Guide to Choosing Baby Bottles and Teats

Bottle shapes and sizes can make choosing confusing for parents. The NHS notes that no evidence shows any particular bottle or teat type to be superior, and a simple bottle that is easy to wash and sterilise is often the most suitable choice. Choose feeds other than expressed breast milk as directed by a doctor.

Bottle Material: Glass or Plastic?

Glass bottles resist scratching and are easy to inspect for cleanliness but are heavier and breakable. Plastic bottles are lightweight and convenient outdoors, but replace them if scratched or discoloured. In either case, choose clear volume markings to make quantities easy to read.

• Philips Avent Natural Feeding Bottle Glass 240 ml: a 240 ml glass bottle.
• Pigeon Slim Neck Glass Feeding Bottle 240 ml: a narrow-neck 240 ml glass bottle.
• Philips Avent Natural Response Feeding Bottle 125 ml: a 125 ml bottle for small quantities in the first months.
• Philips Avent Natural Baby Bottle Set: a bottle set from the same range for those wanting several compatible pieces.

Capacity and Shape by Age

A small bottle is enough in the early weeks when amounts are small; move to a larger capacity as the baby grows. Handles help older babies hold bottles. Some mothers prefer breast-shaped designs when alternating breast and bottle feeding.

• Kiko Feeding Bottle Newborn 60 ml: 60 ml capacity for newborns.
• Pigeon Peristaltic Feeding Bottle 120 ml: 120 ml capacity with a Pigeon peristaltic teat.
• Pigeon Peristaltic Slim-Neck Feeding Bottle with Handle 240 ml: 240 ml capacity with an easy-grip handle.
• Vital Baby Nurture Breast Like Feeding Bottles 2 Pieces: two bottles with a breast-shaped design.
• Vital Baby Nourish Breast Like Feeding Bottle 240 ml 2 Pieces: a 240 ml breast-shaped bottle, a pack of two.

Teats and Flow Speed

Teats are often classified by age and flow: slow for newborns, then medium and faster as age increases. Pack ages are a guide; your baby's comfort is the real measure:

• Flow Is Too Fast if the baby coughs, chokes or milk frequently leaks from the mouth.
• Flow Is Too Slow if the baby tires, becomes upset or feeds take too long; the teat may flatten during sucking.

Also check neck compatibility: a narrow-neck teat will not fit a wide-neck bottle. Use teats of the same brand and type where possible.

Teats for the First Months

• Philips Avent Natural Response Slow Flow Teats 2 2 Pieces: slow-flow teats, a pack of two.
• Avent Classic+ Slow Flow Teat 1 Month+ 2 Packs: a Classic slow-flow teat from one month.
• Pigeon Peristaltic Slim-Neck Teat S 0-3 Months 1 Piece: a narrow-neck teat for ages 0 to 3 months.
• Farlin Anti Colic Standard Neck Silicone Teat Small 0M+ 3 Pieces: an anti-colic silicone teat for a standard neck, small size from birth.
• Kiko Anti Colic Small 0+m Nipple 2 Pieces: small anti-colic teats, a pack of two.

Teats for the Next Stage

• Pigeon Slim Neck Medium Peristaltic Teat 4-5M+ 3 Pieces: a medium narrow-neck peristaltic teat for ages 4 to 5 months.
• Pigeon Flexible Slim-Neck Teat M 4 Months+ 1 Piece: a silicone teat.
• Farlin Anti Colic Standard Neck Medium Silicone Teat 3M+ 3 Pieces: a medium anti-colic teat from three months.

Inspect the teat before every use and replace immediately if cracked, thinning, sticky or its hole has widened.

Cleaning and Sterilising

The NHS recommends sterilising bottles and teats until at least 12 months, as immunity is still developing. Basic steps:

• Wash hands thoroughly before handling feeding equipment.
• Separate bottle parts and wash after every feed with warm water and a suitable washing liquid, using a brush reaching the base and inside the teat; rinse thoroughly.
• Sterilise parts with steam, boiling or microwave bags, following manufacturer instructions for each method.
• Let equipment dry in a clean place; do not dry with a used towel.

• PUR Baby Bottle Washing Liquid 500 ml: bottle-washing liquid, a 500 ml pack.
• Pigeon 2 Way Sponge Feeding Bottle Brush: a sponge brush for cleaning inside bottles.
• Vital Baby Microwave Sterilising Bags: bags for steam sterilising in the microwave.
• Vital Pro Steam Sterilizer and Dryer: a steam bottle steriliser with drying.

Common Mistakes

• Microwaving milk, which may heat unevenly and burn the mouth. Always test temperature on the inside of the wrist.
• Leaving a baby to feed alone with a bottle propped on a pillow.
• Keeping leftover milk after a feed for later use.
• Manually enlarging the teat hole instead of choosing suitable flow.

After Bottle Feeding

For storing breast milk, use Avent Breast Milk Storage Bags 180 ml 25 Sachets bags with a 180 ml capacity. Approaching one year, many children gradually move to a cup, such as Philips Avent Soft Silicone Spout Cup Blue 9 Months+ 260 ml; check the age on the pack.

Find other baby supplies in the Baby Bathing and Hygiene section, and ask the pharmacist about choosing a teat for your baby's age.