When did you start your Premmie on solids?

[insanity]

DS was born at 35 weeks and is now just over 5 months (4 months corrected)

I know the health organisation now states to hold off until 6 months before starting a baby on solids which i was planning on doing but don't know whether to start him on his actual age or his corrected age?

I think he is far from ready at the moment and wouldn't even consider it but just don't want to hold off until his corrected age if it's not good for him iykwim

[sweetseven]

I dont have have a premmie, but would consider the average of corrected and actual age might be a good guideline for milestones.

As for starting solids, I believe in following bubs cues, so if he is interested then let him, but if he is not wait until he shows interest. I am of the opinion that starting on solids should occur somewhere between 4-10 months depending on the child in question, so that gives a wide range to work with. And I believe (though I might be wrong) that the reccomendations are that prior to 12 months, solid food is primarily for experience not nutricion, so your bub shouldn't be missing out if he isn't ready yet.

I did however hold off for the minimum of four months for my bubs when they showed interest in food early. At that time the reccomendation was six months but had previously been four months. DD6 especially took to solids really well and I dont think I would've done her any favours holding off until six months. She showed interest from two months, but I made her wait until four months.

[insanity]

Yeah i know what you mean.. when i had my older kids the recommendation was 4 months.. yet DD2 had no interest until after 6 months.

I saw the paediatrician today and had every intention of asking him as DS is on neocate formula as they thought he may have intolerances so i'm not sure if he can have custards etc when he does start but he was sick and had to fly interstate as his father was sick and had cancelled all appointments after mine and he just really rushed me in and out and i totally forgot to ask! Now i don't see him again until xmas... so annoyed!

[bellalika]

I tried at 5 months (4 months corrected) and DS1 wasn't interested. I stopped and offered again a fortnight later. He still wasn't interested but devoured it the fortnight after. My paed suggested that approach and I went with it.

[SalsaMama]

I started at 4.5 months (3.5 corrected).

[Mummypants]

Hi

I have had 2 premmies both have suffered reflux and both times our pediatrician suggested trying solids earlier. In saying that my DD2 was 4.5mths corrected (6.5mths actual) and was not really ready as she still had the tongue pushing reflex but was a terrible feeder up until around 2yrs!

My DS was 4mths corrected (6.5mths actual) and he loved it! He had all the ready cues at the time I started, we slowly introduced foods but he is not fussy at all and will happily eat anything the only problem is getting him to stop!!!!

Good luck 


Sent from my iTwinkle

[Anyanka]

My DD was 4 and a half when I started her on solids only a teaspoon with her losec on it. So 3 and half months adjusted.

It wasn't until she was 5 months and 4 months adjusted she started opening her mouth and taking it for real.

Having said that when she started at first sometimes she would have it and sometimes not.

She started with 10mls and now at almost 6months (5months adjusted) she is eating between 40mls - 60mls twice a day.

Anyanka

ps...the feed after 6 month thing came in because they thought delaying solids would fix the allergy problem. Studies have found its not making a dent in allergies to food. So now the recommendation is when your child is ready. Looking at you eating, opening mouth when you put food near. Swallowing but not pushing food back out with the tongue thrusting.

[kabe]

I started mine about 5mths, which would be 3.5mths corrected. The dr said she was fine to start, started on farex which she pushed out, some days it stayed in, tried different times of days to see if that made a difference, then I thought I'd try pumpkin & sweet potato, SHE LOVED IT!!!! So it may have taken 2wks to get her to eat properly and its taken another 6wks to get her to eat breakfast. But we have done it!

[mrsmcnic]

Our neonatologist recommended 5 months corrected but advised anytime between 4-6 months. He stated they have changed the recommendations about 6 times over the last 20 years from results of different studies but it usually comes back to 4-6 months.

Mum to Max born 25+1 now 8 months (5 months corrected)

[insanity]

Thanks for all the info girls!

I started him around 2 weeks ago and he went ok for around a week but now he flat out refuses to eat. He just shuts his mouth and turns away. His just over 7 months.. almost 6 corrected so i'm getting a little worried that he doesn't want to eat

[shirleysmum]

HI Tasha

My twins were 6 weeks premmie. DS was showing signs of readiness at about 5mths corrected age, and the other, DD, was a month and a bit later. We had a false start initially, where DS went OK for a week, then it became painfully slow....sounds similar to what your baby is doing. I gave him a break for about 1 week, then it was like a switch had been flicked, and he was away. My GP was very critical that they hadn't been on solids earlier, but they simply were not ready and there was nothing that I could do to change that.

Good luck!

[TripleTime]

Corrected age, so six months corrected.
In saying that, we went by when the kids were ready. A was 4 months actual, T 5 months actual & J 8 months actual.

[dicey]

DS was born at 34 weeks, he's currently 4.5 months old and eating 2 meals a day.

He eats one fruit and one veg per day and chews on toast, banana, avocado and steamed carrots.

I just noticed that he was ready. It all depends on the child I think!

[insanity]

Thanks girls! I ended up waiting a few weeks and then tried again and he loved it! His now on 3 meals a day at 7 months corrected and loves his food! He demands it lol! I went to the clinic yesterday and she scoffed at him being on 3 meals but he is more than happy to eat it all so if he wants it i don't see a problem giving it to him

[BaronessM]

Hi Tasha, Glad you finally got the solids thing going! My 7.5 months, that's 6m corrected, bub also has three solid meals a day, totalling around the 200ml mark. Some days a little more, some days a lot less.


Just to clarify this, the ability to tolerate solids relies on them wanting to take it and their reflexes (extrusion or tongue pushing reflex) but their immune systems are as old as they are~real age, that is, so as long as they seem ready, 4months real age is fine. At least this is what the specialist paed said.

Our little guy had reflux (yep, just come off the Losec and vomits less than when he was on it, after a vomity adjustment period), so I started him the day he turned 4m and he vaccuumed it down, and still does! Funny how they have such definite preferences for food at this early age!

[tayasmummy]

I started dd on solids at 4.5 months, correct age would of been 3.5 months (i think?)