Premature Infant Clinical Trials

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of two pacifier-use strategies-routine 5-minute pacifier use prior to each feeding versus random 30-minute pacifier use at any time of day, independent of feeding-on feeding maturity in preterm infants. The hypotheses of the study are as follows: H1: The routine use of a pacifier prior to feeding has a positive effect on feeding maturity in preterm infants. H2: The routine use of a pacifier prior to feeding has a positive effect on discharge weight in preterm infants. H3: The routine use of a pacifier prior to feeding has a positive effect on the length of hospital stay in preterm infants. H4: The routine use of a pacifier prior to feeding has a positive effect on the gestational age at discharge in preterm infants.