Developmental progression of feeding skills: an approach to supporting feeding in preterm infants

Infants born prematurely, with congenital or acquired medical conditions, or who have extended stays in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at higher risk of developing feeding and nutritional problems than are full-term, healthy newborns. Because of the complex nature of feeding, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of the developmental nature of this skill. The importance of recognizing stability in the physiologic, motor and state systems and using stability to determine both readiness to begin nipple feeding and progress in feeding, is discussed. Intervention strategies to promote stability leading to successful feeding are also described. Viewing infant feeding from a developmental skill acquisition perspective can guide the caregiver in determining how challenging it is for the infant, and therefore is useful in supporting the progression of feeding.