Choosing the right bottle for your baby is essential when you’re pumping your own breast milk or feeding your infant formula. But, before you head to the store to stock up, consider the following expert advice:
Glass or plastic?
What is the difference between glass and plastic baby bottles? Because glass bottles are chemical-free and endure longer, they are ideal. However, they have the disadvantage of being prone to breaking, which makes them potentially dangerous, as well as being costly.
On the other hand, plastic bottles do not break, but they do need to be replaced on a regular basis as they deteriorate (always keep an eye out for bottles that are chipped or broken). If you’re going to use plastic, search for BPA-free bottles.
Bottle size
What size bottle are you looking for? Because newborns don’t eat much at first, smaller bottles are preferable. Start with a 125ml bottle and gradually increase to a 260ml bottle as your baby’s appetite grows.
Keep in mind:
- Bottles with a wider neck are easier to clean and store.
- If your baby is colicky, it would be a good idea to invest in a bottle that minimises colic.
Bottle teats
Which is better: a latex or silicone nipple? Because latex nipples are softer and more flexible, they mimic your breasts more closely. Whereas silicone nipples last longer and are easy to clean because they are dishwasher safe.
The teat size
It’s critical to select a teat with the correct hole size for your infant. Slow, medium, or quick flow teats are available. If you’re shopping for bottles before your kid arrives, get one of each to discover which teat your baby favours.
- If your infant takes a long time to drink a bottle or stops halfway through, the hole may be too small; consider switching to a medium-flow teat.
- The opening in the teat may be too large if your baby splutters while feeding.
- Variable-flow teats, which can provide slow, medium, or fast flow with just one teat, are another option.
Positions for bottle-feeding
When it comes to bottle-feeding, there are some postures that are healthier for your infant than others.
When feeding your baby:
- Hold your infant in a semi-upright position on your lap so you can make eye contact. Place a pillow on your lap if necessary to raise your infant.
- Before carefully placing the teat in your baby’s mouth, tilt the bottle so that the neck and teat fill up with milk. This eliminates ingesting any air bubbles, which could cause gas.
- Wind may be the cause of your baby’s unrest during the feed; gently stroke your baby’s back to stimulate burping.
- Try to get into the habit of burping midway through and after each meal to avoid spitting up.
