Elshiva writes:
Nikki wrote that Dancer Hand helps among others, "premies that lack fat pads
in their cheeks and can't hold their heads up."

Could someone please explain what is the connection between the fat pads and
the ability to hold up their heads?

The connection between fat pads and the ability to hold up their heads is
simply that they are premature babies and so have both of these problems.
Lack of fat pads contributes to weak and ineffective sucking because their
cheeks pull in when negative pressure is created in the infant's  mouth,
where the plump cheeks of babies with fat pads don't pull in as easily.
They are unable to control their heads due to weak muscles in the neck and
shoulders, and they don't have the plumpness of the full-term infant which
causes term babies to appear to have no neck.  That plumpness does also
contribute to head stability in a passive manner because it helps to hold
the head in a more middle line position.  Successful breastfeeding requires
stability of the head and neck so positions which contribute to this are
very helpful in helping a premie to learn to breastfeed.
Melinda Hoskins, MS, RN, IBCLC, staff nurse, NICU, Washoe Med Center, Reno,
NV

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