History of Nursing Bottles

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    • 1949

      • Doufu-Boueki, the predecessor of Pigeon Corporation, was established. First nursing bottle (A-type) with a wide neck was introduced in Japan. This pioneering design was more hygienic than previous bottles with a connected nipple.

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    • 1950

      • A-type nursing bottle — prototype of the current design — was introduced.

    • 1952

      • B-type nursing bottle with a narrow neck was introduced.

    • 1953

      • C-type improved nursing bottle with a connected nipple was introduced.

    • 1954

      • S-type polyethylene nursing bottle was introduced in Japan. The hexagonal shape not only helped babies grasp it easily but the new material also brought dramatic product improvements.

    • 1956

      • The F-type nursing bottle, which was small and even suitable for fruit juice, was introduced.

    • 1957

      • Pigeon Corporation was established.
        L-type high-density polyethylene nursing bottle was introduced. This was designed to withstand boiling during sterilization, a weakness of traditional bottles.

    • 1959

      • The H-4-type and H7-type nursing bottles, both with narrow necks and directly attached nipples, were introduced.
      • The H-4-type nursing bottle was used at the Japan Red Cross Hospital, which was an important first step in the eventual widespread use of nursing bottles at hospitals and maternity hospitals.

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    • 1960

      • AN-type polyamide (nylon resin) nursing bottle was introduced.
      • A-D silicone nipple was introduced.
      • Isoprene rubber nipple, which resists wear compared with natural rubber, was introduced.

    • 1962

      • Polycarbonate (PC) nursing bottle was introduced. Made to withstand sterilization, this tough, transparent, and lightweight design fulfilled all requirements for nursing bottles.
      • R-8-type nursing bottle was awarded the Tokyo Invention Prize, and was recommended by Japan Red Cross Hospital.

    • 1964

      • A-type glass nursing bottle was introduced, becoming a best-selling product for 15 years.

    • 1965

      • W-8-type nursing bottle was introduced. Thanks to improved bottle-mouth molding, the bottle's flat mouth inner surface simplified cleaning for enhanced hygiene.

    • 1966

      • Exporting to global markets started.

    • 1967

      • Nursing bottle with a cap was approved by the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee and awarded the JIS Mark.

    • 1968

      • Pigeon's market share for nursing bottles in Japan reached 80%.

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    • 1977

      • P-type nursing bottle was introduced. This was specially designed for proper feeding of babies with a cleft palate or inadequate sucking strength.

    • 1979

      • K-type nursing bottle was introduced. With its wide-end and rounded-corner square-bottom design, this uniquely stable shape was easy to hold and keep clean, and also simplified formula mixing.

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    • 1988

      • Pigeon Basic Research group identified peristaltic motion in baby's natural sucking action. This research has contributed many studies of infant growth to pediatric healthcare institutions, etc.

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    • 1991

      • Nursing bottle and nipple (Bonyu-soudan-shitsu) were introduced to promote education in breastfeeding.

    • 1997

      • Concern about endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the environment led to media focus on polycarbonate (PC) nursing bottles.

    • 1999

      • Glass nursing bottle sales shipments rose to 80% of market share.

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    • 2000

      • Five major manufacturers prepared and presented guidelines for safe use of polycarbonate (PC) nursing bottles.
      • Polyethersulphone (PES) nursing bottle was introduced.

    • 2002

      • Based on extensive research in breastfeeding, a nursing bottle (Bonyu-jikkan) with a soft, elastic, flexible nipple was introduced. This helped babies to open their mouths wide and supported natural sucking action.

    • 2003

      • Polyethersulphone (PES) nursing bottle (Bonyu-jikkan) was introduced. This lightweight bottle design allowed convenient portability.

    • 2007

      • Polyphenylsulphone (PPSU) nursing bottle (Bonyu-jikkan) and nipples in four sizes were introduced.

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    • 2010

      • A new version of our nursing bottle (Bonyu-jikkan), which was designed to enable seamless switch between breast and bottle.
      • To meet our aim of faithfully replicating the important movements that occur during attachment, sucking, and swallowing, the bottle was redesigned with new materials.

    • 2012

      • The P-type nursing bottle was redesigned with a focus on ease of use.
      • To accommodate the mouths of babies with a cleft lip and cleft palate, the nipple had a redesigned shape and was made with new material. In addition, the available sizes were increased to 2.
      • The bottle’s new material was soft, allowing it to be squeezed to support babies with weak sucking.

    • 2013

      • New designs of our specially decorated nursing bottles (Bonyu-jikkan) were introduced.
      • Based on trends found from conducting customer surveys and analysis, three different designs for the decorative versions of our nursing bottle (Bonyu-jikkan) were added. Since then, the bottle’s designs have changed in accordance with current trends.

    • 2017

      • A new nursing bottle (Bonyu-jikkan my Precious) was introduced.
      • The bottle was designed with a round shape that made it easy to comfortable hold, and a previously compact 80 ml size, which was designed to suit the amount newborns drink, was added.
      • It received the 2017 Good Design Award.
      • We also added a nursing bottle nipple in size LL for parents who want to continue giving breastmilk to their babies for a long time, even after they have started eating baby food.

    • 2018

      • A coated nursing bottle (Bonyu-jikkan Coating) was introduced.
      • The glass nursing bottle was developed with a silicon coating that gave it a new texture.
      • The thin silicone coating increased the safety of the glass bottle by reducing the possibility that glass shards would fly if the bottle broke.

Company History

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