Design of Infant Feeding Utensils Adapted to Nigerian Cultural Practices and Local Production

Infant feeding practices in Nigeria are shaped by a complex intersection of cultural norms, dietary traditions, and economic constraints that differ substantially across regions. Commercially available infant feeding utensils in the Nigerian market are predominantly imported and designed for Western feeding practices, rendering them poorly adapted to local weaning foods such as pap, ogi, akamu, and mashed tubers. This project develops a set of infant feeding utensils, including a wide-mouthed feeding spoon, a graduated feeding bowl, and a flow-controlled cup, specifically designed for the textures and serving methods associated with Nigerian traditional infant foods. Participatory design research was conducted with forty mothers of children aged four to eighteen months in Ibadan, Enugu, Kaduna, and Bauchi, documenting feeding challenges, utensil preferences, and material concerns. Prototypes were fabricated using food-grade silicone and polypropylene, selected for heat resistance, flexibility, and ease of sterilisation. Child safety testing ensured absence of choking hazards, sharp edges, and chemical leaching. Usability evaluation with thirty mothers over three weeks assessed ease of feeding, spillage control, and cleaning time. Results confirm a forty percent reduction in spillage and a significant improvement in mothers' reported feeding confidence compared to improvised utensils. The project recommends that NAFDAC develop a certification category for culturally adapted infant feeding equipment. Keywords: infant feeding, product design, cultural adaptation, Nigeria, child nutrition.