The Belcroy Tube Feeder

The Belcroy Tube Feeder

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Description
Glass feeding tube for preterm infants. The feeder comes with two different sized rubber nipples -- one on each end of the feeding tube. The feeder is calibrated from one to six teaspoons of liquid and marked along the side: "THE BELCROY FEEDER / REG. DESIGN NO. 866007." The original brown cardboard box has an off-white and brown paper label which reads: "For Premature Infants / Will overcome the difficulty of Feeding the small baby."
Many preterm infants have difficulties sucking and swallowing as well as respiration issues which can make feeding a challenge. Baby bottles designed for full term infants are often to large and require more strength than a preterm is capable of providing. Medicine droppers were recommended as a way to provide nourishment to a diminutive infant before feeders specifically designed for preterm infants were marketed.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
Baby Bottle
infant feeder
date made
about 1955
maker
John Bell & Croyden
place made
United Kingdom: England, London
Measurements
overall: 1 3/8 in x 7 5/8 in x 1 3/8 in; 3.4925 cm x 19.3675 cm x 3.4925 cm
overall: 1 1/4 in x 7 9/16 in x 1 5/16 in x 2.3 cm; 3.175 cm x 19.20875 cm x 3.33375 cm x 7/8 in
ID Number
2007.0068.01
catalog number
2007.0068.01
accession number
2007.0068
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Medicine
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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