title: Length and weight of very low birth weight infants in Germany at 2 years of age: does it matter at what age they start complementary food?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We analysed at what age parents start complementary food in very low birth weight infants, determined risk factors for early introduction of complementary food (post-term age) and analysed whether the age at introduction of complementary food influences height or weight at 2 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents of premature infants born in 2009-2011 answered questionnaires regarding introduction of complementary food in the first year of life (N=2262) and were followed up at a post-term age of 2 years (N=981). Length and weight were compared with full-term infants from the KiGGs study. Logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted to study predictors for early introduction of complementary food and the influence of age at introduction of complementary food on later height and weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average age at introduction of complementary food was 3.5 months post-term age. The lower the gestational age at birth, the earlier (post-term age) vegetables and meat were introduced. Age at introduction of complementary food was influenced by intrauterine growth restriction, gestational age at birth, maternal education and a developmental delay perceived by the parents. Length and weight at a post-term age of 2 years was not negatively influenced by early introduction of complementary food.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VLBW infants are introduced to complementary food on average before a post-term age of 4 months. There was no negative effect of early introduction of complementary food on height and weight at 2 years of age.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Spiegler
authors: Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Eisemann
authors: Department of Neonatology, Bürgerhospital, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ehlers
authors: Department of Neonatology, University of Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Orlikowsky
authors: Children's Hospital, HELIOS Klinik Schwerin, Schwerin, Germany.
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Kannt
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Herting
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Göpel
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D002657:Child Development; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D005248:Feeding Methods / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D010290:Parents; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain