Feeding the Most Fragile: Supporting breast and bottle feeding from th NICU through the first six months of life

Dr. Ross will discuss the key elements of the SOFFI (Supporting Oral Feeding in Fragile Infants) method which utilizes sensitive, ongoing assessment of an infant's physiology and behavior, requires knowledgeable decisions that support immediate and long-term enjoyment of food, and competent skill in feeding. The method can be used to increase the likelihood of feeding success in the population of infants at risk for feeding problems that emerge in infancy and extend into the preschool years. It stresses the quality of the feeding rather than the quantity so that feeding skills develop pleasurably and at the infant's own pace. Once physiologic organization and behavioral skills are established, an affinity for feeding and the ingestion of sufficient quantity occur naturally.