Cup feeding has been used as an alternative to breastfeeding for centuries, particularly when direct breastfeeding was not possible due to maternal or infant health issues. The practice has been modernized in recent decades, especially in neonatal care settings, as a way to support infants who cannot directly breastfeed but still need the benefits of breast milk.
- In various cultures throughout history, cup feeding has been used when mothers were unable to nurse. Small cups, spoons, or other vessels were employed to feed infants in both home and hospital settings, especially before the advent of bottles and artificial nipples.
- In parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, cup feeding remains a traditional method, particularly in situations where breastfeeding was temporarily disrupted or not possible.
- Before the widespread use of rubber nipples and bottles, cup feeding was a common method for feeding newborns and infants, especially when wet nurses or direct breastfeeding were not options. Simple containers like medicine cups or glass bottles with wide mouths were used.
- After the development of artificial nipples and bottles in the 20th century, cup feeding became less common in Western cultures. Bottle feeding was widely promoted as a modern and convenient alternative to breastfeeding.
- However, cup feeding persisted in certain neonatal care environments, especially for premature babies or infants with feeding challenges, as an alternative to avoid nipple confusion (a phenomenon where babies have difficulty switching between breastfeeding and bottle feeding).
- As breastfeeding advocacy grew in the 80s and 90s, researchers and healthcare providers recognized the potential downsides of bottle feeding, such as nipple confusion and altered suckling mechanics. Cup feeding began to gain renewed attention as a breastfeeding-friendly alternative.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF promoted cup feeding in neonatal care and for low-birth-weight babies who were unable to breastfeed immediately. It was particularly encouraged in settings where sterilizing bottles and nipples was difficult.
