Should premature babies start eating solid foods early?

My baby was born prematurely, should I start solid foods early at 5 months old to have better health? (Thu Ha, Ho Chi Minh City)

Reply:

Normally, babies should be 6 months old (180 days) before they start eating solid foods. However, premature babies have very different nutritional needs than full-term babies. Premature babies often have to make up for the months of premature birth (to reach 37 weeks of pregnancy) before eating solid foods. For example, a baby born 2 weeks premature can start eating solid foods at 6 months and 2 weeks after birth.

However, if the premature baby develops according to the standard weight and height, and has no medical problems, parents can start feeding the baby solid foods like full-term babies.

In some special cases, 5-month-old babies can still eat solid foods. For example, babies who do not drink enough breast milk or formula milk still do not gain weight properly. Babies who are allergic to cow's milk protein, do not drink milk, or have physical and developmental problems that prevent them from drinking enough milk can also start eating solid foods early.

You have not said how many days premature your baby was and what his condition is, so we cannot give specific advice. However, the time for weaning for premature babies is not necessarily always earlier or later than for full-term babies, but depends on the degree of premature birth and the development of each baby.

Premature babies are susceptible to digestive diseases if their mothers do not feed them properly. You should take your baby to a nutritionist for a direct assessment, from which they can advise on the timing of weaning and an appropriate nutritional regimen.

Master, Doctor Nguyen Anh Duy Tung
Nutrihome Nutrition Clinic System

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