Bottles...

[eliz77]

As we approach LO consistently taking 4 ounces, sometimes wanting more, and the fact my mom will start babysitting when I go back to work (bottle cleaning factor), I wanted to research what bottles to buy, and there are so many choices...SO! Which brands are you guys using and what do you like about them?

We currently use Dr. Brown's and Avent the most. Dr. Brown's were my favorite due to very little spit up but have many parts to clean. Avent are easier to clean, so huge plus there. Their NB nipples seem to flow a bit quicker than Dr. Browns so now that LO is older, he's doing better than he was as a NB-he'd have some spillage, more like he took in more than he was actually drinking and would just dribble a lot out, and he did have quite a bit of spit up as a NB. Someone also gave me a couple Tommee Tippees to try and I hated them in the beginning, mostly for same reasons as the Avent, much more leakage/spit up than Dr. Browns even with slowest flow nipples. I started trying them again and now LO seems to love them most. And easy to clean. TT's seem to have better reviews than Avents. 

Another question while I'm at it-what to do with the nipples once graduated to next level? H thinks we should pack all bottles/nipples away in case we have a 2nd (sterilize them before using again, of course), but I feel like nipples should be thrown out since they are cheap enough to replace.

[rayray007]

Feb 3, 2015 9:29:32 GMT -5 eliz77 said:

As we approach LO consistently taking 4 ounces, sometimes wanting more, and the fact my mom will start babysitting when I go back to work (bottle cleaning factor), I wanted to research what bottles to buy, and there are so many choices...SO! Which brands are you guys using and what do you like about them?

We currently use Dr. Brown's and Avent the most. Dr. Brown's were my favorite due to very little spit up but have many parts to clean. Avent are easier to clean, so huge plus there. Their NB nipples seem to flow a bit quicker than Dr. Browns so now that LO is older, he's doing better than he was as a NB-he'd have some spillage, more like he took in more than he was actually drinking and would just dribble a lot out, and he did have quite a bit of spit up as a NB. Someone also gave me a couple Tommee Tippees to try and I hated them in the beginning, mostly for same reasons as the Avent, much more leakage/spit up than Dr. Browns even with slowest flow nipples. I started trying them again and now LO seems to love them most. And easy to clean. TT's seem to have better reviews than Avents. 

Another question while I'm at it-what to do with the nipples once graduated to next level? H thinks we should pack all bottles/nipples away in case we have a 2nd (sterilize them before using again, of course), but I feel like nipples should be thrown out since they are cheap enough to replace.

I don't have bottle recs, but nipples should be thrown out. Same with pacifiers.

[liljsmomma]

We've used playtex vent aire from the the beginning and lo does great with them! No spit up easy to clean!

[feeshahd]

I also use Dr Brown bottles. They are a pain in the ass to clean but they work perfectly for us.
I would toss the nipples.

[nbateman5]

Love the avent, got a few free from motherhood maternity and tried them after hating the medelas and we love them. Still using the step 1 nippes even though LO is 8 weeks. Might try the step 2 again, first time around there was a lot of spillage out of her mouth.

[neonsun419]

We use plastic Avent and glass Evenflo. I like the Evenflo a lot because in addition to being glass and eliminating the BPA issue, I can also pump into them.

[erien22846]

We tried Dr. Brown's preemie nipples for the first time last night. They work with the Medela bottles that came with my pump and my Sweet Pea bottles. Previously we were using a Avent Natural bottle but the flow was too fast. It took her 15 minutes to drink 4 ounces last night so it better mimicked breastfeeding than the faster flow from the Avent nipple. Those are the only two nipples we've tried and she did fine with each.

[eliz77]

I have been using the Dr. Brown nipples on the Medela bottles when I pump and give LO that milk. He only just started getting frustrated with the NB nipples this week. The Avent flow nipples were too fast at 1st, but has not been a problem since LO turned 4 weeks. So I think it's more he's getting older and suck gets stronger. I HATED the TTs before and refused to try them, but when he is wide awake now, he does well. If he is dozing off, he does spill some.

I do have one Born Free bottle and that has always worked well, just has that extra piece to clean.

