The Bottom Line
The SuppleMate is a great finger feeding tool. It can be used with premature infants or full term infants for a variety of reasons, including adoptive nursing. It is easy to use once you get the hang of it.
Pros
- Makes finger feeding easier.
- Prevents nipple confusion.
- Great alternative to bottle.
Cons
- Took some getting used to device.
- Hard to find.
Description
- It has a one ounce bellow to hold the food of your choice for baby.
- The tubing options are a standard six inch pliable tube or a two inch pliable tube (SuppleMate II).
- It is used to help bring the baby to the breast.
- This is a great aid for the baby with a weak suck or a preterm infant.
- It encourages the production of breast milk in birth and adoptive mothers.
Guide Review - SuppleMate
The SuppleMate is a great alternative to a baby bottle or other supplemental feeder because it does not use a nipple. This can help prevent nipple confusion. This is great for the mother wanting to breastfeed or the baby who has a weak suck.
You can directly finger feed or use it to supplement at the breast. This can help a mother with a low milk supply because the breast gets stimulation while the baby gets food from the SuppleMate. You can use either pumped breast milk or formula in the one ounce bellow. Adoptive moms can also use this to help build a milk supply or it can be used to relactate.
The one ounce bellow has a six inch pliable tube that tapes to your finger or breast. You simply hold the bellow in your palm and deliver the milk as the baby sucks. This teaches the baby that when they suck they are rewarded with food. It can also be used to encourage the reluctant nurser.
