Introducing solid foods to preterm infants: Preliminary results from Italian primary care pediatricians survey

Introduction: Current guidelines for introduction of complementary foods to term infants cannot be directly translated to preterm infants. Limited evidence are available regarding the optimal age and type of foods to be introduced and whether weaning methods influence later health and development of infants born preterm. Aim: The aim of the survey was to evaluate individual attitudes of primary care paediatricians concerning the introduction of complementary foods t in preterm newborns. Methods: On-line 34-item survey administration to paediatricians regarding: (1) timing of introduction of complementary foods to preterm newborns; (2) type and quality of complementary foods (3) vitamin D and iron supplementations. Results: 134 primary-care Italian paediatricians (M: 62; F: 72; mean age: 58 years old) from Apulia, Sicily, Basilicata answered. Introduction of complementary food was established on the basis of infant’s age (mean “correct age” for prematurity of 6.5 (DS = 0.69) months of life by 38.8% of responders and as a mean chronological age of 5.6 (DS = 0.41) months by the resting 22.3%). (50%), infant’s neurodevelopmental status (good head control) (14%), body weight (mean 5600 g) (7%), two or more of these criteria (36%). The mean correct age for gluten introduction is 5.8 (DS = 1.21) months, for added sugar 18.1 (DS = 8.4) months, for salt 16 (DS = 6.16) months, for olive oil 5.3 (DS = 0.9) months, for eggs 9 (DS = 1.61) months, for fish 7.6 (DS = 1.47) months, for meat 5.6 (DS = 1) months and for parmesan cheese 7 (DS = 1.12) months. 98% of participants promoted vitamin D supplementation and 89% of participants promoted iron supplementation in preterm with a great heterogeneity in timing and doses. Conclusions: Due to limited evidence available, there is a great heterogeneity in the attitudes of primary care paediatricians concerning the introduction of complementary foods to preterm newborns. Further researches are needed to provide evidencebased guidelines regarding weaning in infants.