How to add complementary foods for preterm infants There are individual differences in the age at which preterm infants can eat complementary foods, and it is related to their maturity level. Preterm infants who are small for gestational age are introduced relatively late, usually not earlier than 4 months of corrected age and not later than 6 months of corrected age. The order of introduction is also between the corrected and actual ages. Adding complementary foods to preterm infants too early may affect the mother’s milk supply or cause indigestion in preterm infants, while adding them too late may affect the absorption of many nutrients and cause feeding difficulties. The principle of adding complementary foods is gradual, from one to many, from less to more, from thin to thick. Premature babies need to learn to eat, such as chewing, swallowing exercise, oral muscle movement coordination, etc.. However, within one year of age, milk is still their main food, the amount of complementary food should not be too much, but there should be more patterns, and the types of complementary food should be added gradually according to the nutritional needs of different months of age, so that babies can get sufficient and balanced nutrients and develop good habits of not being picky eaters. The role of vitamin D is to promote the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and their deposition in the bones. Premature infants have insufficient calcium and phosphorus reserves in their bodies, and their need for vitamin D and calcium and phosphorus is much higher than that of full-term infants in order to meet the rapid growth after birth. China’s “Recommendations for the Prevention and Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency Rickets” states that premature babies should receive 800 to 1000 units of vitamin D/day immediately after birth, and 400 units/day after 3 months until 2 years of age, which includes food, sunlight exposure, and vitamin D content in vitamin D preparations. Premature babies have low iron reserves and are very susceptible to anemia, which directly affects physical and neurological development. The current recommendation is that preterm infants should start supplementing with 2-4 mL of elemental iron per 1,000 clients per day for two weeks after birth until the corrected age of 1 year, including iron fortified formula, breast milk fortification, and iron content in food and iron supplements. Do preterm infants need supplements? The most important nutrient needed by preterm infants is milk, including breast milk as mentioned above and special formula for preterm infants. Additional nutrients that need to be routinely supplemented are vitamin D and iron. If some babies show signs of growth retardation, loss of appetite, etc., and if the blood test for trace elements of zinc is low, it suggests a possible zinc deficiency and should be supplemented. Other than that, there is no need to supplement with other nutrients.