Features of feeding premature babies

It can be difficult to introduce lactation to babies, but if the crumb is born prematurely, familiarity with the new food should be made even more carefully. Despite the fact that premature babies need more nutrients to catch up with their peers, their digestive system matures over a longer period than that of newborn babies.

• Before the introduction of complementary foods, they recommend feeding the baby with breast milk, And mom's food should be balanced. If breastfeeding is not possible for a baby, a special mixture is selected that is designed for the needs of premature babies.
• The earliest allowable period of feeding is 4 months., although the recommendation of most doctors is to introduce new products not earlier than 6 months of age.
• A new product to a premature baby is given in a smaller amount.than when meeting with new food in full-term babies.
• After meals complementary foods at least up to 8 months of age are recommended. give breast milk or a mixture so that the baby drinks new food.
• The first food with prematurity is usually chosen porridge, and then the child is introduced to the vegetable and fruit puree.
• If the premature baby is sick, he has an allergy or dysbiosis, with a lure it is better to wait until the stable state of the baby.

It is best to determine the age at which the baby should get acquainted with new products, on the basis of the missing period until the moment when the baby was to be born full-term. For example, if a baby was born 1 month ahead of time, by 6 months (age, when it is recommended to start feeding full-term babies), a month is added, respectively, the first servings of pet foods are given by babies at 7 months of age.

In the video, prepared by the Union of Pediatricians of Russia, described in detail how to feed the crumbs and at what age should be administered complementary foods.

• The first porridge is preferable to choose buckwheat. Next, the baby is introduced to rice and corn porridge. They are boiled in water and diluted with a mixture or my mother's milk.
• After the cereal, the little ones are offered vegetables, which should be local. It is best to start vegetable food with zucchini and cauliflower, then add carrots to them.
• When one feeding the child replaced the porridge, and the second - the vegetables, you can enter the fruit, complementing one of these feedings. Usually start with green apples and pears., and with good portability, baby peaches, bananas and prunes are given further.

• Juice is introduced into the diet of a premature baby no earlier than eight months. At first, apple juice is given to the toddler, then pear juice and a mixture of apple and pear juice, and then they are gradually introduced to other flavors.
• Meat appears in the diet of a premature baby at 8 months of age.. First, the little one is treated to rabbit and turkey, then the baby is offered veal and beef, and after them pork and chicken (white meat). Often, meat in the form of mashed potatoes is added to porridge or vegetable puree.

• When the premature baby is 8 and a half months old, he can boil vegetable soups, in which, in addition to vegetables, add cereal and vegetable oil. This dish is included in the third feeding, so that in the future it will become a dinner.
• Dairy products should appear in the diet of a premature baby at 9-10 months. Crumbs are introduced to baby yogurt and yogurt, replacing the fourth feeding. Also at this age, the kid is offered cottage cheese, adding it to fruits or vegetables.
• Eggs are advised to give premature babies not earlier than 9 monthsby mixing a small amount of yolk into a vegetable puree. Gradually, the amount of yolk increases until the portion becomes 1/2 of the yolk.

If the premature baby has a tendency to allergic reactions, familiarity with the foods of lure is transferred to a later period and take into account such recommendations:

• Begin to feed the baby with single component dishesFor example, with rice porridge or with zucchini puree.
• New product give try in the morning, by the end of the day to note whether there was an adverse reaction to it.
• Per week enter maximum one new product.
• It is important to keep a diary in which to mark all the dishes, eaten by the baby, as well as the health of the crumbs and the reaction to food.
• If an allergic reaction has occurred, then until the manifestations disappear, new products are not introduced.
• For an allergic child less than a year, it is enough to enter 1-2 porridges in the menu, 1-2 types of vegetables and fruits, as well as one type of meat food.
• Mom is important to know in advance What foods are the most allergenic and introduce them to your baby much later. For example, the introduction to the menu of a premature baby-allergic eggs and fish lay until one year old.

The scheme of complementary foods known pediatrician is slightly different from the traditional recommendations. Komarovsky suggests starting a child over 6 months old with kefir and curdSince these products are more like mother's milk than cereals and vegetables.

After the introduction of the menu kefir crumbs, mixed with cottage cheese, at the age of seven months, a popular doctor recommends introducing porridge into the child’s diet, cooked in milk. After a month, the baby can be given vegetable soup, and from 9 months, according to Komarovsky, the time comes for meat feeding. Famous doctor advises fish and yolk to give from 10 months. Read more about this in the article about feeding on doctor Komarovsky.