Weaning prem babies

[Winnyp6174]

Hello!

My baby was born at 33 weeks + 5.

She's currently 20 weeks, but showing a lot of interest in foods. My HV is on leave due to the virus.

Has anyone got any suggestions or advise? Did anyone else wean their prem baby early?

[NaviSprite]

I didn’t wean my prem twins (31+5 weeks) until they were over 12 months old but I did give them tasters that were easy to digest and no risk of potential allergic reaction when they got to roughly 9-10mo.

It depends on a number of factors, mine were also teeny tiny when born (neither weighed more than 1kg) so they were on special milk (infatrini for DD and Nutriprem for DS) for weight gain. If your DD is a good weight for her age and has been growing consistently with no concerns then maybe try bits of food you can mix with her milk? I went with a small amount of rice cereal with formula mixed in to start off with.

Also must ensure they can sit well and hold their head up, that they can navigate a bit of food towards their mouths and such. Have copied a link to Hipp’s website if you’re a FTM it’s worth a read

www.hipp.co.uk/advice-centre/babys-development/5-months-old/

[Sillyscrabblegames]

Is 20 weeks her corrected age? Even if it is her corrected age that is quite early. If that is her birth age then her corrected age is just 16 weeks which is very early for weaning according to current guidance.
I weaned my prem baby (born at 32 weeks) when he was about 9 months old birth age.
He was just too small and too sleepy and couldn't sit up before that.

What kind of interest is your little one showing in food?

[premweaning]

I was advised to wean at actual age not corrected. Also to take it very slowly.
I think it's to do with eating exercise and not the food. My daughter looked like a newborn and I'd be getting daggers whilst feeding her in cafes

[GrumpyHoonMain]

You try weaning prem babies at 6 months actual age same as other babies.

[Winnyp6174]

Thank you for all your useful replies.

My baby was 5lb 9oz when born. Currently 16lbs! So she's never had an issue with weight.

Will see how she goes, just her bottle is never enough anymore!

[Winnyp6174]

@NaviSprite thank you for the link!! I will read that now xx

[Windyatthebeach]

Ds was born at 35 weeks and weight went down to 4-12. Weaned at 6 months...

[eurochick]

We weaned our 34 weaker at 6 months (actual not corrected) on the advice of the paediatrician. Weaning is bloody hard work - don't do it early if you don't need to.

[Winnyp6174]

@Sillyscrabblegames she's watching everything I eat and leaning towards it. Shes constantly pulling her self up on me. I have heard so many different things about prem babies which is why I asked on here just to get more advice!

She's had really bad reflux (on omeprazole) and so many mums have said weaning them when they are ready helps. But then others said it can make it worse. Of course don't want to make her poorly.

[TiggeryBear]

DS was born at 35+2 (21months ago) weighing 5lb 5oz. We started weaning him at 26weeks (actual age not corrected) spoon feeding 1st tastes of veggies. Once we moved to foods like porridge (ready brek with fruit puree) we found a marked improvement in his reflux. Especially as we fed him before offering milk first thing in the morning opposite to recommendations but it worked best for us.

[Shmithecat2]

20 weeks is early by full term standards, let alone prem. If milk is 'never enough', give them more milk.

[Winnyp6174]

@Shmithecat2 many people wean by 5 months. I was just asking for advice.

[Africa2go]

The advice we received from our neonatal consultant (with prem twins) was to go by their actual date rather than corrected. Advice at the time for term babies was to wean between 4-6 months, I know its now around 6 months.

On his advice, we weaned at 20 weeks actual, but took it very slowly (just a spoonful a day for a couple of weeks etc).

[Shmithecat2]

@Winnyp6174 and my advice was up the milk. CUH, Bliss advise generally between 5 and 8 months actual.

[Winnyp6174]

@Africa2go thank you so much! This is very useful.

@Shmithecat2 thank you x

[peajotter]

There’s some really good advice on the Bliss website.

I had a 25 weeker and the advice was to wean somewhere between actual and corrected age.

I think the logic was this- they do need some extra nutrients (iron?) as they will be depleting what they had at birth. However they’re not ready developmentally to have large meals. If I’d have waited until 6mo corrected (as I did with my other kids), my preemie would have been nearly 10 months out of the womb.

I would second the advice to try small amounts at 6 months actual, but don’t do much until 6 months corrected or above.