Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the application of the odor of breast milk in preterm infants during gavage feeding on the period of transition to total oral feeding.

Design: This prospective experimental study was performed on a total of 80 preterm infants: 40 infants in the study group and 40 in the control group.

Methods: This experimental study was performed in eastern Turkey at the Neonatal Intensive Care and Premature Unit of a university hospital between September 2007 and December 2008. The demographic data were collected via a questionnaire, and an intervention and follow-up table was prepared by the researcher based on relevant literature. The study was approved by the local institution, and written informed consent was obtained from all parents.

Findings: The findings of the study indicated that the preterm infants who were stimulated by the odor of breast milk during gavage feeding transitioned to oral feeding 3 days earlier than control subjects. Moreover, the mean hospitalization time of these infants was 4 days shorter.

Conclusions: The results show that stimulation with breast milk odor is an effective method for decreasing transition of preterm infants from gavage to oral feeding.