In Japan, government relief after a disaster takes at least three days to arrive, so each household practices disaster preparedness as best it can. Our project to develop baby products for times of disaster initially focused on disposable nipples, but we soon found that using cheap artificial nipples could hinder the return to previous nursing methods after normal living patterns were resumed. We turned to cup feeding as a way for babies to nurse without moving their tongue. Cup feeding with adult cups has three major issues: excessive flow causing choking, spillage that can waste valuable milk, and the inability to measure amounts of hot water and mix formula precisely. This product, designed specifically for babies, resolves all three of these issues.

Polypropylene indented Lid: The air vents regulate milk flow, and a temporary milk reservoir by the mouthpiece makes it easy to feed babies a sip at a time. Removing the mouthpiece from the baby’s mouth after each sip reduces resistance to cup feeding. The skirt around the lid is designed based on our artificial nipples, only slightly longer, to ensure that it does not touch the baby’s lips or tongue. The shape has an inner wall with a temporary milk reservoir near the mouthpiece, to ensure that even milk that flows back out of the baby’s mouth is caught and does not go to waste.

Paper cup: The external graphics use concise, clearly written messages and illustrations to provide reassuring explanations to mothers and fathers under great psychological stress during times of disaster. The cup’s maximum capacity is 120 ml, and it is sold in a set of six - enough for one day.

Wooden muddler: Has three uses: (1) Measuring hot water when mixing formula, (2) Stirring formula, and (3) Measuring milk temperature.