ST. LOUIS — Dr. Brown’s Medical a division of Handi-Craft Company announces the acquisition of Infant-Driven Feeding, a neonatal education company focused on improving oral feeding outcomes for premature and sick infants.

Sue Ludwig and Kara Ann Waitzman, the founders of the Infant-Driven Feeding model for oral feeding and authors of the widely used assessment and documentation tool the Infant-Driven Feeding Scales, began teaching about this topic in the early 2000’s, publishing their first related article (Changing Feeding Documentation to Reflect Infant-Driven Feeding Practice) in 2007.

“Our vision was to improve oral feeding outcomes for premature and/or sick infants within and beyond the doors of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) by educating neonatal professionals in the complexities of oral feeding practice and culture. We deepened our commitment to that mission in 2013 by founding Infant-Driven Feeding and creating the first and only online comprehensive oral feeding program for neonatal professionals, which has now been completed by over 9,000 professionals,” stated Ludwig and Waitzman.

“This acquisition by Dr. Brown’s Medical is a valuable opportunity for continued growth and we are excited for the future of neonatal feeding education. They are uniquely and expertly positioned to meet the ongoing needs of neonatal professionals.”

Dr. Brown’s™ Medical is devoted to developing feeding products designed to support positive, long-term outcomes that allow for evidence-based, safe and cost-effective care. Skilled neonatal care providers along with developmental and feeding specialists rely on Dr. Brown’s products at each feeding as they foster parental confidence and infant feeding skills for a smooth transition home from the NICU.

“The acquisition of Infant-Driven Feeding offers us an opportunity to expand neonatal education to health care specialists and families,” stated Sandi Aubuchon, vice president of Dr. Brown’s Medical. “Research shows that the implementation of the Infant-Driven Feeding Program helps provide a 26% decrease in the time to initiation of full oral feeds and 51% decrease in length of stay for infants of less than 32 weeks gestational age. Coupling this program with Dr. Brown’s Zero-Resistance bottle system and consistent, reliable nipple flow rates will provide successful and positive feeding experiences for infants from the start.”

The Zero-Resistance bottle system is vacuum-free to enhance an infant’s feeding performance. Sub-atmospheric pressure (resistance) is created in a traditional bottle without a fully vented system when an infant sucks on a nipple. Use of the Zero-Resistance bottle system assists a coordinated suck/swallow/breathe pattern along with the use of the Dr. Brown’s highly recognized slow flow nipple and provides consistency of feeding experiences with an unaltered pressure system.

The Handi-Craft Company is dedicated to providing well-designed, healthful feeding products for baby. The Dr. Brown’s lines of baby bottles, breastfeeding products, pacifiers, teethers, training cups and solid feeding products are regarded for their technology and function