Exploring Pacifier-Activated Music Systems in the NICU: Improving Outcomes and Shortening Length of Stay.

There is ample research discussing the benefits of a pacifier-activated music system with preterm and high-risk infants. Benefits include improving the quality of nonnutritive sucking (NNS) and increased feeding volume/attempts/endurance, which lead to decreased time to full oral feedings and shortened hospital stays. The use of pacifier-activated music systems supports a faster transition to oral feeding in preterm infants while learning to breastfeed or bottle feed in the NICU. When coupling pacifier-activated music systems with the NNS of a pacifier, the preterm infant gains efficacy in feeding strength and endurance. Benefits also include faster nipple feeding success, mother/infant stress reduction, fewer rehospitalizations, diminished length of stay, and other long-term benefits. This article will discuss how the benefits of using music in the NICU are widespread and should be implemented as a multidisciplinary approach in a variety of NICU settings. Several NICU patient populations can benefit from music using a music pacifier system dependent on the modes used.