Feeding premature babies?

Jacqueline - posted 8 seconds ago

Old School - posted on 09/18/2012

Both of my sons were born premature and we gave them rice cereal at 4 months (i.e. when they showed signs they were ready). When it got to a point where the bottled formula and breast milk wasn't keeping them satisfied anymore we decided to start slowly integrating rice cereal in with the bottle feedings. We went slow starting with just the liquid from the rice than worked them up to the real thing. Both of my boys are 27 and 32 now and they turned out just fine. We are doing the same thing with my grandaughter and she is doing fine as well. My point is this...You as a parent have to decide whether to let the Dr tell you whats best for your kids or you have to decide for yourself. Only you know when the time is right to introduce rice cereal. Every 2 kids are not the same and if you leave it up to your pediatrician your premature baby will always be "behind" as if prematurity is an affliction you can't overcome. Listen to your parents and grandparents advise and get a good nights sleep!

Andrea - posted on 01/03/2010

I didn't start my DD on solids till she was 6 months (4.5 corrected)... we started because she needed a lil extra help with her BM's but she really didn't start to like it till about 6 month corrective (which is when it is recommened to start solids). I think as long as she can sit supportive and hold up her head she should be fine...

Kelly - posted on 01/03/2010

I started at 4 months, but she really didn't get the hang of it until she was 5 months old. she also really didnt start to "need" it until about 7 months old. The later you wait the better.

Katy - posted on 01/02/2010

Mine were 10 weeks prem, we started solids at 5 and a half months corrected age. You should check with your pediatrician or well child nurse.

Misty - posted on 01/02/2010

my daughter was a 24 weeker & had horrible reflux! She is now 14 months old & still has reflux issues, but not as severe. She was on strict formula until 12 months (9 corrected), we are now at stage 2 foods. I personally buy earths best organic because I think it's easier on her tummy. Your pediatrician should be able to tell you when a good time to start stage 1 foods. I started by mixing rice cereal, formula, & some stage 1 fruit together. She refused to eat the cereal/formula mixture by itself. If you tried to taste it yourself, you'd know why!! Good luck!

Karrie - posted on 01/01/2010

i had my daughter at 32 weeks and started her on baby food around 5 months and i even added a little cereal to all her food so it was a little thicker i couldn't stand feeding her runny baby food! She liked it alot better that way.

Rachael - posted on 01/01/2010

yeah - you cant go wrong so long as you listen to your specialist ped at hosp - mine told me my baby needed solids at 5 months old as he was starting to reject the breast etc and needed food fast - cant remember exactly why the dietician told me prem babies can start eating solids earlier than full term babes but she gave me a booklet on it all for me to read - see if your hosp has lots of booklets on "weaning prem babies"

Rebekah - posted on 12/31/2009

I wouldn't start them before 4 months corrected, if not later.

Rachael - posted on 12/31/2009

The dietician at the neonatal unit advised me that you can sometimes start premature babies early on baby food - around 5 months old instead of 6 months.. but only if the baby is ready i.e. can sit up to eat (no one wants to eat lying down!) and is actively putting things to his/her mouth like fingers, toys etc and sucking on them, and is losing the breastfeeding reflex of sticking tongue in and out to drink... this just makes baby push food straight back out of their mouth which also means they arent ready. I started my 2 month prem son on baby foods at 5 months, i fed him baby cereal and rice pudding at first then moved onto pureed veg and fruit which he loved, a few weeks later. Nurses at hosp told me to only try one or two new foods a week just in case a food made him ill - this way I could easily detect which food had made him ill.



hope this helps

Emilie - posted on 12/28/2009

Most of the advice that I got was to go based on adjusted age. I would talk to their doctors, but probably 4-6 months adjusted age would be a good time to start rice (or other grain) cereal on a spoon. The biggest reason to delay feeding is that younger babies have a reflex to spit out the food rather than swallow it, so you need to wait for that to subside (which usually happens at around 4-6 months). Children with developmental delays can hit this milestone later (my son did), which is fine. Breastmilk or formula is the right food for the first 6 months+, little ones don't really start getting substantial nutrition from other foods until later. Once they actually start swallowing the cereal from a spoon, you can consider introducing baby foods slowly (based on doctor advice).

Karla - posted on 12/28/2009

my daughter was born at 26wks. she didnt start eating baby purees until after 7months. check with you pedi. we started her on the veggies 1st. we also watered it down with her formula so she could atleast start developing the taste for them. and everyone knows that they will take to fruits much easier bc of the sweetness in them. lol. now she is 3yrs old and she loves veggies. she will eat up a salad like nothing.

Lindsay - posted on 12/27/2009

My daughter was 12 weeks ealry, so she started baby food when she was 7 months old (4 adjusted) Feed them according to their adjusted age (so when they are 6 months old, 4 mos adjusted you can start baby food). Until they reach 4-6 mos adjusted their digestive systems are not mature enough to handle baby food.

Tina - posted on 12/26/2009

My daughter was nearly 3 months early. I started her on home made babyfood (mashed up veggies/fruits) at 6 months, after getting the OK from her Ped. Our ped had me try giving her lose cereal in a spoon first, the main concern was her ability to swallow the food properly, the rest was gravy! I'd talk with your daughter's Ped and see what they have to say, but chances are if the girls are doing well with cereal they'll do well with mild foods.