In an effort to identify the best way of offering feeds to babies when mothers are unable to breastfeed, or initially have difficulty with breastfeeding, researchers performed a meta-analysis of available data. Alternative feeding methods include using a cup, bottle, or feeding tube. Results are published online in the April 18, 2007 issue of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

The authors identified four randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials published 1966 - April 2006. Each trial compared cup and bottle feeding: the results of three of these studies demonstrated that infants who were cup fed were more likely to be exclusively breastfed at hospital discharge. However, at three and six months, there was no difference in the number of infants fully or partially breastfeeding, whether initially fed by cup, bottle, or feeding tube. The results of one study demonstrated that those infants feed by cup spent approximately ten days longer in the hospital.

The authors concluded that, “Cup feeding cannot be recommended over bottle feeding as a supplement to breastfeeding because it confers no significant benefit in maintaining breastfeeding beyond hospital discharge and carries the unacceptable consequence of a longer stay in hospital.”

The authors go on to state, “Interventions aimed at maintaining breastfeeding longer term (e.g. early and regular skin to skin contact, rooming in, non-separation of mother and baby as possible, non-introduction of supplemental feeds unless medically indicated, and antenatal breastfeeding education) should be given due consideration before further trials of cup feeding are undertaken.”

In other words, lets do what works before we entertain interventions that have not been shown to be effective.