Helping Your Preterm Baby Learn to Eat: Why Early Oral Stimulation Matters

First published August 2013
Updated January 2026

Most parents know that giving a baby a pacifier can be comforting—but for babies born early, sucking doesn’t always come naturally. In fact, babies start practicing sucking in the womb as early as 15 weeks of pregnancy. When a baby is born too soon, they miss out on some of that practice, which means we often need to help them learn this important skill.

Learning to suck, swallow, and breathe in a coordinated way is essential for feeding. These skills develop gradually with gentle, positive experiences. That’s where early oral stimulation comes in. It’s a developmental therapy we use in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to help preterm babies prepare for successful feeding.

Skin-to-Skin Care: The First Step

One of the earliest ways we support feeding skills is through skin-to-skin care, also called Kangaroo Care. This can begin as early as three days after birth. Your baby is placed directly on your chest and covered with a blanket. This closeness stimulates their senses of touch and smell and helps them feel safe and calm. It also gives them early experiences of being near you—something that supports feeding readiness later on.

Pacifier Practice

Starting at about 28 weeks corrected gestational age, your baby can begin practicing sucking with a pacifier dipped in human milk or formula. We do this several times a day—before, during, or after care times, and while your baby is being fed through a tube. At first, they’ll only suck for a few seconds, but over time they’ll take longer bursts. This helps them connect the taste of milk with the feeling of a full tummy and trains the muscles they’ll need for feeding.

Non-Nutritive Breast/Chest Feeding

Another important step is non-nutritive breast/chest feeding, where you pump before placing your baby at the breast or chest. This gives them the chance to practice sucking without needing to swallow milk yet. It’s a great way to prepare for successful direct feeding later.

Why It Matters

Most preterm babies are ready to start trying to eat around 34 weeks postmenstrual age. Babies who have the opportunity to build eating skills through nurturing activities—being close to you, smelling and tasting human milk, and practicing sucking—tend to learn feeding skills faster. Research shows that early oral stimulation:

• Helps babies spend more time alert and less time restless
• Supports the transition from tube feeding to oral feeding
• Leads to better feeding skills and a smoother feeding journey

Your Role as a Parent

You play a big part in helping your baby learn to eat. Holding your baby skin-to-skin, offering opportunities to smell and taste human milk, and supporting pacifier practice are all ways you can help. These gentle, positive experiences make feeding easier and help your baby thrive.

Every little step counts. With patience and support, your preterm baby will learn the skills they need to feed and grow.