Musical pacifier helps premature babies grow

One of the most common challenges facing premature babies is learning how to suck and feed.
To address this, Florida State University researchers devised the Pacifier Activated Lullaby (PAL). The device uses musical lullabies to reinforce sucking behavior, helping infants quickly learn the muscle movements needed to suck and, ultimately, feed. It is being sold through a partnership with Powers Device Technologies Inc. Studies have shown that PAL reduces the length of premature infants' hospital stays by an average of five days. “Unlike full-term infants, very premature babies come into the world lacking the neurologic ability to coordinate a suck/swallow/breathe response for oral feeding,” said Jayne Standley, inventor of PAL. “The longer it takes them to learn this essential skill, the further behind in the growth process they fall.” PAL uses a specially wired pacifier and speaker to provide musical reinforcement every time a baby sucks correctly.