Responsive versus scheduled feeding for preterm infants
Citation: Watson J., & McGuire W. Responsive versus scheduled feeding for preterm infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016, Issue 8. Art. No.: CD005255.
This Cochrane review does not provide strong or consistent evidence that responsive feeding improves outcomes for preterm infants or their families. Responsive feeding might help infants transition more quickly to oral feeding.
Feeding preterm infants in response to their hunger and satiation cues (responsive) rather than at scheduled intervals might enhance infants’ and parents’ experience and satisfaction, help in the establishment of independent oral feeding, increase nutrient intake and growth rates, and allow earlier hospital discharge. This review assesses the effect of a policy of feeding preterm infants on a responsive basis versus feeding prescribed volumes at scheduled intervals on growth rates, levels of parent satisfaction, and time to hospital discharge.
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