Unsure About My Bottles

[dacora]

So we've been using Avent Bottles (Natural and Classic) since we switched from the 2 oz nursers we got from the hospital (she's been on formula since her first night). They've been working okay so far, but I'm starting to wonder if they aren't as good as I think they are. For the most part she eats from them fine, but when I pull the nipple out of her mouth or she loses suction a rush of bubbles goes back into the bottle. If the venting systems in the nipples were working properly, shouldn't this not happen? I've tried using the next level of nipples with two holes, but the flow seems too fast for her because she gets formula everywhere and sometimes chokes.

Something I've mentioned before is that in the afternoon there tends to be a bottle or two that she fights. She'll eat some if it and then scream if I try to put the bottle back in her mouth (or even put her back into the feeding position). She is also really gassy, tooting off and on all day. Usually it doesn't seem to bother her, but sometimes she'll cry and fuss until I hear her pass a few loud farts (I keep thinking she's trying to poop, but usually it isn't the case).

She sleeps just fine, and is content most of the day. The afternoons/evenings are the worst, which seems normal for her age so I'm not sure that the bottles are a problem. But, I don't have any comparison so I have no idea if we could be doing better with other bottles.

What do you think ladies? I wanted to get some input before spending any more money, I've already dropped a fair bit on the bottles and nipples we have now. Does it sound like things are good enough, or could we do better? We've got at least another 10 months of bottle feeding, I want to go with something that would be best for everyone.

[dramacat]

We used the same bottles and had the similar issues. We ended up having to change both formula and bottles.

We ended up buying 1 dr browns bottle and using it for every feeding for two days. We realized that it made a significant change for LO and ended up purchasing more. Maybe try that, since one bottle is $5 which isn't a huge investment.

[dacora]

dramacat That's great to know, glad to know that I'm not imagining a problem that isn't there. I'm hesitant to try the Dr Browns because of all the parts, but I do have one that I got for free from Babies R Us (one of their holiday gifts around Valentine's Day). You've definitely given me motivation to at least try a different brand.

[dramacat]

Yeah, I was not excited about Dr. Brown's because of the amount of parts, but LO was screaming from gas pains for 3 hours every night and nothing worked. That was motivation enough to put up with the hassle of cleaning the bottles.

[miniwheat]

I use Born Free. I love them and both my kids did/do very well with them. If the venting is working, the bubbles will consistently be venting out into the bottle. That is how the born free works anyways. If the bottle is assembled wrong, it will let the bubbles out all at once or the nipple collapses. Born Free also hold up really well and I have been really pleased.
I tried Avent with DS and I think they suck because of the same reasons you listed.

[mels823]

I would definitely suggest buying a Dr. Brown and a few other types to try. I'm really liking the Mam bottles! Using either the Mam or dr. Browns is making a huge difference with LO.

[missys]

I dealt with similar issues with a gassy baby and tried avent, playtex ventaire, and finally gave in to trying dr. Browns even though I didn't want to deal with the parts either. We went with the standard bottle instead of wideneck dr. Browns because we had used formula in the nicu and he had gotten used to the standard nipple they had. His fussing has gotten less and I think they are working. I bought one and just the sheer fact he took it rather than fighting like he had the other ones made me a happy momma!

[anchovies]

Another Dr Browns fan! We had been using both Avent types and tommee tippee and they all caused DS to take in too much air.

I really don't think the extra pieces are a bother at all.

[mommadozer]

LO used to suck so much air through the avent natural, I could hear it. I started using them again because I have a bunch of them and I slacked at washing the dr. Brown in time. They seem to be working better if the entire nipple is not filled with milk and there is room at the top.

I am trying out the Tommee tippee bottled when they arrive tomorrow. They have a legit air vent at the top. I like the dr brown ones too.

[dacora]

dramacat, mels823, missys, anchovies, mommadozer

Ladies that have used Dr Browns, do you have the standard tall bottles or the wide neck? Have any of you had issues with leaking? I was reading some reviews on Amazon and I was wondering what experiences you all have had. Some said that in order to prevent leaking you had to make sure all the parts were completely dry before assembling the bottle, which sounds like a huge pain when you're washing bottles throughout the day...

[missys]

Apr 5, 2015 10:03:20 GMT -5 dacora said:

dramacat, mels823, missys, anchovies, mommadozer

Ladies that have used Dr Browns, do you have the standard tall bottles or the wide neck? Have any of you had issues with leaking? I was reading some reviews on Amazon and I was wondering what experiences you all have had. Some said that in order to prevent leaking you had to make sure all the parts were completely dry before assembling the bottle, which sounds like a huge pain when you're washing bottles throughout the day...

We use the standard bottles because he used the standard nipples in the nicu and preferred them to the wideneck (we tried both). I have had no leaking issues.

[mels823]

dacora, I've only tried the standard tall ones and don't plan on going for the wide neck ones. No issues with leaking either, and my bottle is definitely not always dry when I assemble it!! I just bought a package of 6 of them on Amazon for less than $30, so hopefully now that I will have more than one I won't have to deal with washing bottles all day long and can do one major wash at night!

[dacora]

mels823 Definitely good to know you haven't had any issues with leaking even when assembling not totally dry, that was my main concern from what I'd been reading.

I'm curious to see what others have to say, but it seems like I'm going to be ordering more Dr Brown bottles. Thanks so much for all the feedback so far ladies!

