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INTRODUCTION The survival of very low birth weight infants (VLBW, birth weight < 1500 g) has been increasing over the last decades. Monitoring of body growth and development are important [...], BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: 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. SUBJECTS/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. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2015) 69, 662-667; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2015.54; published online 15 April 2015

Objective: To determine if survival rates of preterm infants receiving active perinatal care improve over time., Design: The German Neonatal Network is a cohort study of preterm infants with birth weight <1500 g. All eligible infants receiving active perinatal care are registered. We analysed data of patients discharged between 2011 and 2016., Setting: 43 German level III neonatal intensive care units (NICUs)., Patients: 8222 preterm infants with a gestational age between 22/0 and 28/6 weeks who received active perinatal care., Interventions: Participating NICUs were grouped according to their specific survival rate from 2011 to 2013 to high (percentile >P75), intermediate (P25-P75) and low (