Should premature babies start eating solid foods early?

My baby was born prematurely. Should I start solid foods early at 5 months old to improve his health? (Thu Ha, Ho Chi Minh City)

Reply:

Normally, babies must be 6 months old (180 days) before they can 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 they can start eating solid foods. For example, if a baby is two weeks premature, he or she can start eating solid foods at 6 months and 2 weeks old.

However, if the premature baby develops according to weight and height standards 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 do not drink enough breast milk, drink enough formula but still do not gain weight properly. Babies are allergic to cow's milk protein, do not drink milk, have physical and developmental problems so they cannot drink enough milk according to their needs, and can still eat solid foods early.

You have not stated how many days premature your baby was born and what his condition is, so weaning time for premature babies is not necessarily always earlier or later than 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 will be advised on the timing of weaning and the appropriate nutritional regimen.

Master, Doctor Nguyen Anh Duy Tung
Nutrihome Nutrition Clinic System

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