The use of non-nutritive sucking to promote functional sucking skills in premature infants: an exploratory trial.
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Date
2006-11
Authors
Harding, C.
Law, James
Pring, T.
Citation
Harding, C., Law, J. & Pring, T. (2006) The use of non-nutritive sucking to promote functional sucking skills in premature infants: an exploratory trial. Infant, vol. 2, 6 , pp. 238-243.
Abstract
Non-nutritive sucking appears to promote an infant's readiness to begin oral feeding. This small pilot study examined a non-nutritive sucking programme to facilitate the transition to full oral feeding in premature infants. The results suggest that the non-nutritive sucking programme implemented by a speech and language therapist positively benefited the feeding development of neonates. Issues raised by the pilot study should be investigated in a larger scale study.