The literature suggests a strong relationship between early nutritive sucking and neurodevelopmental outcomes early on. Observational scale data also suggest a relationship between early sucking and relative risk of developmental concerns. Early sucking has also been shown to relate to neurodevelopmental outcomes at later ages. Wolthuis-Stigter and colleagues reported evidence that the status of sucking behavior as late as 6 weeks after birth is associated with developmental concerns at 2 years of age.
