Infants in the NICU, especially those born prematurely, encounter the challenge of effective bottle feeding and/or nursing due to their maturational development. Recently, to support their development, there has been a shift in the paradigm to move away from volume-driven feedings in the NICU to a cue-based approach. The practice of cue-based feedings, specifically the The Infant-Driven Feeding™ Program (IDF™), begins with a neurodevelopmental foundation and promotes positive feeding experiences from the first day of life. The IDF™ program is a developmentally supportive, individualized, cue-based feeding program offered by Dr. Brown’s Medical.
For our most recent podcast, I sat down with a former colleague of mine, Lisa Kleinz. Lisa is a Speech Pathologist and a Developmental Care Specialist who is currently the Director of Education for Dr. Brown’s Medical. She is an expert on the The Infant-Driven Feeding™ Program and explains how the program supports the infant’s development, promotes consistent feeding practices, encourages parental involvement, and has resulted in improved breastfeeding rates.
The evidence-based research supports the IDF™ program and has shown a reduction in time to full oral feedings, a reduction in the length of hospital stay, reduced hospital costs, improved breastfeeding rates, and increased parental involvement including kangaroo care. The IDF™ program is beneficial for clinicians, parents and the infant. Once staff is educated, more consistent feeding methods are practiced which results in a positive feeding experience for the infant and caregiver.
Learn more about all of the benefits of the the The Infant-Driven Feeding™ Program and how it can be implemented in your hospital. After listening, NICU clinicians will learn why it is so crucial to provide positive oral experiences from day one to the infant and how it will impact their future neurodevelopmental outcomes. Parents will learn specific ways that they can be involved with their infant that will positively impact their oral experiences from the moment they arrive into the NICU.
Although we are unable to completely eliminate all of the negative experiences in the NICU, caregivers, including parents can make an effort to intentionally protect and support infants throughout their time in the NICU and beyond and the ability to create positive feeding experiences is a key component to that support.

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