H seems to feel since nipples are silicon, they would be fine as long as not torn, etc. I pointed out how you can buy like 8 Dr. Brown nipples for $15 so may as well just throw out the old ones. We do have a Dr. Brown bottle sterilizer someone gifted us, but still...next LO can have his/her own nipples. 

[birch113]

Feb 4, 2015 8:54:48 GMT -5 Miss Killjoy said:

What's the reasoning behind tossing the nipples? Just curious.

We use a bunch of different bottles:

Medela Calma - Love this one the most. LO still latches properly on it, so we use it with the hope that she will eventually nurse again. No milk comes out unless she sucks on it, so the flow is easy to control. This one leads to the least gas. Never tried any other Medela nipples.

Born Free glass bottles - Second favourite and what we use when out because I have several, so I can fill them before leaving. LO still latches pretty well but the flow is a bit faster and she gets a bit more gas with these (but not too bad).

Tommee Tippee - I received a bunch of these from my sister and I hate them. They leak everywhere and flow too quickly.

Nuk - Ditto the TT comments.

I could kiss you! I've been searching all over for something like the Medela Calma, but that never came up in my search! I'm also hoping LO will eventually be able to nurse successfully, and I've been looking for a nipple that will be better practice. I just ordered two off Amazon. I've been using Tommee Tippee, and it's just too fast for him. Thank you!!!

[things]

I like and use Comotomo. It provides a breast-like latch, and it's super easy to clean. I also like the soft body.

[gdaniels77]

I just bought a Medela Calma nipple last week. We have a ton of Tommy Tippee and Avent bottles but the TT just pours out and the Avent bottles aren't much better for us. Haven't even tried the one Dr Browns we have because it looked way too complicated to mess with. The Calma is great. LO was not happy with any bottle before but when we tried the Calma she sucked it down at her own pace, no choking and no fussing. I feel better about her using them because she won't come to prefer bottle over breast. The other nice thing about it is that it works with any Medela bottle, even the 2.7 oz ones if you're just pumping a little bit.

[ladybug480]

Can we talk about bottle cleaning? BM is leaving a film on all our bottles, which sucks. Do I really need to buy special soap to clean them?

[mrscw]

Feb 4, 2015 16:48:12 GMT -5 ladybug480 said:

Can we talk about bottle cleaning? BM is leaving a film on all our bottles, which sucks. Do I really need to buy special soap to clean them?

Same, it's like the dishwasher did nothing. I use blue dawn and a bottle brush.

[kathytav]

I use a bottle brush and dawn dish soap then sterilize in a pot of boiling water. I noticed mine were getting a film on them and since I wasn't washing as soon as LO was done with her bottle, I have a big Tupperware on the side of the sink that I soak her bottle with soap and water before washing. I wait until I have at least 3 and wash them at that point

[kathytav]

We've only used the Dr. Browns but I love them. I'll deal with all the parts to clean. LO has reflux and still has only spit up three times since being home (she's 8 weeks on Thursday)

[birch113]

Miss Killjoy The Calmas were delivered. LO is struggling with them, but that's exactly why we need them. Hoping this will be a good workout to get us back to nursing.

[absolutelyayrianna]

I just ordered a calma as well. Fingers crossed!
But she also seems to do okay with the Avent but I'm hoping she'll do even better with the calma. We introduced Emfamil supplement to help with the acid reflux at night.

[marsava]

We've only ever used Tommee Tippee bottles so I can't really compare. I will say they can be a pain if you're not careful to put the top on correctly. They will leak like a mofo. Flow can be a little quick, but we've made out fine with the NB nipples.

[nbateman5]

Do doc brown bottles all have the same flow nipples? I didnt see anything on the package of individual bottles i got for free around xmas about flow..

[erien22846]

Feb 8, 2015 11:50:17 GMT -5 nbateman5 said:

Do doc brown bottles all have the same flow nipples? I didnt see anything on the package of individual bottles i got for free around xmas about flow..

It should say on the nipple. Look for a circled number (or letter?) on the bottom.

