Why do preemies have a hard time eating?

When babies are born prematurely, their digestive systems may not be fully developed. As a result, many of these small infants experience feeding difficulties such as: Problems establishing nipple feedings, at breast or with the bottle. This may occur because the infant can’t suck and swallow properly.

How many Oz should a preemie eat?

usually needs 12-15 ounces of formula or milk per day. A good way to see if your baby is getting enough to eat is to observe how many wet diapers he/she has in a 24 hour period.