Which Baby Bottle Could Suit Your Baby?
There are a lot of options on the market that can make choosing the best product a bit confusing. For selecting the best bottle, it is important to understand what they all mean. Let’s know how different baby bottles work so we can select the best one.
Standard Bottles – Several basic features are included in standard bottles, and they are sold under different brand names. This type of bottle can be easily available in your local pharmacy and are inexpensive in nature.
Anti-Colic (Natural Flow Bottles) – The use of such bottles reduces the colic incidence and the chance that the baby will swallow air. Air vents, tubes, and bags are usually found on anti-colic bottles to prevent air from entering while sucking.
Self-Sterilizing Bottles – A self-sterilizing bottle can sterilize itself. A part of the bottle is placed on top, while water is poured into the lower portion. They can be heated in the microwave for a number of minutes. There is no need to purchase additional sterilization equipment.
Disposable Bottles – The bottles come ready to use. The parts of these bottles have already been sterilized. After feeding your baby, you can simply throw it away with no mess to clean up. It is the most convenient and time-saving option.
Bottles with Disposable Liners – They are small bags that can be filled with milk and placed inside a bottle. You can throw away the bottles after using them. It is also convenient and time-saving to use this type of bottle.
Angle Neck Bottles – An angle neck bottle is a straight bottle that bends at an angle near the neck. With this bottle, there is less risk of the baby swallowing air.
Wide Neck Bottles – As compared to other regular bottles, they have a thicker appearance. Most likely, this type of bottle is for babies who drink from both the breast and bottle. It is easy to sterilize and clean these types of bottles.
Breast Mimicking Bottles – The nipples on these bottles are specially designed and they have a wide neck. Their bodies may be curvier and create a natural feel for babies. Those who feed on both breasts and bottles will find this bottle easier to use.
Vented Bottles – At the back of the bottle, there is a vent that prevents liquid from escaping. An anti-vacuum chamber at the base of the nipple prevents liquid from escaping.
What To Look For While Purchasing a Baby Bottle?
There are certain factors that you have to keep in mind while picking the best baby bottle. Here are the factors that you should keep in mind.
BPA Free – The most important thing to consider is this. Make sure that the plastic baby bottle you choose is BPA-free. BPA is an industrial chemical that is used for making plastic. You will be able to prevent any chemicals from contaminating your baby’s milk if the bottle is made from BPA-free plastic.
Easy To Wash – A lot of sustenance is required to support the growing baby. A baby requires 8 to 12 feedings a day, which leads to a lot of dirty bottles. So, you have to make sure that the bottle is easy to connect and clean. They should have a simple design.
Venting System – It is the most miserable experience for a baby to have gas or colic. Babies swallow air that gets trapped in their digestive tracts and makes them uncomfortable. Therefore, you should invest in a bottle that has a venting system so that the milk won’t become disfigured. It prevents painful gas and colic.
Measurement Marks – You need to nurse and feed your baby correctly especially when they have health issues. Therefore, you need to determine how much milk your baby takes and how much you fill. To do so, you can refer to the measurement marks on the baby bottle. It is important to check the accuracy of the measurement marks before purchasing the best baby bottle.
Bottle Neck – Some bottles have a wide neck, while others have a narrow neck. This type of bottle works very well with most bottle-fed babies. Less space is consumed by these bottles in your diaper bag. Wide neck bottles are a good choice for breastfed babies or fussy babies, as they mimic breast milk. It is easy to clean them.
Does Baby Bottles Size Matter?
The size of the bottle does matter. There are mainly two sizes of baby bottles,
- Small (4 or 5-Ounces)
- Large (8 or 9-Ounces)
Your baby’s age determines which size bottle to use. Make sure you use a small bottle (4-ounces) when you start bottle-feeding your newborn, and get three to four bottles. Baby bottles of this size are easy for babies to grip. Moreover, less food is consumed by newborns as compared to older babies. Considering switching to a large bottle (8 ounces) after your baby turns 4 months. How many bottles you need depends on how long you plan to bottle-feed your child.
Tips To Use a Baby Bottle
To help things go smoothly, you can follow a few bottle-feeding tips. Here we go,
- Let your partner or anyone else try feeding the baby the bottle the first time as the baby can reject the bottle if they have the option of breastfeeding.
- After your baby nurses, you can give the bottle an hour or two later.
- The use of microwaves to heat breast milk or formula can cause hot spots that can burn your baby.
- Drip a bit of milk onto your wrist to check the temperature of the milk.
- Ensure that the right size nipples are used for baby feeding.
- You must keep the bottle angled to reduce air swallowing and burns in your baby.
- After feeding, keep the baby upright for 15 to 20 minutes to reduce spitting up.
- You should keep your bottles and nipples clean by brushing them every day.
- Never push your baby to finish the bottle if they are done. Baby learns to follow his or her own hunger with this.
Do I Need a Baby Bottle Warmer?
As we know, every baby has a different preference. In the same way, some babies will like a warm bottle, while others won’t. The filled bottle can be placed into a warm container of hot water if you want to warm the milk. Alternatively, you can invest in a baby bottle warmer that monitors the temperature and does some of the guesswork for you. After all, a hot bottle is something you’d prefer to avoid for your baby. By investing in a milk warmer, you will be able to provide milk at the ideal temperature.
Steps: How To Clean a Baby Bottle?
Bottles for babies are made from a variety of materials with different cleaning instructions. Depending on the type of bottle, some of them can be put in the dishwasher, while others cannot. You need to follow certain steps to keep the bottle clean. The following steps need to be followed.
- First of all, you have to wash your hand with soap.
- You have to separate all the parts of the bottle such as bottles, nipples, caps, rings, valves.
- Rinse all the parts of the bottle and feeding parts under running water.
- Wash the feeding part with hot water and soap.
- Now, scrub all the things with a clean brush.
- Water must be squeezed from the nipple holes to ensure that they are clean.
- Now, rinse it again under running water.
- Now, dry all the parts of the bottle with an unused dish towel or paper towel.
Common Questions Parents Ask
1. Which bottle nipple is best for breastfed babies?
Ans – A slow-flow nipple design is best for breastfeeding babies. It mimics the natural flow of milk from the breast and so is the best option.
2. How often should I sterilize baby bottles?
Ans – You should sterilize the baby bottle once for extra removal of germs.
3. How many ounces do I feed a breastfed baby?
Ans – Different babies take different amounts of milk. 25 oz per day is best for babies between 1 month to 6 months.
4. How many bottles do I need?
Ans – If you are mostly bottle feeding then you will need 8 to 10 bottles and if you are mostly breastfeeding then 4 bottles are enough.
5. Which kind of material is best for baby bottles?
Ans – The safest material for baby bottles is glass.
