule: for these five weeks, the timing of the start of complementary foods is shifted for him.

The main signs of readiness for complementary foods:

the child looks healthy, feels good, smiles, cheerful; nine0014
the child is active, has muscle tone, is physically well developed;
twofold weight gain since birth;
good sleep;
a chewing reflex appeared - the child begins to chew, bite;
good appetite - if the child wants to eat, he will be happy to receive vegetables;
the baby sits independently - the child should receive complementary foods while sitting at the table; it is desirable that he sees the product he eats; nine0014
active interest in what parents eat, desire to participate in family meals.

— Proper complementary feeding of premature babies increases the nutritional value of their diet and certainly helps to catch up. Then why not start feeding babies earlier?

— A premature baby has an immature system of the gastrointestinal tract, an immature enzyme system. He does not mature in the womb of his mother, but on his own. Therefore, in the tables of complementary foods for premature babies, the time for the introduction of complementary foods, as a rule, is postponed for the period that the child did not sit in the tummy. With age, the number of villi in the intestines increases, the pancreas begins to work better, more saliva is produced: this means that it is time to introduce complementary foods - gradually, consistently, under the supervision of a doctor. nine0003

- Complementary feeding of a breastfed premature baby and complementary feeding of a formula-fed premature baby will be different?

— There are many guidelines for the introduction of complementary foods for premature babies, which are available in print and online. But before the introduction of complementary foods to a child who was born prematurely, especially a very premature one, it is necessary to visit a pediatrician. The doctor who leads and observes the baby prescribes complementary foods, taking into account his individual characteristics. nine0003

- Let's say a child can't gain weight for a long time. Is the timing of the start of complementary foods even more shifted?

- Premature babies have a more pronounced weight curve and better weight gain than term babies. If a child has not gained proper weight by the age of introducing complementary foods, this means that his nutrition is chosen incorrectly or insufficiently, there are some problems with digestion. In this case, you first need to establish basic nutrition, select supplementary foods, double the weight and get in good physical shape - and only then start complementary foods. nine0003

Complementary foods are additional nutrition for healthy children who have no complaints. Therefore, digestion problems should not be solved with the help of complementary foods, and weight gain with the help of complementary foods will not work.

— What complementary foods should be given to a premature baby?

- The first complementary foods for premature babies are two main types of food:

Complementary foods for a premature baby will not differ much from complementary foods for a full-term baby, because by the time solid foods are introduced, a premature baby should get rid of problems with the gastrointestinal tract, become stronger , grow up. And the parents start complementary foods, almost forgetting that the baby was born prematurely. nine0003

— What is the right way to feed such a child?

— The basic rule for the introduction of complementary foods for all babies (premature babies are no exception) is gradualness.

How much complementary foods to give
- Complementary foods begin with a teaspoon. Each next portion can be doubled, so they come to full feeding only after two to three weeks (full-term babies receive a full portion after five to seven feedings).

When to give complementary foods

- It is more correct to give a new product in the morning. If something does not like it or the baby burps, there will be time to calm him down, observe and decide what to do next.

— Apart from being underweight, when should we delay or stop giving the baby new foods?

— Pediatricians pay particular attention to the following signs:

the child has not doubled its birth weight; nine0014
with a lack of weight, complementary foods were introduced and stomach problems began - regurgitation, bloating, anxiety when feeding, a different nature of the stool - liquid, frothy, with a changed color and smell;
began to introduce complementary foods - skin problems appeared: dryness, redness, itching.

- Baby food on goat milk is better absorbed by the body of children. Is it suitable for premature babies?

- The good digestibility of goat's milk helps premature babies gain weight better at the stage when the PRE formula is no longer used. And here mixtures on goat's milk for artificial and mixed feeding can be recommended. Gluten-free fortified cereals with goat milk MAMAKO ^® can be used for the first feeding of premature babies (they do not need to be boiled, formula milk or expressed milk as a supplement is not required). For further complementary foods, multi-cereal cereals, fruit curds and cream soups can be advised. The same milk base of mixtures and complementary foods helps the digestive organs adapt faster when switching from one product to another.

Premature babies are born before 37 weeks of gestation. And they take longer to mature for solid foods, so complementary foods are introduced a little later than healthy babies.