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My son was born prematurely at 33 weeks - should he be eating for his actual age or his corrected age?

Full Question: 
My son was born prematurely at 33 weeks, he is now almost 10 months old and I am just wondering if he should be eating now what is suitable for his actual age or his corrected age? It is all very confusing!
 
Answer:
If your son is 10 months from the day he was actually born (chronological age) and he was born 7 weeks prematurely, then his corrected age is now 8 months and 1 week (10 months – 7 weeks).
 
It is recommended that babies who were born prematurely are weaned onto solid foods at 5 months corrected age.
It is important that your baby is introduced to a variety of textures and flavours now so as to avoid them becoming fussy eaters when they are toddlers or older children.
 
In terms of what foods are suitable, really most foods are suitable for your baby. It’s best to start off with bland and savoury foods such as vegetables and pure baby rice and then introduce the sweeter foods like fruit.
Once your baby is established on these first foods it is important then to introduce foods like meat and fish that has the bones removed. Once your baby is 6 months, eggs can be introduced and are very nutritious for your baby.
 
The only foods that should be avoided are adult processed foods such as chicken nuggets, pizza, sausages, potato waffles etc. Avoid adult ready-meals and tinned foods that have sugar and salt added. Also don’t add any sugar, salt or honey to your baby’s meals.
Juices are not recommended as they contain lots of sugars which are bad for your baby’s growing teeth and can also lead to obesity in later childhood. Tea and coffee are also not recommended for your baby as they can prevent your baby from being able to use the iron from the foods they eat.  Breastmilk, formula or water should be the only drink your baby has in the first year of life.
 

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