The Infant-Driven Feeding® Program has redefined how neonatal professionals support infant feeding in NICUs worldwide, leading to improved feeding outcomes, reduced hospital stays, and higher breastfeeding rates.
The Beginning
In the early 2000s, occupational therapists Sue Ludwig, OTR/L, CNT, and Kara Ann Waitzman, OTR/L, CNT began teaching strategies to support infant feeding. In 2007, they published the Infant-Driven Feeding™ Scales (IDF™S), after a comprehensive neonatal literature review underscored the importance of aligning feeding practice and documentation with evidence-based insights into infant feeding abilities (Ludwig & Waitzman, 2007).
Growth & Validation
An educational program was developed to support neonatal teams in applying the IDF™ Scales. In 2014, the content validity of the scales was established (Waitzman & Ludwig, 2014).
Dr. Brown’s Company Acquisition
Dr. Brown’s Company (Handi-Craft Company) acquired the program in 2018, recognizing alignment with the Dr. Brown’s Medical mission of delivering valuable feeding solutions that help provide the best possible outcomes for all babies. The program also reflects the longstanding commitment to educational support for neonatal professionals.
Since the acquisition, Dr. Brown’s Medical has been committed to preserving the authors’ original intent and structure while enhancing the functionality and structure established by the authors and ensuring updates at least every five years. These updates integrate new research, evolving standards of care, and feedback from clinical practice.
Recent Innovations
Building on the program’s foundation, a breastfeeding module was added in2022 to strengthen staff support for breastfeeding families. The IDF™ Scales were validated to incorporate specific breastfeeding caregiver strategies.
The most recent program update occurred in 2024 and involved a thorough review of the Program and Scales against current research. Following peer review and validation, the 2024 release ensures alignment with current standards of care.
Today & Beyond
The IDF™ Program is now implemented in over 700 neonatal units, including 30 major US healthcare systems, and over 30,000 neonatal professionals throughout the US, Canada, Spain, and Germany.
It is currently available in Spanish and German, with additional translations underway. Ongoing developments include expanding international access and continuing to integrate emerging research on infant neurodevelopment.
As IDF™ continues to evolve, Dr. Brown’s Medical remains committed to supporting healthcare professionals with evidence-based tools that prioritize infant neurodevelopment and family-centered care.
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