Is there an advantage for preterm infants to feed orally in an upright or sidelying position?

Over the last decade, nursing staff and feeding therapists have promoted the upright and sidelying bottle feeding positions as ‘optimal’ for preterm infants. To verify such benefits, very low birth weight infants were randomized to being fed in the customary semi-reclined (control), upright, or sidelying position. The primary outcome was days from start to independent oral feeding. Secondary outcomes included infants' oral feeding skill levels monitored when taking 1,2, 3–5, and 6–8 oral feedings per day. Infants fed in the upright and sidelying groups attained independent oral feeding within the same number of days as control counterparts. There was no difference in the maturation of their oral feeding skills.