7.5.2 Cup feeding
Cup feeding is easy to perform by parents or health professionals. During cupfeeding, premature infants are more physiologically stable than when bottlefeeding with lower heart rates and higher oxygen saturations. 1Infants quickly learn to lap the milk and feeding by this method causes minimal exhaustion.
When to choose cup feeding
Cup feeding would be the first choice for any infant who was not able to achieve suckling at the breast or for a newborn not yet established at breastfeeding who is separated from his mother.
Equipment
- A small cup with a smooth edge
- a plastic cup can be shaped slightly during feeding
- a small glass, eg. a sherry glass, is also quite suitable
- cups for the purpose of cup-feeding babies are available commercially
Preparation
- Two thirds fill cup with slightly warmed breastmilk or artificial infant formula
- Baby must be alert and showing an interest in feeding
- Wrap baby well to prevent cup being knocked by his hands
- Sit baby comfortably upright on your lap
Technique
- Rest the rim of cup on baby's bottom gum
- Tip the cup until milk just reaches rim of cup
- DO NOT pour milk into baby's mouth
- Leave cup in position when baby pauses and is not drinking
- Continue to tip cup to keep milk at rim of cup
Baby will quickly learn to sip or lap milk from the cup.

Father cup feeding his baby.
© McBeth, creative commons
Notes
- # Marinelli KA et al. (2001) A comparison of the safety of cupfeedings and bottlefeedings in premature infants whose mothers intend to breastfeed