BACKGROUND Timely initiation of enteral nutrition is pivotal to outcome optimization in gastroschisis (GS). The purpose of our study was to analyze the effect of timing of first feeds on outcome. METHODS GS cases accrued between May 2005 and August 2011 were abstracted from a national database. Risk variables evaluated included GA, illness severity, bowel injury severity, and post-closure days to first feed (DTF). The outcomes analyzed included duration of TPN, LOS, and infectious complications. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS The study cohort comprised 570 cases (16% with "high risk" bowel injury). Group distribution by DTF was: 0-7 days (12%), 8-14 days (44%), 15-21 days (26%), and >21 days (17%), with a mean DTF of 17 ± 15 days. Mean durations of TPN and LOS were 44 ± 56 and 112 ± 71 days, respectively. DTF subgroups were comparable, except for a greater proportion of "high risk bowel injury" in DTF>21 days. Initiation of feeds between 8 and 21 days was associated with fewer TPN days and reduced LOS. Multivariate analyses revealed that TPN duration, LOS, and infectious complications were independently predicted by DTF. CONCLUSIONS Post-closure DTF predicts outcome in GS, with best outcomes observed when feeds are started 7 days post-closure.