[dramacat]

I have the standard neck as well. I've had leaking issues if I travel with a bottle that has liquid in it and I don't use the little disk that is meant to stop leaking. This includes spilling leftover milk after a feeding.
Or if I prepare a bottle and shake the formula without putting the vent piece in (the rubber part acts like a seal for the opening).
I think the leaking people talk about when the bottle isn't completely dry happens when you put the bottle together and prepare formula. What leaks is not milk, but the water that is left on the bottle gets squeezed out when you shake. I've checked several times and it's not milk.

Otherwise the bottles work well and have never leaked while in use.

[missys]

Does anyone have any tips for making the formula in the dr. Brown bottles? The directions say to not shake but stir the formula....wtf. Do you all just put in the disk and shake?

[missys]

Apr 5, 2015 15:24:04 GMT -5 @nolagal said:

Apr 5, 2015 15:19:56 GMT -5 missys said:

Does anyone have any tips for making the formula in the dr. Brown bottles? The directions say to not shake but stir the formula....wtf. Do you all just put in the disk and shake?

I'm laughing hard at stirred, not shaken. How the hell would you stir formula? It seems an impossible task.

Right?! Are they going to give me another piece to do that? James Bond would not be impressed.

[dramacat]

Apr 5, 2015 15:19:56 GMT -5 missys said:

Does anyone have any tips for making the formula in the dr. Brown bottles? The directions say to not shake but stir the formula....wtf. Do you all just put in the disk and shake?

Huh, weird. I only put in the disk when I'm making a bottle outside of our home. Otherwise I put the whole bottle together stop up the nipple with my finger and erroneously shake away.

[dacora]

Apr 5, 2015 15:36:42 GMT -5 dramacat said:

Apr 5, 2015 15:19:56 GMT -5 missys said:

Does anyone have any tips for making the formula in the dr. Brown bottles? The directions say to not shake but stir the formula....wtf. Do you all just put in the disk and shake?

Huh, weird. I only put in the disk when I'm making a bottle outside of our home. Otherwise I put the whole bottle together stop up the nipple with my finger and erroneously shake away.

Do you not have to worry about formula getting into the blue tube? I was debating getting a mixing pitcher because I wasn't sure about powder getting into the venting system when mixing.

[anchovies]

I've had them leak if not stored upright during travel. I always measure the water and formula into a Tupperware cup and shake/pour. I can make up several bottles this way and just pour it. It's easier for me that way.

[lilyelayne]

Apr 5, 2015 15:19:56 GMT -5 missys said:

Does anyone have any tips for making the formula in the dr. Brown bottles? The directions say to not shake but stir the formula....wtf. Do you all just put in the disk and shake?

Fwiw, SIL always swirled her Dr Brown bottles instead of shaking. No first hand experience; I just remembered seeing her do it after reading this post.

[mommadozer]

Apr 5, 2015 10:03:20 GMT -5 dacora said:

dramacat, mels823, missys, anchovies, mommadozer

Ladies that have used Dr Browns, do you have the standard tall bottles or the wide neck? Have any of you had issues with leaking? I was reading some reviews on Amazon and I was wondering what experiences you all have had. Some said that in order to prevent leaking you had to make sure all the parts were completely dry before assembling the bottle, which sounds like a huge pain when you're washing bottles throughout the day...

I believe I have the wide neck. Ours do not leak and no they are not dry when assembled most of the time. You just have to make sure the piece that sits inside the together and then when placing the piece into the bottle that it is all the way in the bottle. I'm sure people are complaining about leaking because that inside piece is not completely placed in the bottle which would cause the nipple to not seal properly. It's not that hard, trust me.

We just started trying the Tommee tippee bottles today and they seem to work just as well as the dr Browns

[anchovies]

I forgot to add we use the wide neck. I ordered the travel caps off of Amazon. I'll let you know my experience with those.

[abseptember]

I've tried several types of bottles. I too am using Avent and don't really like them... leaky and gassy. I did try dr. Browns and saw no difference in gas and I did feel all the parts were a pain. I like the born free bottles alot... only issue is stage 1 is too slow and stage 2 is too fast for my guys. My plan is to stick with avent for now and try them on born free stage 2 at 3 months. If they can handle the flow, then I'll switch. They currently use avent stage 2.

Fwiw- I shook formula in dr b with no issues.

[dramacat]

Apr 5, 2015 17:27:07 GMT -5 dacora said:

Apr 5, 2015 15:36:42 GMT -5 dramacat said:

Huh, weird. I only put in the disk when I'm making a bottle outside of our home. Otherwise I put the whole bottle together stop up the nipple with my finger and erroneously shake away.

Do you not have to worry about formula getting into the blue tube? I was debating getting a mixing pitcher because I wasn't sure about powder getting into the venting system when mixing.

I just insert the tube at an angle so it doesn't get powder in it. Then I shake, I haven't had trouble with clogging the tube.

[dacora]

Thanks again everyone for your input! I went out to Walmart yesterday (the only thing open on Easter) to pick up more Dr Brown bottles and level 2 nipples and so far so good. Washing all of them after bringing them home took FOREVER but it's not so bad when I'm staggering it so I wash about three bottles at a time.

I also went ahead and ordered the formula pitcher, mostly so I can make odd oz bottles since DD is eating between 4-5oz right now, but each scoop of powder makes 2oz. And the tall, standard neck bottles are annoying to pour powder into...

Now that it seems much easier for her to eat (I don't have to pull the nipple out of her mouth to get air back into the bottle so that it flows properly) I think she's being lazy, lol! She'll just stop sucking and look around, or push the bottle out of her mouth to take a 'break' to coo and smile at me. She's so adorable, but I'm like, Roslin eat! Silly girl.