[kathytav]

Feb 8, 2015 11:50:17 GMT -5 nbateman5 said:

Do doc brown bottles all have the same flow nipples? I didnt see anything on the package of individual bottles i got for free around xmas about flow..

Look for a number on the nipple (circled in pic below).

[nbateman5]

Ah ha! Thanks ladies!

[amiee]

I like playtex drop ins- (vent air) I used regular playtex 10 yrs ago with my first and loved it. We tried a few others- she hated them so playtex it is. I would buy one or two of the brands that you would like to try and see which LO prefers. Otherwise you could be buying a bunch of one kind that LO doesn't like. Good luck

[eliz77]

Feb 10, 2015 13:59:55 GMT -5 amiee said:

I like playtex drop ins- (vent air) I used regular playtex 10 yrs ago with my first and loved it. We tried a few others- she hated them so playtex it is. I would buy one or two of the brands that you would like to try and see which LO prefers. Otherwise you could be buying a bunch of one kind that LO doesn't like. Good luck

LO doesn't seem picky about his bottles at all! The only time I noticed fussiness is when he "outgrew" the Dr. Brown NB nipples. I bought next size up and all is well! So far the Avents seems be our favorites, but he likes the Tommee Tipee and Born Free. He also will take the medela bottle, but I usually put a Dr. Brown nipple on it since flow seems quicker and he dribbles-laundry issues more than unhappy baby issues!

Haven't tried playtex drop ins, but have read good things about them so H wants to give them a try.

Only reason I started this thread is we have all 4oz bottles, aside two 8oz Dr Browns. Soon we will be buying a few bigger bottles now that LO sometimes wants more than 4oz per feeding...figure bigger feedings aren't too far off!

[ainslie325]

I used Tommy Tippees (the simpler design, not extra parts/anti-colic) for our first and again for this baby.  Both have taken to them well.  We have not had problems with leaking or too-fast flow; in fact, we switched our first child to the Level 2 nipple before three months of age because he was getting frustrated and gulping air trying to pull milk from the Level 1 nipple.  I guess one really never knows what will work for a certain baby. We were lucky in that the brand I picked ended up being a good fit.  I know other moms who have had a much tougher time finding a bottle their babies would tolerate.

[eliz77]

I really like the shape of the Tommy Tippee bottles-I find them easier to hold if I'm in danger of dozing off! We use the simple design ones as well, didn't know there was another style. But until like 2 weeks ago, even the smallest nipple had LO dribbling quite a bit of formula. Now that he is older, he does well with them. We have both the X and 1 nipples, I don't think he's ready for #2. They seem pretty similar to the Avent bottles. Only complaint is sometimes the nipple collapses. I don't have that problem with the Avents.

[ljob22]

this is my third and we've used born free w/ all of them and been very happy. oldest is 3 and we tried avent and tommee tippee when he was born but settled on born free and haven't tried another since.

[malmomma]

I use the Tommy tippee anti-colic, they were a baby shower gift, but I love them. We use the 1 nipples and they work perfectly for LO. I've tried Avent, but he definitely prefers the TT bottles.

[2jelplus1]

I originally resisted Dr Brown's bottles because of extra parts but LC said they were best (slowest) nipple option when LO was refusing boob in favor of Level 1 Avent nipple. It worked! She has to work hard for bottle milk now and prefers boob. At 10 weeks old and 6 of successful nursing, I wonder if we can go back to Avent. I've heard great things about comotomo but think DH will lose his mind if I buy yet another set of expensive bottles!

I actually started this post to point out that I ended up not finding cleaning dr Brown's bottles that much of a pain to clean. We disassemble, rinse briefly, soak in a bowl of hot water and dapple soap, later rinse colic valve with water, use bottlebrush on nipple and bottle and rinse, then throw all parts in the sterilizer with the day's pacifiers.

[eliz77]

I throw all my used bottle parts in a tupperware, soak and wash as well. H will run them through the dishwasher when he is home. We only user sterilizer for new things.

Last night I realized I have a pair on Mam bottles as well. They are 9oz bottles so haven't tried them yet, So turns out I have 6 bigger bottles on handL two each of Dr Brown, Avent and now Mam!