Does the timing of first solid food affect allergy risk in premature babies? Infants born early face unique nutritional challenges. Their immune systems may respond differently to new foods. This study monitored 257 premature infants for signs of food intolerance. Researchers tracked what each infant ate and when solid foods were introduced. They compared allergy rates across different feeding timelines. Following standard advice on the minimum age to start weaning reduced allergy risk for most premature infants. However, that same advice may not provide enough nutrition for very early arrivals born before 34 weeks. The Department of Health recommends that preterm infants weigh at least 5 kilograms before starting solid foods.