[Development of a child's eating and urge for suckling].

A child's oral-motor movement models develop from coarse and all-embracing generalized reflexive patterns towards separate, voluntary muscle functions. Development of the oral-motor sensory system begins already during fetal life. Suckling, dealing with and swallowing of food are rhythmic functions that are programmed from foci formed by neural networks of the brainstem. As breast feeding does not seem to completely satisfy children's need for suckling, a pacifier has been offered to bring additional satisfaction. To ensure safe swallowing, the separate stages of eating should be neurologically coordinated with breathing.