What are some of the common questions parents of premature babies ask dietitians?
Many parents want information on basic feeding strategies, specifically about: • when and how to start a baby on solid foods • how long to spend on feeding • how much children should be eating and drinking • evaluating and changing a feeding plan • how to breastfeed a baby who was premature • how to supplement breastfeeding • when and how to wean from breastfeeding • how to know if a breastfed baby is getting enough nourishment • how much weight a baby should be gaining Some of these issues may seem straightforward, but they become more complicated when a premature baby has been very sick and the family is under the stress of that sickness. Some parents might have had the experience of raising other healthy children, but find the issues are different for their ill premature baby.