Relationship between prematurity and difficulties in the transition of food consistency in childhood: a systematic review.

Only nine observational studies were included, with samples from 15 to 85 infants, so the review cannot show that prematurity causes feeding difficulty. The studies used different oral motor assessment tools, and no ideal standard instrument exists. Combining results statistically was therefore not possible. Some included studies had moderate risk of bias because they did not use random samples, did not describe dropouts, or did not assess outcomes objectively. The timing of solid introduction changes depending on whether chronological or corrected age is used, so clinicians need to know which age the study applied. No included study reported feeding guidance or rehabilitation, so the review cannot say how therapy might change texture progression.

Do not conclude that prematurity by itself causes feeding difficulties or that texture progression is predictable from gestational age. Most included studies found no link, and the reported links were observational and inconsistent.