The Suckle Bots are a series of cuddly robots about the size of a human fetus.

As with most mammals, they have multiple nipples. These interactive works are chewelry for adults and feature sculpted soft nipples. Mothering behavior is accepted as a primary way to change your brain and is THE central physiological act of altering our brain structurally, functionally, and neurologically.

Breastfeeding mothers and babies are often called a dyad. Here two individuals become attuned to each other through affection and feeding and can be thought of as a kind of unit composed of two individuals.

Scientists have referred to this as ‘limbic regulation. It is a remarkable natural phenomenon whereby the mother and (now father) can neurologically and chemically sync with their artificial Suckle Bot.

The San Francisco University brain plasticity expert, Michael Merzenich, has researched breastfeeding. He describes this act as a form of changing one’s identity, for a child (and now robot) and mother/father, that can irreversibly alter both brains.

They are created with a soft latex pink rubber and feel like human skin.

Artist Ruth Burke cuddling with a Suckle Bot by Ken Rinaldo

Rapley and Murkett, in 2012, have found that breastfeeding actually forges new neurochemical pathways in the mother and (now father’s brain) that can create and reinforce maternal behavior. This is aided by chemical imprinting and allows a massive increase in oxytocin.

Hahn-Holbrook 2011 has found that these changes can result in a motivated, highly attentive, and aggressively protected brain that can compel the breastfeeding individual to alter their priorities in life. There is also a hormonal cascade making the mom, and now dad wants to respond to their Suckle Bot and help them more effectively be attentive to the Suckle Bot’s needs and the needs of others in the creation of nurturance and mutually supportive behaviors.

It is a well-proven fact now that when a mother nurses, her blood oxytocin levels remarkably increase, and her body makes more receptors that permanently increase their feelings of love and ability to feel loved by the other. To give you another example of oxytocin’s potency, male prairie voles were given a shot of oxytocin and were converted from sex-seeking bachelors into nurturing husbands and fathers.

In 2006, the researching male prairie voles, Ellison, discovered that roving-eyed males could be converted into nurturing husbands and fathers, given a shot of oxytocin.

3D model of Suckle Bot by Ken Rinaldo

In an age where we depend on cell phones and other electronic devices that often bring us bad news, these are designed as objects of affection and suckling and can only increase happiness and care.

Some models are designed with a yellow chain to add street credibility and make it easier to carry them around to work.

Some models can take your liquids and allow you to suckle and receive them as you nurse them. Some models vibrate in response to suckling and pressure at the artificial nipples.

They can accept all liquids, including breast milk and apple juice if you like. Other models have ripples around the nipples to allow bacterial seeding to develop a healthy microbiome. Some models will have inserts for pill-based microbes to make your microbiome happy.

As the microbiome and your overall health are also intertwined, these may be the first health-based prosthetic Suckle Bots on the planet.

Artist Trademark Gunderson relaxes with the Suckle Bots by Ken Rinaldo.

The Suckle Bots are a fashion statement that says to the world, “you are not afraid to be affectionate,” to even an artificial robotic suckling device.

Professor Julia Hawkins, already a mom, knows the benefit of the new Suckle Bot babies once the kids are all grown up.

Suckling is at the heart of our survival as mammals. Indeed even the word for MAMA comes from the baby drawing air into its mouth while feeding its mother’s breast milk.

For breastfeeding moms and now dads, it’s an uplifting act. The longer and more often a baby or adult suckles, the more it can trigger the prolactin-oxytocin responses in the mother and father’s brains. This can increase and create elevated numbers of connections. Pretty soon, the mother/father forges enough receptors that she/he can feel natural breasts tingling and leaking at the sight, sound, or merely passing thought of a nursing baby.

Erin Kearny with a Suckle Bot

A Warwick University study discovered: “Breastfeeding causes a massive increase in communication between the neurons, coordinating a ‘swarm’ of oxytocin factories producing intense bursts of the hormone.”

It is time to realize that we can benefit from the Suckle Bots as adults.

Professor Tom Hawkins, already a dad, knows there are real benefits to nurturance and has found a gentle way to express that urge.
Dalina Tran and Harod Sad accept the Suckle Bots into their family.
Artist Candice Thompson shows real tenderness toward the Sucklebot, with a lonely one nearby reaching out for attention with its yellow chain.

With the Suckle Bots, you can be sure you will always have a soft companion to awaken your mothering instincts.

Artist/musician Bill Oglesby is having a quiet moment with the Suckle Bot after dinner. Better than a cigarette!

They can be used anywhere, and as times change, they are now entirely respectable to have in public.

Paul and Cynthia Rinaldo have a moment of quiet with the Suckle Bots

Rather than dessert and sugar, you can use the Suckle Bots to allow you to displace that sugar craving and lose weight, as you will find your urges for candy and lollipops are just not as strong when you use these affection devices.

Artist and curator Amandda Tireyis considering a moment of relaxation. Cuddling with the Suckle Bots by Ken Rinaldo
Even father Jean Rinaldo and son Tim Rinaldo can share in the moment of nurturance.

They also feel quite nice in other parts of the body, such as your ear. They are great for couples to have a moment suckling together.

Artist and filmmaker Mitchell Rose and Stacy Hall going back in time with their Sucklebots

They can bring you back to your childhood no matter how you suckled.

Artist Ken Rinaldo and artist Amy Youngs show genuine care for their Sucklebots. A real family of humans and robots.

There are smaller Sucklebots available in various sizes in various colors and represent a whole family of hugable and suckable robots.

Professor and artist Sandhya Kochar at dinner with her Sucklebot. Excellent after meals for extra oxytocin.

They can be used as meditative devices for thinking about other things.

Artist Danner Seyfer Sprague,in a moment of relaxation, enjoying the mammalian reflex

And can be used quickly at home or school.

Artist Andrew Frueh at The Ohio State University has a moment of rest with the Suckle Bot.

They are digitally modeled, rapid-prototyped, and coated with liquid latex rubber.

Professor Richard Harned met his new Sucklebot companion for the first time. New companions are always a little jarring though the yellow chain will assure of this lifetime bond.

They can also be shared by couples and can create shared bonding experiences.

Jan Rutherdale and John