The purpose of study was to examine the effect of nonnutritive sucking(NNS) on behavioral state in preform infants. Fourteen infants (gestational age 28-35 weeks, M=31.86 ; birth weights 1095-2275g, M=1694g) admitted to NICU, serving as their controls were randomly administered 5 min of nonnutritive sucking and a control condition. Behavioral state was measured using the Anderson Behavioral State Scale(ABSS). Heart rates were obtained for each infant before and during NNS and bottle feeding. Data collecction was done by 3 experienced nurses in NICU 2 times a day for conseculive 4 days for each subject. Interrater reliability were .80-.90. The findings were as follows : 1. Preform infants averaged active restless states 58.93% in the prointervention phase and 27.32% in the NNS phase. Inactive awake states were 3.57% in the preintervention phase and 34.64% in the NNS phase. 2. There were significantly more positive changes to inactive awake states for the NNS intervention, Z=-2.35, p=.01. 3. There was no statistically significant difference in heart rate change between NNS intervention and control condition, z=-1.15, p=.24. 4. The rates of feeding success determined by finishing prescribed amount of milk by bottle feeding within 15 minutes were 83.94% in NNS intervention and 89.29% in control condition. The findings from this study confirmed that NNS is effective for behavioral state modulation and inducing optimal state for feeding in preform infant. The NNS intervention in nursing practice may help the transition of preform infants for nipple feeding.