Baby Bottle Teats: How to Choose and Use (2024)

FAQs

Baby Bottle Teats: How to Choose and Use? ›

It can be helpful to choose teats according to a baby's age. Teats for younger babies tend to have smaller and fewer holes, teats for older babies have larger holes. Some babies have preferences for specific teats. You may want to try a couple of different types of teats to see which design your baby prefers.

There is no “right” time to change your baby's teat level. Every baby is different; some babies will be perfectly content using level one throughout their bottle feeding days, while others are more aggressive eaters and need to advance to the next level.

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Most babies do best with a slow-flow “newborn” teat; you might need to try a few different brands and teats to find one with a speed your baby likes (flow rate is not standardized across different brands).

As a baby's feeding develops and they are taking a longer time feeding from a Level 1 teat, many parents choose to move up to a Level 2 teat. Consider Level 2 if your baby is accepting early solid foods, or if their Healthcare Professional has recommended thickening their milk.

The wrong size and shape teat can make reflux much worse. Too fast and your baby will gulp and take in large air bubbles, too slow and more air than milk is sucked in. Sucking with little reward can frustrate and exhaust your baby.

The suggested age range for the Level 1 teat is 0 months+ but baby's preferred flow rate may vary. The contoured breast-like shape encourages a proper latch for a more natural bottle-feeding experience.

The size of the hole determines how quickly or slowly the milk flows. If the hole is the wrong size, your baby may feed too quickly, too slowly, or swallow too much air. The ideal bottle nipple allows a few drops of milk to drip out as soon as you turn the bottle upside down, then the dripping should stop.

Designed to reduce feeding issues like colic, acid reflux and gas, the Philips Avent Anti-Colic Bottle comes in at the top of our list for several reasons. First, it's equipped with an air-free vent that ensures the nipple is full of milk even when the bottle is held horizontally for upright feeding sessions.

You will want to start with five-ounce bottles and then move to eight-ounce bottles until the baby is about four months old. Once the baby reaches four months, you will need to buy larger bottles to accommodate the child's growing appetite.

What happens if a baby drinks a bottle too fast? ›

Some babies drink very fast, and their stomachs expand too quickly. This makes it easier for them to regurgitate, especially if they are very active and start moving around right after feeding. If milk is coming out of the bottle too quickly, your baby will drink too much just to satisfy her need to suck.

Using an open cup or a free-flow cup without a valve will help your baby learn to sip and is better for your baby's teeth. It might be messy at first but be patient, your baby will gradually learn how to drink from an open cup. Once your baby is 1 year old, feeding from a bottle should be discouraged.