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Narative Review Volume 16 Issue 3
Selection of oral feeding delivery devices and regimens in preterm infants: a narrative review adults
Abdellatif Abdelwahab
Received: August 13, 2026 | Published: September 22, 2026
Citation: Abdelwahab A. Selection of oral feeding delivery devices and regimens in preterm infants: a narrative review. J Pediatr Neonatal Care. 2026;16(3):132-135. DOI: 10.15406/jpnc.2026.16.00632
Abstract
The transition from enteral tube feeding to independent oral feeding represents a critical developmental milestone for preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Successful oral feeding necessitates complex neuromuscular coordination of sucking, swallowing, and breathing, which typically matures between 32 and 34 weeks’ postmenstrual age. This transition is governed by two key clinical variables: the physical characteristics of the oral delivery device (including bottle teat flow dynamics, self-paced systems, and non-bottle alternatives) and the structured feeding regimen (scheduled versus cue-based/infant-driven strategies, continuous versus bolus tube feeds). This review synthesizes current evidence evaluating how oral device selection and feeding patterns influence physiological stability, suck-swallow-breathe coordination, time to achieve full oral feeds, and long-term breastfeeding success. Current data favor low-flow or self-paced teats to mitigate cardiorespiratory compromise, cup feeding when the primary objective is maternal lactation preservation, and infant-driven cue-based feeding to shorten transition duration.
Keywords: preterm infants, oral feeding transition, nipple flow rate / bottle teat mechanics, suck-swallow-breathe coordination, cue-based feeding, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
©2026 Abdelwahab. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.