title: Non-nutritive sucking in full-term and preterm infants studied at term conceptional age.
abstract: Non-nutritive sucking (NNS) patterns in full-term newborn and preterm infants were studied at term conceptional age. The preterm group showed a distinct NNS pattern with a higher frequency and lower amplitude. In the preterm group, gender differences were observed, the girls having higher frequency and larger amplitude. The full-term infants' NNS patterns were also related to pacifier use during early childhood. Experience, gender, maturity and level of tension are suggested as explanatory factors for differences in NNS patterns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Psychology, University of Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lundqvist
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hafström
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D013548:Sweden