NEMO Resource Template - Queensland Health

1 My Nutrition Starting solids for preterm babies Your baby is considered preterm' if they Before starting solids, your baby were born before 37 weeks gestation. should be able to: Sit with support & hold their head up Preterm babies have a corrected age. Show interest in people eating food This is your baby's age from birth Lean towards food and open their (actual age) minus the number of mouth weeks or months early that they were Put toys/ fingers into their mouth born. Appear alert and ready for a new type For example, for a 12-month old born of feeding three months early, their corrected age is 9 months (12 months 3 Starting solids too soon months = 9 months). It is too early to start solids if your baby is Corrected age is used until your baby My less than 4 months of their actual age, or is 2 years of age. Mybefore 3 months of their corrected age. Nutrition Nutrition When to start? Starting solids too soon could lead to Premature babies have different nutrition an increased risk of food allergy.

2 Your needs to babies born at term. The baby's gut will not be ready for solids. general guidelines on starting solids at Most babies do not have enough around six months do not apply to control over their tongues and mouth preterm babies. Your baby doesn't need muscles at this age. to have teeth for starting solids. At this age, babies push their tongues against the spoon instead of It is recommended to start solids when swallowing food. This tongue-pushing your baby is around 5 7 months of their reflex helps babies when they are actual age. breastfeeding or drinking from a bottle. This is a consensus document from Dietitian/ Nutritionists from the Nutrition Education Materials Online, "NEMO", team. Disclaimer: Developed: March 2019. Copyright: Due for review: March 2021. Starting solids too late advice to support your baby with Your baby should be ready to start solids positioning for feeding. by 7 - 8 months of actual age. What foods to start with?

3 Your preterm baby is not born with Iron is needed to make red blood cells, enough iron stores to last 6 months which carry oxygen throughout the body. and so they need iron rich foods. Iron also plays an important role in Your baby may have developed a immunity, brain development and growth. dislike to having anything but milk in This makes iron supplementation and their mouth. choosing iron-rich foods very important As your baby gets older they may be with starting solids. For example: less willing to try new flavours and Baby rice/ infant cereals are a good foods. This could lead to feeding first food because they have extra iron problems later on. added. Iron rich food for example, pureed How to start? red meat, chicken, lamb, liver (2 tsp. Choose a quiet time of the day when per day), kidney, egg, lentils, legumes My your baby is happy ( mid- My ( baked beans), cooked tofu. Nutrition morning). Nutrition Use a small baby feeding spoon You may also like to try fruits and Put the food in the middle of their vegetables, for example, pureed apple, tongue.

4 Ripe banana or pureed avocado. Start with solids that are smooth and Preparing your baby's foods runny texture with no lumps. Always wash your hands and utensils If your baby does not enjoy it the first before preparing food. time, leave it until another time. Try to adapt family meals to a suitable Give an infant formula/ breast milk texture for your baby. feed first and offer solids as a top up. If extra fluid is needed to blend food It is important to have your baby in a add infant formula, breast milk or good supported position to help them cooled boiled water. with their eating . Freeze small quantities of food in ice If you are seeing an occupational cube trays and thaw in the fridge as therapist, they can give you more needed. This is a consensus document from Dietitian/ Nutritionists from the Nutrition Education Materials Online, "NEMO", team. Disclaimer: Developed: November 2016. Copyright: Due for review: November 2020.

5 It is important for your baby to try a How to know when your baby has had variety of different tastes and textures, enough? including home-made foods. Turns away head or body from food Loses interest in food Ready-made baby food Pushes food away These are a useful alternative Closed mouth occasionally, however they should not Looks distressed or cries be relied upon. Lip pursing Readymade baby foods are lower in Hiccupping/ sneezing nutritional value and are expensive. Choose a meat or fish product with a Choking content protein of at least Always watch your baby while they are Vegetable products should have a eating solids. Foods that are a choking protein content of at least 2g/100g. risk include: You can find this information on the Raw carrot sticks nutrition panel on the package/ jar/ Popcorn pouch. My Crisps/chips My . Nutrition Lollies What drinks to give? Nutrition Whole nuts Continue with breast milk or infant formula while introducing solids to Adding solids to your baby's bottle can your baby.

6 Also be a choking risk. Cooking, Water can be offered in a sippy' or chopping, mashing and grating foods can open cup. help make foods easier to eat. Water should be boiled and cooled for babies under 12 months actual age. For more information on choking visit this Full cream cow's milk can be added website: as a drink after 15 18 months actual age. Full cream milk can be used in cooking/ added to solids. This is a consensus document from Dietitian/ Nutritionists from the Nutrition Education Materials Online, "NEMO", team. Disclaimer: Developed: November 2016. Copyright: Due for review: November 2020. Guide for starting solids Offer three solids meals per day. About 1 month after Introduce thicker purees and soft dissolvable foods. starting solids Introduce a cup for drinking (by ~ 6 months actual age). About 2 months after Offer solids before breastfeeds/ infant formula. starting solids Offer drinks (infant formula/ breast milk/ water) from a cup as well as a bottle (by 9-10 months of actual age).

7 Introduce smooth & mashed consistency foods (~ 9. months actual age) as well as finger foods. It is important to offer your baby lumpy foods as soon as they are managing well with pureed food. Your baby should be managing mashed/ chopped family By 12 months of meals. actual age Your baby should be able to drink from an open cup, training cup ( a sippy cup) and no longer need a bottle. Encouraging your baby to feed themselves can help them Ideas for finger foods accept more varied textures. They might like to try: Ripe peeled soft fruit Pear, peach, banana Toast Slices of cheese Pasta shapes Dissolvable crackers/ biscuits Nutrition Supplements Do not give honey to your baby Your baby may need a multivitamin before they are 1 year of corrected (Penta-vite ) and an iron supplement age as there is a risk of infection. ( ferrous) at least until solids are Do not give your baby raw egg or raw established and possibly until 12 months milk as there is risk of infection of actual age.

8 Never force your baby with solids. All babies will refuse foods at times. Enjoyable mealtimes Remember eating is a new and exciting If you are concerned about food experience for your baby. Take time to allergies speak with your Dietitian. relax and enjoy mealtimes and allow your baby to make a mess! For further information contact your Limit distractions during mealtimes Dietitian or Nutritionist: such as TV, tablet, mobile phones, _____. pets and toys. Try to eat together as a family to make References & further resources eating enjoyable. 1. ASCIA My My2. Raising Children's Network Nutrition It is normal for your baby to refuse newNutrition 3. Start them right A parent's guide to eating foods. New foods may need to be offered for under 5's Tasmanian Government - up to 20 times before they are accepted. f_file/0004/81769/53063_start_them_right _bo Meal times should not take longer than ~30 minutes for your baby. 4. Weaning your premature baby BLISS.

9 What to avoid? 5. First foods for Preterm Babies, used with permission by Barbara Cormack, Newborn There is no need to add salt or sugar Services, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, for extra flavour to your baby's foods New Zealand - Low fat foods should not be given to Nutrition/First%20 Foods%20for%20 Prematur e%20 Babies%20 July% your baby before 2yrs of actual age. 6. Joint consensus statement on weaning Fat is a good source of energy for preterm babies - growing babies. ant%20feeding%20forum/Resources/Joint%2. 0consensus%20statement%20on%20weanin g%20preterm%20infants%20-% This is a consensus document from Dietitian/ Nutritionists from the Nutrition Education Materials Online, "NEMO", team. Disclaimer: Developed: November 2016. Copyright: Due for review: November 2020.