Development of a Pacifier for Low-Birth-Weight Infants’ Nonnutritive Sucking

Mothers' mood and perceptions regarding their preterm infants' behavioral state following a feeding intervention

“…These findings suggest, perhaps, that the intervention provided stability for the infants' jaw as well as behavioral organization for the infants during feeding. The findings are in keeping with other researchers who concluded that nonnutritive sucking assists the infant to become more quiescent prior to feeding (Engebretson and Wardell, 1997;Pickler et al, 1996;Pickler and Reyna, 2004).…”

Clinicians guide for cue‐based transition to oral feeding in preterm infants: An easy‐to‐use clinical guide

“…For a pacifier to support preterm infant development, it is important that it should be as close as possible to what the fetus would have been using in utero. In infants who are unable to coordinate their suck‐swallow and breathing reflex, a pacifier with an upward angle, similar to the infant's thumb in utero should be used . When suck‐swallow and breathing is coordinated, the pacifier should be similar to the mother's nipple in size and shape, since this infant should be starting to feed on the breast.…”

“…Choose a 1‐piece pacifier made of a tasteless and odourless medical grade plastic . The nipple of the pacifier should be cylindrical to support tongue cupping—similar to fetal thumb size in infants less than 32 weeks or the mother's nipple size in infants older than 32 weeks or who are able to coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing.…”

“…The nipple of the pacifier should be cylindrical to support tongue cupping—similar to fetal thumb size in infants less than 32 weeks or the mother's nipple size in infants older than 32 weeks or who are able to coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing. It should have a small bolus at the end of the nipple, and the optimal nipple length should reach the ridge between the soft and hard palate to stimulate the limbic system of the brain . Finally, the mouth shield should be big and soft to stimulate nerve endings around the mouth and prevent aspiration and have a “handle” on the shield to provide for hand‐to‐mouth positioning, grasping, self‐soothing, and midline positioning.…”

“…Nonnutritive sucking (NNS) is used during gavage feeding and in the transition from gavage to oral feeding in preterm infants. The 41 Bingham et al, 2010 45 Greene et al, 2013 34 Bache et al, 2014 43 Engebretson & Wardell, 1997 48 Greater weight gain (lead to earlier discharge)…”