When it comes to choosing baby bottles, it’s completely about what you and your baby prefer. If your baby appears unsettled and is suffering from wind after feeding, there are also anti-colic bottles and teats available, specifically designed to reduce the amount of air they take in while they’re feeding.
Baby bottles come in two main sizes:
• Small: 120ml/4oz bottles for young babies and newborns
• Large: 225ml/8oz bottles for older babies
Bottles also come in three neck widths, which affect how easy they are to hold, fill and clean:
• Regular: This shape is easier to find teats for. They also fit a bigger range of coolers and sterilisers.
• Wide-neck: Can help prevent your baby from taking in too much air (which can lead to wind and discomfort, a possible cause of colic). They are also easier to fill and clean.
• Narrow-neck: Can be easier for your little one to hold when they’re ready to learn more independence.
When it comes to teats, no one teat is better than another; it all comes down to what your baby prefers. You can find various bottle teat sizes and shapes, ranging from a typical bell shape to a more natural shape that mimics a nipple. They are made from either latex or silicone; latex is a little softer, but silicone tends to last a little longer.
You should change bottle teats when they show signs of wear and tear.
The flow rate of a teat determines how fast the milk will flow into your baby’s mouth. Teats have different flow rates: slow, medium, and fast.
If your little one is taking longer than 20 minutes to finish a feed, is falling asleep during a feed, or is tugging at the teat, these are all signs that it’s time to move on to a teat with a faster flow rate. If they are spluttering or have milk leaking from their mouth, a slower-flow teat may suit them better.
Keeping feeding equipment clean and sterilised is important, especially for young babies. In Singapore, KKH advises sterilising milk bottles for infants below six months old. Always follow the cleaning and sterilising instructions provided with your feeding equipment.
Rinse the equipment first, then wash it in hot, soapy water or put it in the dishwasher. Then sterilise equipment with an approved sterilising system.
Boiling equipment takes approximately 10 minutes. Use a large pot and make sure all your baby’s feeding equipment is fully covered with water. Let it boil rapidly for 5 minutes. Something to note: teats will wear out more quickly with this method.
You can choose electric steam or microwave sterilisers. Electric steam sterilising takes between 8 and 12 minutes, while microwave sterilising can take as little as 2 minutes. Steam sterilisers can be bought from most baby stores.
Sterilising with cold water takes approximately 30 minutes. This system uses specialised nontoxic sterilisation tablets, which are added to cold water. Just make sure all your feeding equipment is fully submerged.
The right bottles and teats are the ones that suit you and your baby, and a little trial and error is completely normal. If you are unsure about how much milk your baby needs, or you have questions about infant formula feeding or feeding equipment, your doctor or healthcare professional can offer advice.
For more guidance and tips, explore the Karihome blog.
