Feeding and drinking skills in preterm and low birth weight infants compared to full term infants at a corrected age of nine months.

Feeding and drinking skills were registered in 47 preterm (<32 weeks) and/or low birth weight (<1500 g) infants and compared to 52 healthy full term infants at a (corrected) age of nine months. In the preterm and/or SGA infants a delay was found for sufficient postural balance, drinking independently from a bottle, eating skills and accepting teeth brushing at a corrected age of nine months compared to healthy controls. For tongue position and movement, and choking during drinking no difference was found between both groups.