One of my kids requires syringe feeding. I tried a number of things to extend the life of the syringe. I found that oils, etc. (ferretone, olive oil, etc) tend to destroy the rubber (noticed first as black residue left in the tube). What works best for me, and allows me to use a syringe several months, is simply dipping the plunger (rubber part) into the food before attempting to load the syringe. I just coat the end pretty well - and it slides nicely. It's a tad bit messy at first until you get the hang of it - but I've been using this method for 3 years with good results. I also use a good quality syringe to start with. I like the "Comfees" brand oral syringes - intended for administering medicine to children. Hope this helps. Cheryl and the Wrecking Crew [Posted in FML issue 2458]