Answered by Angela Rosas M.D.
"The most enjoyable thing for me in practicing general pediatrics is to use my professional training and my experiences as a mother to help families to improve the health of their children," says Angela Rosas. "It is a wondrous feeling to watch children heal and develop into healthy young adults, knowing that you played a small role in the process."
Angela Rosas M.D., graduated from Stanford University with a degree in human biology. She attended medical school and completed her residency in pediatrics at the University of California at San Diego. She has been a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics since 1991. Dr. Rosas has practiced general pediatrics for eight years in community clinics, private practice, and university hospitals. She is currently Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California at Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California. Her clinical and research interests are breastfeeding, asthma, adolescent care, children with disabilities, child abuse and neglect, and accident prevention. Dr. Rosas has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to various pediatric textbooks. She frequently lectures on pediatrics issues at medical conferences and for community agencies. Dr. Rosas is married to another pediatrician and has three young daughters.
Question
Should I start feeding cereal to my 11-week-old, who was born preterm and is always hungry?
Answer
Actually, premature babies that are otherwise healthy grow faster than babies born on time. Premature babies start out smaller, grow very fast in the first year, and often catch up by the second year of life. During this first year, with its rapid rate of growth, premature babies are very hungry and eat very frequently. Check with your doctor about your baby's growth pattern. If she is a little behind, your doctor may recommend a special formula with extra calories. Cereal is not recommended in premature babies until they can sit up with support and swallow solids well, which may be beyond 6 months of age.
