Many children use a feeding pump for continuous feedings, overnight feedings, or on-the-go feedings. There are two main pumps available in the United States: the Moog EnteraLite Infinity and the Cardinal Health Kangaroo Joey, though a new Kangaroo pump is beginning to be available. The Infinity has an online virtual pump that you can practice on and play with, and the Kangaroo also has an interactive tutorial as well as a video instruction series.
The video tutorials on the right and further down on this page demonstrate how to prime and load a set, bolus feed, feed using breast milk, change the alarm settings, or adapt a feeding set for blenderized feedings. See also this tutorial on how to do set the Interval setting using the Infinity pump.
The Moog Infinity is a small, lightweight pump that can run in any position. It can use bags that hold either 500ml (about 17 ounces) or 1200ml (about 41 ounces) of formula or liquids. There is also a Moog Infinity Orange pump designed for small feedings, which has bags that hold 100ml (about 3 ounces).
The Kangaroo Joey is slightly larger and heavier, and has more adaptable features. Kangaroo Joey bags come in 500ml (about 17 ounces) and 1000ml (about 34 ounces) sizes.
Which pump is right for you will depend on your child’s size and your child’s feeding requirements. Some suppliers also only carry one brand of pumps, and some insurers only cover one brand.
Make sure your medical supplier gives you the pump manual. Pump manuals can be found online at the manufacturer’s website and on this page.
Feeding Sets or Bags
- You should receive enough feeding bags or sets so that you can use a new one every 24 hours. Most supply companies deliver 30 days’ worth per shipment.
- You should use one new bag each day. There is no need to rinse the bag between each feeding. Remove the bag from the pump and store in the refrigerator between feedings.
- You should prime the bag (remove the air from the tube) with either formula or water to prevent filling your child’s belly with air. You can do this using the Prime button on your pump, or by hand.
- If you are feeding a Blended Diet, consider modifying the set to avoid clogs. See the video on this page.
Pump Manuals, Instructions, Tutorials, and Interactives
How to Prime and Load a Set
Bolus Feed with a Pump
Priming with Breast Milk Method 1
Priming with Breast Milk Method 2
Changing Alarm Settings
Adapting a Set for Blenderized Diet
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Rate and Dose
If math is not your forte, try out this downloadable app for Android, or use this web-based calculator, making sure to adjust for minutes/hours.
If you wanted to give a dose of 100ml over one hour, your rate would be 100ml. Adjusting that dose over different times, for example:
| Dose (Amount) | Length of Feed | Rate | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 ml | 15 min | 400 ml/hr | 100ml/0.25 hours |
| 100 ml | 30 min | 200 ml/hr | 100ml/0.5 hours |
| 100 ml | 45 min | 133.3 ml/hr | 100ml/0.75 hours |
| 100 ml | 60 min | 100 ml/hr | 100ml/1 hour |
| 100 ml | 2 hours | 50 ml/hr | 100ml/2 hours |
| 300 ml | 15 min | 1200 ml/hr | 300ml/0.25 hours |
| 300 ml | 30 min | 600 ml/hr | 300ml/0.5 hours |
| 300 ml | 45 min | 400 ml/hr | 300ml/0.75 hours |
| 300 ml | 1 hour | 300 ml/hr | 300ml/1 hours |