Tasting – oral feeding
All babies in the neonatal ward (except babies who are fasting for medical reasons) should be given breast milk (or baby formula if breast milk cannot be given) orally several times a day. This is in order for the babies to experience a positive sensation in the mouth as well as to activate enzymes in the baby's mouth that promote digestion.
Sample portions are given in connection with feeding, in connection with other care tasks or when the baby is awake and shows an interest.
Use a small 1ml syringe with a dummy or dip a cotton bud in breast milk and put it in the baby's mouth so it can suck on it.