Ultimate Guide: Which Feeding Bottle Is Best For Your Baby?
Motherhood is believed to be a life-transforming process for a woman, and it brings immense joy to welcome the bundle of joy. However, this joy is accompanied by responsibilities and loads of mind-boggling tasks, making a new mother nervous and confused. Feeding an infant is one such aspect that every new mommy wonders if she uses the right approach.
While experts advocate breastfeeding a newborn, there are several scenarios where parents need to introduce formula milk in the initial days, which means that you need to invest in the best quality formula brand and feeding accessories that would make the process simple and less stressful for parents and kids.
This is where using the proper feeding bottles makes a difference, and it is indeed the most essential product in the journey.
Why Selecting a Feeding Bottle for Your Baby Can Be Challenging
Today, when the market is flooded with all types of baby products, choosing a feeding bottle is challenging since all bottles primarily serve the same purpose. However, curious mothers who have done research before making a purchase understand the difference between the right choice of bottle and which feeding bottle is best suited for newborns.
In this blog, we will focus on some essential considerations parents should consider when selecting a bottle for their baby’s feeding needs.
Some significant aspects are the material used, safety and ergonomic design for a comfortable feeding time. So, if you are sailing in the same boat and searching for a suitable bottle, read on and know the secrets.
Types of Feeding Bottles for Your Baby
Before diving into the ultimate buying guide, let us first comprehend the range of bottles available in the market and the aspects you should assess.
1. Plastic Bottles
These standard and inexpensive feeding bottles are the regular plastic ones effortlessly obtainable in the local market. Even though these bottles have modern designs and attractive patterns, the material used is cheap and unsuitable for newborns.
This is because the plastic used in making the bottle is not BPA and toxin-free and is also not inert, which means that when used over time, it tends to react with the stored liquid and affect the composition, which can cause harmful effects on the little one’s health.
So, even though companies heavily market these bottles, experts recommend staying away and considering other alternatives.
2. Glass Bottles
There are glass feeding bottles that are safe for tot’s feeding and come in different sizes to match the varied needs. However, one drawback of this type is that they tend to break if mishandled, which becomes risky when children feed.
So, very few parents consider buying these feeding bottles and want a good quality, non-breakable alternative.
3. Silicone Bottles
Responsible baby brands recognized the market gap and made efforts to design premium bottles that would be child-safe and durable. This led to silicone bottles, which are absolutely BPA and toxin-free, keeping the liquid safe for long hours. Also, these come with ultra-soft spouts that make feeding easy.
Even though these bottles are a bit expensive compared to regular plastic and glass bottles, they are increasingly becoming popular amongst parents since they can stay stress-free and let the child enjoy feeding without interruptions.
4. Steel Bottles
Another emerging choice of bottles is made of steel since these are easy to maintain and are made of top-notch steel metal.
Some brands also offer hot and cold varieties in this segment so that the temperature of the liquid is maintained for long hours, making them ideal for travel.
Also Read: Why Should We Buy Baby Bottle Sterilizer?
How to Select the Best Baby Feeding Bottles
Let us explore the aspects for choosing the best baby feeding bottles.
1. Material and Safety
In order to find which feeding bottle is best for babies, the first consideration is the material used in making the products, which has a crucial role in the baby’s life. If you choose inexpensive plastic bottles to save money, you will regret the choice in the future as this directly hampers the child’s health.
Such bottles contain toxic materials that are released into the stored liquid and passed to the baby’s body. Thus, when buying a bottle, read the specifications carefully and make sure that you choose only the BPA-free products without fail.
If you are confident about maintaining the glass bottles well, go ahead since these are very easy to clean and sterilize. The only safety concern that arises is when the bottle breaks.
If you wish to buy the best product for your munchkin, consider the new-age silicone bottles, as these are superlative in terms of quality, and there are no safety concerns even in long-term usage.
2. Nipple Design and Flow
A paramount element of a feeding bottle is the nipple since your infant will be sucking on it, and hence, it has to be of the finest quality. Therefore, ensure you proceed with spout designs that facilitate regular milk flow according to the baby’s capacity.
A good quality silicone nipple with a shape similar to a mother’s breast is very popular these days since these are best for newborns and let them adapt to feeding with the least effort.
Some brands offer different bottle sizes and nipple designs for varied feeding needs at different ages, which means that as the baby grows and becomes a pro at feeding, the milk flow will automatically increase without causing any discomfort.
3. Anti-Colic Features
The most common problem that parents face when feeding a child with the bottle is colic pain. This pain in the abdomen arises from the air the baby tends to swallow while feeding. With the traditional bottles, it was a common concern.
Still, with the modern design, brands now offer anti-colic bottles with unique nipple designs and venting mechanisms, which ensure minimum air intake, which results in reduced incidents of gas and colic discomfort.
So, when placing an order, check the product details to see whether the bottle has the anti-colic feature, or else it will be very complicated in the future.
4. Size and Capacity
Most parents get confused about which feeding bottle is best for the baby in terms of capacity and size. Some believe it is wise to invest in big-size bottles as the baby’s feeding needs will increase as he grows, and a big bottle would meet the requirements well.
Though initially buying a big feeding bottle for longer usage may seem a great choice, we want to highlight that those small, tiny hands will find it difficult to hold them, which means they will lose interest in feeding efficiently.
It is recommended that the baby buy small capacity bottles initially as the baby would need small quantities at frequent intervals, and gradually, as his needs change, you should buy the larger capacity at the right time. Do consider the shape of the bottle for a firm grip and try to encourage self-holding during the feeding session.
5. Ease of Cleaning and Maintenance
Experts emphasize the importance of regular cleaning and bottle sterilization to maintain hygiene and avoid health issues. Therefore, when buying a bottle, check the cleaning instructions and preferably go for the wide-mouth bottles so that you can wash them easily by hand. Some brands also offer dishwasher-safe bottles, which is a great benefit as it takes less effort to maintain.
Using a mild, child-safe soap to clean the bottle and then sterilize them using a bottle sterilizer is recommended. If you do not have a sterilizer, boil the bottles in water for some time and let them dry properly before subsequent use.
If you are buying a bottle for a newborn, make sure you have at least 2-3 bottles so that there is appropriate rotation during each usage, and it also helps in extended product life.
6. Brand Reputation and Reviews
The choice of brand does make a difference when buying a feeding bottle for babies since reputed brands follow strict guidelines when designing products, which ensures that every product is child-safe and has all the necessary features for the best feeding experience and safety for the children.
If you wish to get honest feedback on any product, check out the reviews thousands of mommies have shared after using the feeding bottles. The genuine reviews will help you make a wise choice and give the best feeding product for your little angel.
7. Budget-Friendly Options
Every parent has budget considerations when buying baby products and feeding bottles are no exception. However, compromising on quality and safety to save some money is not recommended at all.
Hence, you must research to find the best quality bottles at affordable rates. Some brands offer exciting deals on their products for the customers and always deliver top-notch quality, which should be your choice.
Also Read: Why Bottle Sterilizer Has Become Essential Part Of Must Have Items After Baby’s Birth?
Key Takeaways
Now, you know all the key considerations to remember when choosing a feeding bottle for your little one, so go ahead and analyze your child’s feeding routine and compare different products before placing an order.
For the best deals and quality, you can explore the R for Rabbit feeding range for babies, as they offer best-in-class baby products at excellent prices. Remember, you need to evaluate the utility and safety features of the bottle and take a step towards a fun-filled feeding routine.
