Human-animal breastfeeding Formafantasma, Oltre Terra NAM Nasjonalmuseet, Oslo NO The practice of breastfeeding between humans and other species occurred in both directions. Numerous examples of animals nursing human babies have been documented in real life. The period when this practice became more widespread was the 16th to 19th centuries in Europe. This was before pasteurization and before the vulcanization of rubber, a process that led to the widespread manufacturing of soft rubber nipples for bottles that could be sterilized. Mothers could hire wet nurses, but they weren’t cheap, and they weren’t a sure bet, especially in the era of syphilis, which in 16th-century France prompted many mothers to reject wet nurses out of fear their babies would be infected. Animal teats, such as goats and sheep, were sometimes used as a solution. The practice of humans feeding animals has been documented historically and is still practiced in some cultures today. As early as the ancient Romans and Persians, women throughout the world were encouraged to breastfeed animals in order to relieve engorged breasts, prevent pregnancy, encourage lactation and strengthen nipples. Historical examples of women nursing animals can be found nearly everywhere across the globe. Nursing animals was most commonly done by women for the affectionate care of their family pets. In other cases the motivation for this practice was economic, for example to saving an animal that would otherwise die, which could be eaten or be useful to the family economy. Sources: 1 - Karin Brulliard, “Why goats used to breastfeed human babies”, The Washington Post (2016) Images: 1 - Rosalind Fox Solomon, Catalin Valentin's Lamb, Ancash, Peru, from the series Here or There, 1981 2 - C. Jordi Havana, “A woman holding a baby who is feeding from a goat”, Wellcome Collection, London (1900-1999) 3 - Unknown artist, “The baby and the bear nursing”, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington DC (1903) 4 - Samantha Sweeting, In Came the Lamb, 2009 5 - Lupa capitolina #formafantasma #oltreterra #NAMoslo #nasjonalmuseet #design #research #human #animal #breastfeeding @nasjonalmuseet