Non-nutritive sucking should be used in the enterally fed neonate less than 32 weeks corrected gestational age to promote which outcome?

Non-nutritive sucking should be used in the enterally fed neonate less than 32 weeks corrected gestational age to promote which outcome?

• A. Mother/child bonding
• B. Weight gain
• C. Correct development of facial and jaw muscles
• D. Oral feeding when developmentally appropriate

Answer: (D)

Non-nutritive sucking helps preterm infants develop the oral-motor patterns and coordination needed for feeding. By allowing sucking without nutrition while the infant remains tube-fed, it provides practice with the suck–swallow–breathe sequence and supports oral-motor tone, which prepares them to take feeds by mouth when physiologically ready. The main goal is to enable safe, efficient oral feeding at the appropriate developmental level, not to guarantee weight gain, bonding, or facial muscle development. Bonding is important but is best supported through other interactions, and weight gain or facial muscle development aren’t the primary targets of non-nutritive sucking in these infants.

Non-nutritive sucking helps preterm infants develop the oral-motor patterns and coordination needed for feeding. By allowing sucking without nutrition while the infant remains tube-fed, it provides practice with the suck–swallow–breathe sequence and supports oral-motor tone, which prepares them to take feeds by mouth when physiologically ready. The main goal is to enable safe, efficient oral feeding at the appropriate developmental level, not to guarantee weight gain, bonding, or facial muscle development. Bonding is important but is best supported through other interactions, and weight gain or facial muscle development aren’t the primary targets of non-nutritive sucking in these infants.