Preterm infants, those with cleft palates, and neonates whose mothers have died of birth-related causes often encounter feeding difficulties.
In some developing countries, mugs or spoons are used but have wide rims and are generally inefficient feeding tools. Cup feeding is recommended for sick and low birth weight infants by UNICEF and the World Health Organization.
The Neonatal Intuitive Feeding Technology (NIFTY™) Cup aims to improve feeding outcomes for newborns. It’s simple to use, easy to clean, inexpensive, and efficient in the delivery of expressed breast milk (or formula) to infants unable to breastfeed.
Funding for the initial design was provided by the United States Agency for International Development under PATH’s HealthTech program and by Seattle Children’s Hospital Craniofacial Center.
Transforming Faces learned about the NIFTY™ Cup and wanted to support the first stage of a pilot project with our partner in India.
Transforming Faces and the University of Washington Center for Commercialization are each currently funding 50% of the research costs of the pilot project in South India.