Buying Your Baby’s Feeding Bottles – Choosing the Right Materials, Picking the Nipples & Other Things to Think About
The humble baby feeding bottle is arguably one of the essential items that any parent should have enough supply of for their little one. But, shopping around for the right bottle can often be a difficult task. In this guide, you will learn all about purchasing the perfect bottle for your baby’s feeding needs.
Steps:
- Choosing the right materials
- Picking appropriate nipples
- Other things to think about
Choosing the right materials when buying baby feeding bottles
When you hit the baby bottle section at the department store, one of the first questions that would come to your mind is whether you should go with a plastic bottle or a glass one.
The main advantage of plastic bottles is that they are lightweight, which means they can be easily lifted by your baby. These are also very strong and would not easily break. However, they might have a shorter lifespan than glass bottles, as the plastic used eventually deteriorates in quality over time.
On the other hand, your main concern with glass bottles is that they can be accidentally dropped by your little one when feeding and shattered. They might also be cumbersome for your baby to lift. However, glass bottles last longer. You can also boil these for sterilization, something that you can’t readily do with plastic bottles.
A third option would be disposable bottles. These are essentially like regular plastic bottles but have special sterilized liners on the inside that you can simply take out after use. However, these can be more expensive than other bottle types, and you will likely spend more for the supply of liners.
Aside from the above, there are also special anti-colic bottles. These are designed to reduce the chance of your baby developing colic by reducing the amount of air he swallows during feeding. There are also sterilizer bottles that can be popped into the microwave for cleansing.
So, which one should you pick? Here, you might have to experiment with the different types first, determining which one would suit your baby. For instance, your baby will find it easier to hold plastic bottles because they are lighter.
Once you have determined which one works best. It would be good to purchase at least a dozen as extras. In some cases, you can also get at least two different types for use in different situations.
For example, you can allot plastic bottles for travel as they are easier to carry around. On the other hand, glass bottles can be kept for home use.
Choosing nipples for baby feeding bottles
While most baby bottles already come with their own nipples, you can buy additional ones as extras or to totally replace the one included in the bottle. As with the bottle itself, you have several things to consider when picking these up.
1. Material
Latex and silicone are the most common materials used for feeding bottle nipples. The former is softer and more flexible, which makes ideal for babies that have a soft bite or those that have sensitive gums. On the other hand, silicone nipples are firmer and hold their shape longer, which makes them suitable for young ones who tend to bite into their nipples.
2. Shape
Typical nipples have a bell or domed shape, but if your young one have a sensitive mouth or is having difficulties sucking on these, you can opt for an orthodontic nipple. This one has a flat side on its bulb that will more comfortably rest on his tongue.
3. Size and flow
For your newborn or preemie, the smallest sized nipple, which also has the slowest flow, would suit best. As he grows older, he will gradually transition to larger nipple sizes that have faster flows to keep up with his growing appetite. Do note, however, that your child might not strictly fit with the recommended age on the nipple. Feel free to experiment with different sizes to see which one your baby would be most comfortable with.
Other considerations when choosing baby feeding bottles
When it comes to bottle feeding, cleanliness is a must. Hence, you would want to also buy the necessary equipment for that. A dedicated sterilizing pot, for instance, is a must buy whether you are going for hot water or cold water sterilization. Also, make sure that you have plenty of cleaning brushes and extra nipples for when traveling.
Other things you might want to get include tote bags, bottle drying racks, and bottle warmers.
Next, we delve more into bottle feeding your little one.