Babies born too early sometimes have trouble eating because food in their mouth makes them uncomfortable or scared. This can lead to serious problems like not gaining weight and needing feeding tubes for a long time. Doctors and therapists who work with babies have different ways to help, but we don’t know which methods work best. Researchers are planning to look at all the studies about these treatments to understand what actually helps premature babies and their families feel better about eating.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Different types of therapy and treatment that help premature babies who are scared or uncomfortable when trying to eat
  • Who participated: This is a plan to review studies about babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, up to 12 months old, who have trouble eating, plus their parents and families
  • Key finding: This is a research plan (not yet completed), so there are no results yet. The researchers will search for and organize all existing studies about treatments that speech therapists, occupational therapists, nutrition experts, and psychologists use to help these babies
  • What it means for you: Once completed, this review will help doctors and therapists understand which treatments actually work best for premature babies with feeding problems, which could improve care and reduce stress for families

The Research Details

This is a scoping review protocol, which means the researchers are creating a detailed plan for how they will search through and organize all existing research on this topic. They will look through six major medical databases (MEDLINE, AMED, Embase, Emcare, PsycINFO, and CINAHL) for studies published since 2014. They will also search PubMed completely and look through gray literature (reports and studies not in regular journals) and reference lists. Two researchers will independently review each study to make sure the information is accurate. They will include studies in any language and will translate non-English studies using free online tools.

This approach is important because it will create a complete picture of what treatments exist and what we know about them. By organizing all the research in one place, doctors and therapists can see which treatments have been studied, which ones show promise, and where we need more research. This helps guide better care for premature babies with feeding problems.

This is a protocol (a plan) rather than completed research, so there are no results yet. The study will be rigorous because two independent reviewers will check the work, they’re searching multiple databases, and they’re including studies in all languages. The JBI methodology is a well-respected approach for organizing research literature.

What the Results Show

This is a research protocol, not a completed study, so primary findings are not yet available. Once the researchers complete their work, they will provide a comprehensive summary of all interventions used by speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, and psychologists to help premature babies with feeding aversion. They will organize this information to show what types of treatments exist, how often they are used, and what the research says about their effectiveness. The review will identify which treatments have strong evidence, which have limited evidence, and which areas need more research.

The review will also examine outcomes important to families, such as whether babies gain weight, how long they need feeding tubes, and whether mealtimes become less stressful. They will look at how these interventions affect parents and families, since feeding problems can cause anxiety and worry during meals.

Currently, there is limited organized information about what treatments work best for premature babies with feeding aversion. This review will be the first comprehensive look at all available research on allied health interventions (therapies provided by speech therapists, occupational therapists, and other specialists) for this specific problem. It will help fill an important gap in medical knowledge.

Since this is a protocol (a plan), the actual limitations of the research cannot be fully assessed yet. However, potential limitations may include that some studies may be in languages the researchers cannot access, some research may not be published in searchable databases, and the quality of existing studies may vary widely.

The Bottom Line

This research is still in the planning stage, so specific recommendations cannot be made yet. Once completed, this review will help healthcare providers make better recommendations for treating feeding problems in premature babies. Parents of premature babies with feeding difficulties should discuss treatment options with their healthcare team.

This research is most relevant to parents of premature babies with feeding problems, pediatricians, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, and other healthcare providers who work with premature infants. It will also be valuable for researchers studying infant feeding and development.

This is a research protocol being published in 2025. The actual review will take additional time to complete, likely several months to a year or more, depending on how many studies are found and how long the analysis takes.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Once this research is completed, parents could track their baby’s feeding progress by recording: number of times baby attempts to eat by mouth per day, amount of food accepted, signs of discomfort during feeding, and duration of mealtimes
  • Parents could work with their healthcare team to implement recommended interventions and use an app to monitor their baby’s response to treatment over time, noting improvements in comfort and food acceptance
  • Long-term tracking could include weekly measurements of feeding tolerance, weight gain progress, and reduction in tube feeding dependence, with regular check-ins with the healthcare team to adjust treatment as needed

This article describes a research protocol that has not yet been completed. The findings and recommendations presented are based on a plan to review existing research, not on new research results. Parents of premature babies with feeding difficulties should consult with their pediatrician, speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, or dietitian for personalized medical advice. This information is not a substitute for professional medical guidance. Always discuss treatment options and concerns with your baby’s healthcare team.