Education Children Cloth Book: How to Choose Your Baby Bottle

How to Choose Your Baby Bottle

Glass Bottles

Glass bottles are another alternative to consider, and many parents feel they are safer. Glass bottles are nontoxic and you can sterilize them after each cleaning.

BPA-Free Bottles

Always play it safe and purchase BPA-free plastic bottles. Most bottle manufacturers sell BPA-free products, which may be slightly higher in cost, but worth the money. Many BPA-free bottle designs also reduce instances of colic, gas and burping in babies. These bottles are easy to clean, which helps to reduce additional exposure to toxins.

Disposable Liner Bottles

Use BPA-free bottle liners to store breast milk and formula. These liners are not only free of the BPA toxin; they are also presterilized, preformed and disposable. Bottle liners are convenient, sanitary and safe enough for mothers to store breast milk for months at a time in the freezer. You must use liners with a drop-in bottle made for this purpose, and dispose the liner after each use.

Bottles with Silicone Nipples

The tiny pores in latex nipples absorb milk and ultimately leech toxins into fresh milk bottles and into your baby's system during feedings. Always use silicone nipples because they are nonporous and resistant to bacteria.

Best Bottle for Newborns

The best bottle for newborns is a plastic bottle with a cherry or round nipple made of latex. (Most bottle nipples are made of latex, silicone or rubber.) Latex nipples are softer and more flexible, so they are often preferred for newborns who are still learning to latch on. The nipple shape should be round or cherry, as it is sometimes called. The traditional round nipple is easiest for newborns to suck on. Eventually, the baby will move on to an orthodontic nipple, which better conforms to the palate and encourages strong oral development. But at this point, acclimating the baby to feeding is most important.

Best Bottle for Babies Over Six Months

The best bottle for babies over the age of six months is a plastic bottle with a rubber nipple. Rubber nipples are more durable than latex or silicone nipples, so they are better for babies that have become more aggressive and forceful with sucking. Latex nipples are easier to latch onto, but at this point, the baby should be well adjusted to bottle-feeding. The nipple should be orthodontic, which is flat on the side that rests on the baby's tongue. This shape conforms to the baby's developing palate and roof of the mouth, promoting healthy oral development. The orthodontic nipple will prepare the baby for the mouth of sippy cup, which is also indented.

Best Bottles for Babies with Gas

Babies with gas or acid reflux are better served with bottles that are angled, rather than stream-lined. Angled bottles let less air into the nipple, so they reduce the amount of air that babies swallow when they feed. Angled bottles are harder to get clean, whether by hand or in the dishwasher, so you will probably need to purchase special baby bottle brushes to clean them. Angled bottles usually have a special rubber grip at the angle, which babies can begin to hold themselves as you feed them. This helps them to transition to holding a sippy cup.