When babies are born I generally tell moms to not sweat the small stuff; babies need two things – love and boobs. When planning to breastfeed a bottle may not come up on your list of things to get for your new little one. However, after a while introducing a bottle is not a bad idea. There are plenty of times where bottle feeding can come in handy such as date night or returning to work. Whichever lifestyle is right for you as a breastfeeding mother, keeping that bond is important when choosing a breast feeding bottle to incorporate.
This list is composed of the most common choices for breastfeeding moms in no particular order. Each baby is different and will respond to each bottle in a way that is unique to him or her. Don’t be afraid to venture out of this list and try something your girlfriend recommended. These bottle were manufactured with breastfeeding babies in mind, though every child’s latch might desire something more or less complex.
Phillips AVENT
AVENT bottles aren’t directly marketed towards breastfeeders, but the wide nipple and unique comfort petals promote natural latch-on and kind of give it away, if you ask me. The vast surface area of the bottle’s nipple is important because it keeps baby calmed and soothed while maintaining contact with other parts of baby’s face. The ergonomic shape is also reported to be amazingly simple to clean and assemble.
Tommee Tippee
For both of my own children I tried Tommee Tippee because I so desperately wanted to be one of the many success stories I heard on breastfeeding forums. Supposedly the silicone nipple feels like skin, and gently elongates and flexes during feeding to mimic natural breastfeeding action. These bottles are often considered the cure for colicky babies.
Dr. Brown’s
When it comes to my personal success story, Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow gets my vote. Though there are quite a few extra parts that make clean up a pain in the you-know-what, it’s totally worth it if your baby suffers from reflux or has gas issues. Plus, they throw in a tiny little brush to help you reach those tiny crevices when you are slumped over the kitchen sink wondering if it really was worth that trip alone to Target.
Breastflow
The double nipple of Breastflow bottles by The First Years really sold a lot of moms right off the bat. It used to be the only feeding system that requires both suction and compression (like breastfeeding), so everyone went nuts over getting some. Though it is an excellent option for those sometimes picky nursers, some moms decide against the messy clean up and leaky milk-trapping nipples.
Born Free
I can’t even count how many times I’ve heard “My EBF baby would only take Born Free bottles.” No personal experience here, but the fuss-free guarantee seems to be true for both care givers and babies. Plus, the company really one-upped everyone else by making sure that all of the nipples, collars, valves, and sippy cup spouts and handles are interchangeable on all Born Free bottles and transition cups. Talk about bang for your buck!
MAM Anti-colic
The silicone nipple, vented base, and sterilization functionality of MAM bottles makes them a treat for busy moms. Though the nipple tends to be on the narrow side, it is soft and flexible. The vented base allows for air flow reducing gas in infants. But what really makes these bottle awesome is that you can assemble it to be self-sterilizing in under 3 minutes using your home microwave. Convenience high five!
Breast Feeding Bottles – When to Introduce?
After about two or three weeks is a good time to start the occasional bottle. Don’t worry about making it a habit. The goal is to simple get your baby used to feeding out of a bottle. If you wait too long you’ll wind up with a baby that won’t take a bottle at all, like my first child.
With my second child it was a lot of trial and error. We simply went down the list until we found one he liked.
A note of caution, when choosing to bottle feed your baby do not heat up more than 2 ounces at a time. Many infants can overeat with a bottle because they don’t always get the natural pacing that breastfeeding has to offer. The same is true if you’re choosing to supplement with formula. Less milk at more frequent intervals is best for a breastfed baby.
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