When expecting a child, what are some of the necessities? Baby bottles. Even if you intend to breastfeed exclusively, there may come a time when you need a break and would rather have your partner feed the baby.
When making a baby registry, remember to include baby bottles. But how do you know you are choosing the appropriate bottles, given that there are so many on the market and that every baby has their own preferences?
You should think about a few different things. So, before you spend hours searching the internet or the baby bottle section of your local supermarket, prepare yourself and know what to look for.
How Do I Choose A Baby Bottle?
Bottle Material
Stainless steel, silicone, plastic, or glass are all suitable materials for baby bottle-making. Let us review each briefly.
- Glass
Glass types are naturally durable and BPA-free, but they are also cumbersome and easily broken. However, there are silicone sleeves available to put the bottle in and prevent them from breaking.
- Silicone
Silicone water bottles are lightweight, durable, and BPA-free. They won’t shatter, and they might even bounce if you drop them.
- Disposable Plastic Liners
These are handy, but each purchase is a one-time expense. To use, fill, place in a designated bottle, and discard when the feeding is complete.
- Stainless Steel
These are durable, lightweight, and free of harmful chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA). However, they are the most expensive option available. Remember that, unlike the conventional bottle materials, with the stainless steel bottle, you cannot see the amount of liquid in the bottle from the exterior.
- Plastic
The most popular material is hard plastic because it is transparent, lightweight, and resistant to breakage. They are also the most affordable in the market. Make sure the plastic bottles you use are brand new if you choose to go that route. The downside to this material is that BPA has been found in certain plastic brands.
Bottle Shapes
Standard bottle shapes are tall, straight, and angled at the neck, with short nipples that mimic breasts. Small (4 oz) bottles are available for newborns and large (8 oz) bottles for babies who have outgrown the smaller ones and are consuming a larger quantity of milk per sitting. Bottles are available in these shapes:
- Wide
Made for holding short, wide nipples that resemble a breast
- Angled
Keep your newborn from swallowing air by bending at the neck and collecting milk at the bottom. One potential drawback is that they could be more difficult to fill and clean.
- Standard
Straight and tall, plus cleaning is easy.
Bottle Size
The two most common bottle sizes are 4 oz and 8 oz. Newborns typically only consume two to three ounces per feeding; thus, small sizes are ideal for this stage. However, infants outgrow their small bottles rapidly, so you can save money by forgoing them and starting with large bottles right away.
Nipple Shapes
There are three basic types of nipples:
- One side is flatter than the other (to fit well in a baby’s mouth or simulate the feel of a mother’s breast).
- Shorter and broader (to mimic the breast) by design.
- Longer and narrower (traditional)
Nipple Materials
Bottle nipples are often manufactured from silicone or latex. Softer and more flexible, latex wears out faster and can cause allergic reactions in some infants. Silicone is more rigid but lasts longer than latex. Ensure you check bottle nipples regularly for wear and replace them if they begin to thin, or if they start to become sticky, discolored, broken, or ripped.
Nipple Levels
Nipple levels are related to the milk’s flow rate. You can move up to higher levels as your baby develops and becomes adaptable to a faster milk flow.
Bottle Extras
- Breast Pump Bottles:
Bottles that attach to a breast pump to collect milk and include nipple tops to be used for later feeding are convenient. They are great if you intend to pump and bottle-feed breastmilk.
- Venting:
It is possible to prevent babies from choking on air by using a “vented” bottle or nipple. This will result in less fussiness and less gas for your baby. However, vented bottles may have more moving components, which can be more difficult to clean and assemble.
How Many Bottles Do I Need For A Newborn?
How often you intend to use bottles to feed your baby will determine this. The average newborn will eat 10–14 times a day. Additionally, this number will decrease slightly as the baby gets bigger.
To begin, you may need anywhere from 4 to 6 bottles and nipples if you plan on exclusively bottle-feeding your infant with either expressed breastmilk or formula. This number allows you to clean and sterilize the bottles in between feeds.
One bottle and teat could meet your requirements if you only intend to use it occasionally or once daily.
What Size Bottle Should A Baby Use?
Babies’ tiny stomachs require frequent, little feedings throughout the first few weeks of their lives and this makes the smaller bottles preferable. Babies that use larger bottles tend to overeat because they take in more milk.
Parents who bottle-feed may need to switch to a larger bottle size as a baby develops and consumes more milk. Since every baby is unique, it is impossible to specify the age at which this should occur. You must pay attention to the signs and cues your infant is giving you regarding their feeding needs, such as the fact that they appear to want more and are completing each feeding in a short time.
Bottle Feeding: The Basics
Between 3 and 6 weeks is a wonderful time to introduce your baby to the bottle. After this age, your baby may have a more challenging time adjusting to the bottle. Always let your infant choose his or her own bottle. If your baby is crying because they are struggling to take a good sip of milk or, worse, are choking on it, you may want to switch to a different bottle or nipple.
Most newborns prefer their milk to be roughly the same temperature as mommy’s breast milk; however, other babies prefer it lukewarm.
Therefore, warming breast milk to 98 degrees Fahrenheit may be necessary. This will help prevent bottle refusal, especially for milk stored in the refrigerator.
Newborns often need to eat every two to three hours for the first 8–12 hours of their lives. You should expect this number to drop once every 7 to 9 hours as your kid grows (more than a month old).
Lastly, keep in mind that while you may select the number of bottles and other items, the bottle style is ultimately up to your baby.
Best Baby Bottle
There is no universally applicable standard for baby bottles as there are many different designs available. When you finally find the one that fits your needs and most importantly, the baby’s needs, make sure to use the bottle correctly and clean it thoroughly to ensure your baby’s health and safety. Never be afraid to seek advice from your doctor or other parents who have been through the process of bottle-feeding their child.