Ideally, breastfeeding is the best way to nurture a baby but many times it becomes impossible for the mother to do so. Some mothers choose to pump and store breast milk while those who are unable to do so choose formula for the baby. In either scenario, a feeding bottle plays a very important role. With the multitude of bottles flooding the market, choosing the right bottle for your baby can be overwhelming.

There is really no golden rule to choosing the perfect bottle. Everything comes down to how your baby takes to them, how easy they are to handle and how comfortable the mother is while using them.

What is the best material for a feeding bottle?

Let’s start with the basics. There are a wide range of feeding bottles available in glass and plastic and the decision to choose one over the other can be confusing to a new mother.

Traditionally, all feeding bottles were made of glass. Glass was considered to be the safer option because they last much longer, have great transparency and are chemical free. There is always the fear of the bottle breaking but newer models made of borosilicate glass material are less likely to be damaged and have a high heat resistance. Silicone sleeves are also easily available in the market to keep the glass bottles from breakage.

Plastic feeding bottles are the other popular choice among mothers. Plastic bottles are much lighter than glass bottles and are much more durable because they do not break if dropped. Choose a plastic bottle that has a BPA-free label to avoid the harmful chemicals associated with plastic. A downside that is seen with plastic bottles is that they tend to deteriorate over time (like all other plastic items) and tend to develop scratches, cracks, leaks, discoloration, and bad odour. If using plastic bottles, ensure that you buy new ones for the baby as older models of plastic bottles may contain harmful chemicals.

Stainless steel feeding bottles are also popular these days as they are considered to be safer than traditional plastic bottles and are durable. These bottles, however, are more expensive and difficult to find. Since the bottles are not transparent, it becomes difficult to see how much milk is remaining in the bottle.

Shape and size of the bottle

The right shape of the neck of the feeding bottle will depend on the baby’s latch. A feeding bottle may be streamlined slim in shape or with a wide neck.

Slim-neck bottles are often chosen by mothers because they are comfortable to hold while feeding and are easier to clean. Some babies prefer slim-necked bottles because it allows them to cover the entire nipple with their mouth when latching.

Wide-neck bottles offer a wider, sloped nipple that is shaped like a breast. This makes it a more comfortable option for breastfed babies and babies with a wider latch.

Feeding bottles also come in two sizes - small (160ml) and big (240 ml). Smaller-sized bottles are more convenient when feeding a newborn as they take in lesser volume per feed or for carrying water or juices as the baby grows a little older. Babies quickly grow out of the smaller-sized bottles and prefer the big bottles for drinking milk or formula. Babies who require more quantity of feed may need larger bottles (330 ml).

The right type of bottle nipple:

Nipple Material

Feeding bottle nipples generally come in latex or silicone. While latex is soft and flexible, it tends to wear out very quickly. It has also been found that some babies develop an allergy to latex. Silicone is, therefore, a more preferred option. Silicone holds shape better and is much more durable when compared to latex.

Nipple Shape

The shape of the nipple is also dependent on the preference of the baby. Some babies prefer a slim neck nipple with a dome-like shape which makes the baby’s mouth open naturally and offers support to the mouth so that they can fully latch on. Other babies prefer the comfort offered by the wide nipple, allowing natural and smooth tongue movement and mimicking the shape of the breast. The only way to find out which one is right for your baby would be to try both types out. If the baby is unable to latch on properly, chances are high that the baby will also ingest a lot of air bubbles and spit up. Ingested gas could be a possible reason for colic.

Flow Rate

When the size of the nipple hole is small, the breastmilk or formula comes out slowly, making them ideal for starter bottles, which is what most newborns use. However, each baby is different and you may need to experiment with a few sizes before deciding on the right one for the particular stage of your baby’s growth. Most babies tend to graduate to a medium flow nipple after about three months of age. In case you are also nursing and have a good supply of breastmilk, a newborn may get frustrated with the slow flow of the starter bottle. As the baby grows, the size of the nipple hole will also need to be changed to suit the baby’s feeding requirements.

How many bottles should I buy?

This is another question that is very confusing for new mothers. The number of feeding bottles your baby will need would be influenced by whether you are a stay-at-home mom or have to go to work and whether your baby is also being breastfed or takes formula.

If you are a stay at home mom who is also breastfeeding her baby, you are most likely to use the feeding bottles only when you do not have the option of breastfeeding, like when you take the baby to a park or when you are out at family gatherings or at an event. You will probably require only two or three bottles which can be used occasionally as needed. If your baby is being fed with formula, however, you will most likely need to buy five to six bottles on average. The bottles will be in use at multiple times during the day and fewer bottles would mean that you will need to spend a lot of time washing and cleaning the bottles.

If you are a working mom and your child goes to a cheche or is being looked after by a caregiver, you will need to invest in around five bottles even if you are expressing breastmilk. The number of bottles would need to cover the period of time you spend away at work, without the need to reuse the emptied bottles. Most caregivers require that mothers come with already prepared infant formula bottles, so even if your baby is on the formula you are likely to need five bottles or more during the course of the day. For working mothers, the amount of help they have at home is also a deciding factor. After a full day at work, you may not be in a position to immediately wash and clean the bottles and may need a couple of clean bottles handy at home.

Bottle feeding accessories

When purchasing feeding bottles, there are a few accessories that can be quite useful

Baby Tote Bag - While choosing a baby bag, look for totes that are spacious and can hold multiple bottles, and have space for additional nipples (in case the one in use falls to the ground or gets damaged)
Bottle and Nipple Cleaning Brush - Even if you use a dishwasher to clean out the feeding bottles and nipples, it is advisable to keep the cleaning brush at hand as sometimes dried-up milk or formula can be difficult to remove. Choose a brush that can reach and completely clean the ends of the bottle and with bristles that can reach into the small folds of the nipple.
Liquid Cleanser - Normal dishwashing liquids contain chemicals and may harm your baby so it is good to invest in liquid cleaners that use 100% food grade ingredients that will ensure maximum safety to babies while still being able to remove the stubborn stains caused by leftover milk or formula residue.
Bottle Steriliser - New bottles and nipples always need to be sterilized before use. When investing in a sterilizer, the number of bottles you will use will help you decide on the storage capacity to look for.

Before making a decision …

Since the choice of a feeding bottle is dependent on the baby, it is important to not rush in and buy the feeding bottle before the baby is born. It is a good idea to try out three or four kinds of bottles and different nipple types to see which ones your baby is most comfortable with. As the baby grows and as his / her feeding needs change, you may need to invest in feeding bottles that were quite different from the ones you initially bought. If you plan on using a breast pump, it may be advisable to use the breast pump and feeding bottles from the same company as the bottles will then be the right fit for the breast pump (though nowadays breast pumps do come in standard bottle sizes).

PIGEON’s feeding bottle range

It is the extent of research that PIGEON has conducted that has helped the company to create products that provide comfort to the baby and convenience to the mothers. With a vast range of feeding bottles, nipples and feeding accessories, PIGEON has helped mothers around the world to make the right choice for their babies. Each one of their bottles (whether in glass, Polyphenylsulfone (PPSU), and Polypropylene (PP) materials) has been tailored to provide an easy grip and the new range of SofTouch™ Peristaltic PLUS nipples is designed based on the extensive study of the tongue movements of babies while breastfeeding.

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