Sipping/lapping is a safe alternative feeding method to suckling for preterm infants

Area of Science:

• Neonatal nutrition
• Infant feeding practices
• Developmental pediatrics

Background:

• Preterm infants often require specialized feeding methods.
• Suckling via bottle-feeding without hydrostatic pressure is a common method.
• Alternative methods like sipping/lapping warrant investigation for safety and efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate sipping/lapping as a safe alternative to bottle-feeding without hydrostatic pressure.
• To compare physiological stability and the swallowing-respiration relationship between sipping/lapping and suckling.
• To analyze differences in tongue movements during sipping/lapping versus suckling.

Main Methods:

• Eighteen preterm infants (30-35 weeks gestation) were studied during their first oral feeding.
• Feeding sessions involved sipping/lapping and suckling a bottle without hydrostatic pressure.
• Physiological parameters (heart rate, O2 saturation), swallowing-respiration patterns, and tongue movements (ultrasonography) were assessed.

Main Results:

• Intake volume and speed were lower with sipping/lapping compared to suckling.
• No significant differences were observed in heart rate, O2 saturation, or swallowing-respiration patterns.
• Tongue movements during sipping/lapping differed from those during bottle or breastfeeding suckling.

Conclusions:

• Sipping/lapping is a safe alternative feeding method for preterm infants.
• It demonstrates comparable physiological stability and swallowing-respiration coordination to bottle-feeding.
• Differences in tongue mechanics do not compromise feeding safety in this population.