This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:

1. To assess the efficacy and safety of routine monitoring of gastric residual versus no monitoring of gastric residual on the incidence of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants.

2. To assess the efficacy and safety of routine monitoring of gastric residual with two different criteria for interrupting feeds or decreasing feed volume on the incidence of NEC in preterm infants.

We will undertake subgroup analysis based on the gestational age (≤ 27 weeks, 28 weeks to 31 weeks, ≥ 32 weeks), birth weight (< 1000 g, 1000 g to 1499 g, ≥ 1500 g), small for gestational age versus appropriate for gestational age infants (classified using birth weight relative to the reference population), type of feeds the infant is receiving (human milk or formula milk), and frequency of monitoring of gastric residual (before every feed, before every third feed, etc) (Subgroup analysis and investigation of heterogeneity).