Toddler sits on bed and has pacifier in its mouth, it grasps the pacifier with both hands

Study Summary

The Benefits of Non-Nutritive Sucking

How promoting sucking skills in infants can lead to positive outcomes.

An evaluation of the benefits of non-nutritive sucking for premature infants as described in the literature.

Harding, C.

Archives of disease in childhood, 2009

Studies show that non-nutritive sucking enables infants to transition to oral feeding faster, gain weight faster and be discharged from the hospital earlier than infants in a control group. Weaning is also established more quickly in the treatment group.
Including parents more in various care programmes benefits the development of a social bond with their child.

Background

All premature infants have unique needs that help them mature in their early development.

The feeding-process can form an interactive bond between infant and parents. Furthermore, this bond will have a strong impact on the future well-being of the child.

In addition, to interpret infant’s behavioural states and oral motor patterns more successfully, different care assessment tools, such as NIDCAP (Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program) and NOMAS (Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale), are included to increase reliability.

The author’s pilot study let parents provide their child with oral stimulation (through a finger or pacifier). Parents feel they have a purpose when actively supporting their child, rather than not being able to help.

Method

In this paper, Celia Harding deals with different studies regarding developmental improvements in premature infants, especially pinpointing the approach of non-nutritive sucking programmes. The author also discusses a pilot study she conducted, with special emphasis on the involvement of parents.

Results

  • Individual care programmes for premature infants are often needed to develop a healthy well-being. Oral sucking skills in particular are vital in the early development.
  • Language therapists suggest that non-nutritive sucking programmes are important to help infants receive nutrition and cope with stress. Practicing oral motor musculature makes the transition from tube to oral feeding easier.
  • Neonatal units’ main goal is to strengthen an interactive bond between infant and parents through care plans like Kangaroo Care or Swaddling. 
  • The conducted pilot study was carried out by parents and carers, rather than researchers like most studies, and the outcome confirms results of previous studies.
  • Infants in the treatment group established full oral feeding three days prior to the control group and leaving the hospital five days sooner.

MAM Service

You can find the complete study at: mambaby.com/professionals