The Cribsiders S7 Ep168: The (NICU) Graduate: Outpatient Follow-Up for High Risk Infants
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Feb 18, 2026 Carmina Erday, triple board-certified neonatologist and developmental-behavioral pediatrician who leads a Growth and Development Unit, walks through outpatient follow-up for NICU graduates. She discusses interdisciplinary clinic setup, growth charts and calorie targets, preterm formulas and fortifiers, feeding intolerance and dysphagia, neurodevelopmental screening tools, and early intervention and family-centered supports.
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Which Growth Charts To Use
- Use Olsen curves until 40 weeks then switch to WHO growth charts corrected for prematurity.
- Adjust calories by growth velocity (e.g., target 25–35 g/day) and wean fortification stepwise.
Target Realistic Growth Trajectories
- Aim for the infant's birth percentile instead of forcing a 50th percentile target.
- Expect ~25–35 g/day in early months and reduce to ~20 g/day as they age (adjusted age).
Why Preterm Formulas Matter
- Preterm formulas include extra calories, protein, minerals and iron tailored for catch-up growth.
- Transition to term formula or unfortified breast milk once baby reaches ~20 kcal/oz and growth is adequate.