Choosing bottles and nipples

Choosing bottles and nipples

Experiment to find out what is best for your baby

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Lucille Beseler, RDN

Is co-author of Nurturing with Nutrition and a former president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics representing over 100,000 Nutrition professionals, while also active as a clinical dietitian in South Florida.

Article in collaboration with: Melanie Bazarte, PhD

Bottles                                                                                                                                                                                    

  • Bottles with disposable liners are designed to collapse as a baby sucks, cutting down on air-swallowing that can creates gas. 
  • Angled bottles help a baby feed in a more upright position to cut down the chance of ear infections and air-swallowing. 
  • Some baby bottles have a powdered formula space on top of the water compartment; a twist and a shake creates instant formula. 

Nipples come in latex or silicone. Latex are more natural and silicone more durable; both last about 3 months.                  

  • A hole that's too small makes a baby work harder which can cause him to tire and give up.                                                                                             
  • A hole that's too big can choke a baby if the formula comes out too fast.                                                                        
  • Formula should feel warm, not hot, and flow at one drop per second when the bottle is held upside down over the inside of your wrist.                                                                                                                                                                              
  • Some brands offer newborn nipples, 1 month plus, and 3 months plus sizes.                                                                            
  • Other brands use size 1 for ages 0 to 6 months, size 2 for ages 6 months plus, and size 3 for older babies.                        
  • There are orthodontic nipples with slow, medium, and fast flow nipples in almost every size.                                   
  • Experiment, but always use clean bottles and nipples
bottles and nipples

Adapted from Nurturing with Nutrition by Dr. Melanie Bezarte and Lucille Beseler, RDN

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