Feeding a premature baby using the cue based feeding method

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What is cue based feeding?

Cue based feeding is based on the idea that babies, including premature babies, can communicate their nutritional needs in subtle ways. They give signals when they are ready to eat, and when they have had enough to drink. It is up to caregivers and parents to recognize the signals.

Rather than imposing a standard feeding program on babies, this method is based on the principle that every premature baby is unique and has specific needs. Some babies may need to be fed more often, others may need smaller or larger amounts. Cue-based feeding allows you to respect the personal rhythm of a premature baby.

What is the role of the parents?

In such an approach, the role of the parents is crucial. On the one hand, they offer their child protection, comfort and a sense of security, which promotes the development of the premature baby’s feeding skills. On the other hand, they learn to understand their baby, which boosts confidence in the parental role.

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What are the benefits of cue-based feeding?

The cue-based feeding approach has a number of advantages:

• It stimulates nutritional skills.
• It improves weight gain in premature babies.
• It reduces the frequency of oxygen desaturation.
• It reduces the length of stay in hospital.
• It promotes the emotional development of premature babies by creating a bond of trust between the baby and the parents/caregivers. It thus strengthens the parent-child bond.
• It promotes breastfeeding and all the benefits that come with it.
• It reduces the stress associated with feeding. (A third of patients consulted for eating disorders in early childhood are premature babies.)

What signs should we look for in premature babies?

Every child is unique. Therefore, signals differ per preterm baby. The uce-based deeding approach involves careful observation of the (sometimes subtle) signals that are specific to each child. Parents and caregivers must work closely together to interpret these signals to support the well-being of the preterm baby.

While some signals may indicate that baby is hungry or full, others may mean he wants to change position, has had enough, or wants to take a break.

Examples of hunger signals

• The baby begins to move, opening his mouth and turning his head.
• He stretches.
• He moves his arms.
• He brings his hand to his mouth.
• He is crying.

Examples of satiety signals

• The baby sucks very slowly.
• He keeps the pacifier or nipple in his mouth but stops sucking.
• He closes his mouth.
• He turns his head away from the breast, bottle or caregiver/parent.
• He pushes the pacifier out of his mouth with his tongue.
• He yawns.
• He begins to doze off.

If your baby coughs, changes color, becomes desaturated, has an increasing or decreasing heart rate, you should stop feeding immediately.

Tips for feeding a premature baby

• Noise and light can disturb premature babies. Make sure your baby is as comfortable as possible before you start feeding:
• Avoid bright, direct light.
• Move away from all sources of noise.
• Look at your baby and talk to him.
• Let your baby smell the milk before feeding.

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