This Device Lets Parents Feed A Baby & Use A Smartphone, & It’s Great For Working Parents

When it comes to taking care of a baby, sometimes it feels as though growing an extra arm still wouldn't be enough. Trying to do mundane tasks — even ones as simple as checking the phone — becomes harder once you're trying to feed your little one. But now someone has finally come up with a device that aids parents in bottle feeding, and can free up a hand to post cute baby pics on Instagram or, you know, actually get some work done. This device lets parents feed a baby and use their smartphone, and it’s great for working parents.

Swipe & Feed is a device that attaches to a smartphone and baby bottle. The device was invented by Virginia resident Tim Causa, who was needed to come up with a way to do some work while bottle-feeding his son, Jack. Causa said that his son had acid reflux issues and needed to be fed every hour, making catching up on work very difficult.

"For 25 minutes at a time, I was in a dark, quiet room feeding my son. It dawned on me that I could do some catch-up work while he fed, but I needed something to help me hold a bottle and my smartphone," Causa said in an interview with Georgia's WTVM.

"I searched online for solutions, but nothing was on the market. That's when I decided to seize the opportunity and solve the problem myself."

Swipe & Feed is available for pre-order through Kickstarter. The device fits iPhone 6, 6s or the new iPhone 7 without a case, as well as most Android devices (the Kickstarter page mentions that the product fits phones between 67 and 73 millimeters in width). It also fits most wide-mouth baby bottles.

The product is made from the same materials used to make other baby products, and is dishwasher safe. Swipe & Feed has been getting a lot of attention, and was recently featured on The Today Show.

Of course, there's been bad press too. Some parents and experts feel that phone use distracts parents, and that phones interfere with bonding time between parent and baby. Causa responded to WTVM regarding the social media backlash his product is facing.

Quite frankly, since I used it at night, I don't think much bonding time is being missed out on during those dark-room-3 a.m. bottle feedings. I think the most disturbing aspect is how quickly people forget that parenting is tough, and shaming a parent who is doing their best and occasionally needs to find a break is terrible. We expected some backlash — the internet is full of warriors without a cause, but I'm hoping that my product would provide a solution to working parents like us who are just trying to do their best.

It's hard to say whether the device will encourage parents to become distracted, although studies suggest that there is a long-term impact when parents are distracted by frequent phone use while taking care of a baby. But anybody taking care of a baby probably has a hectic life, and if you think Swipe & Feed can make your life a bit smoother, then you do you.