Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 31, 2025
Author Spotlight: Implications of Non-Nutritive Sucking on Speech Emergence and Infant Development
Published on: April 19, 2024
Parent-Administered Oral Stimulation in Preterm Infants: A Randomized, Controlled, Open-Label Pilot Study
Marta Majoli1, Laura Costanza De Angelis1,2, Monica Panella3
1Department Mother and Child, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Insights
Parent-administered premature infant oral motor intervention (PIOMI) showed no difference in feeding transition time compared to professional-administered PIOMI. Parents reported high satisfaction, suggesting training parents for PIOMI is a viable option for preterm infant care.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pediatric feeding interventions
- Infant development
Background:
- Preterm infants often experience feeding difficulties.
- Oral motor intervention is crucial for establishing full oral feedings.
- Parental involvement in neonatal care is increasingly recognized as beneficial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of parent-administered versus professionally-administered premature infant oral motor intervention (PIOMI) on the transition time to full oral feedings.
- To assess parental satisfaction with performing PIOMI.
- To evaluate the impact of parent-administered PIOMI on infant outcomes such as weight gain and hospital stay.
Main Methods:
- A single-center, randomized, controlled, open-label pilot study.
- 39 infants born ≤32 weeks' gestation were randomized into two groups: parent-performed PIOMI and professionally performed PIOMI.
- Intervention involved daily oral stimulation for seven days between 31 and 32 weeks' postmenstrual age.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences were observed in transition time to full oral feedings, weight gain, or length of hospital stay between parent-administered and professionally-administered PIOMI groups.
- No adverse events were reported during the study.
- Parental satisfaction was high, with active involvement enhancing parents' perception of their ability to care for their infant.
Conclusions:
- Parent-administered PIOMI is a safe and effective alternative to professional administration for preterm infants.
- Training parents to perform PIOMI can facilitate earlier transition to full oral feeding.
- Enhanced parental involvement through PIOMI may strengthen parent-infant bonding and improve parental confidence in infant care.
Objective:
The study aimed to assess whether there was any difference in the transition time to full oral feedings between parent-administered and professional-administered premature infant oral motor intervention (PIOMI). The study also evaluated parental satisfaction with performing the intervention through an open-ended questionnaire.
Study Design:
A single-center, randomized, controlled, open-label pilot study was carried on between March 2017 and May 2019. A total of 39 infants born ≤32 weeks' gestation were randomly assigned to either parent-performed or professionally performed oral stimulation. The oral stimulation was performed once a day for seven consecutive days between 31 and 32 weeks' postmenstrual age.
Results:
There was no statistically significant difference in transition time, weight gain, or length of hospital stay between the two groups. No adverse events were observed. Parents' satisfaction was high, and their active involvement enhanced their perception of adequacy to care for their infant.
Conclusion:
Following adequate training, a parent-administered PIOMI may be considered in preterm infants to reduce the transition time to full oral feeding and enhance the direct involvement of parents in neonatal care.
Key Points:
· No difference in transition time between parent-performed and professional-performed PIOMI.. · PIOMI may be delivered by parents following appropriate training.. · Active involvement of parents may improve the parent-infant bonding..
