Taste-mediated calming in premature, preterm, and full-term human infants

Calming by sucrose and glucose was evaluated in premature, preterm, and term infants. In Experiment 1, 9 preterm and 9 term infants each received 0.5 ml (0.1 ml/min) sucrose (12% w/v) solution; 9 age-matched preterm and 9 other term infants received water. In Experiment 2, 9 premature and 9 term infants received a 10% glucose solution. Sucrose reduced crying in preterm and term infants by 91% and 93%, respectively. Glucose reduced crying in premature and term infants by 86% and 81%, respectively. Water was ineffective in both preterm and term infants. Thus, reduced crying cannot be attributed to fluid ingestion per se. Calm induced by either sugar persisted longest in term infants after conclusion of sugar delivery. Accordingly, sensory systems that detect sweet taste and central mechanisms that transduce this change to calm crying infants are functional before normal term and may be engaged during the initial suckling bouts.