Transitioning Infants Between Bottle Systems in the NICU
Presented by Sarah Lauridson
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Clinicians will learn the benefits of adopting the practice of transitioning a fragile infant to individualized home bottles prior to discharge. Biomechanics of sucking are compared with bottle nipple properties to guide clinical decision-making. Considerations for involving the family in this aspect of the infant’s care as well as steps to plan and successfully implement this transition are discussed. This course discusses infants in the context of the NICU; however, the information regarding how to appropriately choose a nipple for an infant’s skills and empower a family in caring for an infant could be applied to infants in other settings (e.g., cardiovascular ICU, outpatient therapy, etc.).
Meet your instructor
Sarah Lauridson
Sarah is a pediatric speech-language pathologist who specializes in infant/pediatric feeding and swallowing. She has also been awarded board certification in neonatal therapy (CNT) by the Neonatal Therapy Certification Board and is a certified lactation educator counselor (CLEC). She has extensive experience in assessing and…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Infant Factors in Bottle Selection
Biomechanics of sucking and development of sucking pattern changes with maturation are reviewed. Discussion regarding interaction of nipple shape and suck pattern provides background knowledge for clinical reasoning to make individualized patient recommendations.
2. Involving Parents
The Family Integrated Care model is discussed in the context of the therapist’s role in empowering family involvement in feeding the child and shared decision-making that will impact discharge planning.
3. Equipment Factors in Bottle Selection
Evidence regarding bottle engineering and flow properties is discussed to provide further knowledge on comparable systems that will facilitate a smooth transition for the patient and family. Signs to watch for during clinical assessment are discussed.
4. Comprehensive Transition Plan
Use of home bottles is a new practice in some inpatient settings. Clinicians are provided with elements to identify and solve in their setting to facilitate successful use of this practice for families and care providers.