In the present study, we provide a cross-sectional analysis of sucking organization as a function of gestational age (GA). One hundred and eighty six infants (GA 33–40 weeks) were observed during 5-min test sessions with the Kron Nutritive Sucking Apparatus either on the second day (GA 35–40), or as soon as was practicable during the first week (GA 33 and 34) of life. The within-burst suck frequency did not vary with GA suggesting that this basic aspect of patterned sucking behavior was already in place in the most premature infants. For four sucking parameters (number of sucks per session, duration of sucking bursts, burst time as percentage of sucking bout, and mean maximum sucking pressure) that varied with GA, the transitions were not seen across the earliest GAs, but rather occurred between 36/37 and full term (38–42 weeks GA). An earlier transition (GA33/34) was suggested for the coefficient of variation (CV) for the distribution of within-burst intersuck intervals and for the CV of the maximum sucking pressure distribution. Significant changes were described over bout quintiles for several parameters, but there were no meaningful interactions between GA and the manner by which sucking changes as meals progress. Our results suggest that different aspects of the sucking pattern mature at different GAs, and are of relevance to discussions of neurobehavioral development.