{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,17]],"date-time":"2026-06-17T22:13:01Z","timestamp":1781734381814,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,27]],"date-time":"2020-11-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1606435200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>As preterm birth rates are globally increasing, together with research on preterms\u2019 peculiar needs, neonatologists are still facing the challenge of how to properly feed them. The need to strike a balance between excessive catch-up growth and extrauterine growth retardation, both leading to adverse outcomes, is made even more difficult by the broad range of preterms\u2019 needs. Although mother\u2019s fresh milk is undoubtedly the best nourishment, its availability during hospital stay is often lower than recommended, and its fortification at discharge is still an open issue. Formula milks are available as an alternative to breast milk. However, choosing the right formula requires a thorough evaluation of the infant\u2019s perinatal history and targets. Last but not least, adequate timing and initiation of weaning in premature babies are still a poorly explored matter. This narrative review aims at evaluating the multitude of issues to consider when feeding preterms in the three stages of their first life: in-hospital care, discharge, and, eventually, weaning. Given the current absence of internationally shared guidelines, understanding the potential pitfalls of preterms\u2019 nutrition could help us trace the right path for the right preterm.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu12123646","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,27]],"date-time":"2020-11-27T02:13:51Z","timestamp":1606443231000},"page":"3646","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":15,"title":["Preterm\u2019s Nutrition from Hospital to Solid Foods: Are We Still Navigating by Sight?"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Beatrice Letizia","family":"Crippa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Fondazione IRCCS C\u00e0 Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milan, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Commenda 19, 20122 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4616-5081","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Daniela","family":"Morniroli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fondazione IRCCS C\u00e0 Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milan, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Commenda 19, 20122 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0590-6664","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Elisabetta","family":"Baldassarre","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari \u201cAldo Moro\u201d, 70124 Bari, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7761-1131","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alessandra","family":"Consales","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fondazione IRCCS C\u00e0 Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milan, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Commenda 19, 20122 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giulia","family":"Vizzari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fondazione IRCCS C\u00e0 Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milan, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Commenda 19, 20122 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lorenzo","family":"Colombo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fondazione IRCCS C\u00e0 Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milan, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Commenda 19, 20122 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fabio","family":"Mosca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fondazione IRCCS C\u00e0 Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milan, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Commenda 19, 20122 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3901-9131","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Lorella","family":"Giann\u00ec","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fondazione IRCCS C\u00e0 Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milan, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Commenda 19, 20122 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"74","DOI":"10.1016\/j.siny.2015.12.007","article-title":"Global burden of prematurity","volume":"21","author":"Harrison","year":"2016","journal-title":"Semin. 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