When breastfeeding your baby, you can still choose to give your baby a bottle of breast milk or formula for feeding times. But how can you be sure that its features won't interfere with the breastfeeding routine you’ve worked hard to establish? In this article, we reveal 7 tips to help you ensure you are using the best bottle for your breastfeeding journey.
1. The best bottle must closely mimic breastfeeding suction
First of all, make sure the bottle you choose best imitates breastfeeding conditions. Be sure the bottle has a physiological nipple. This type of nipple is better suited for a breastfed baby, as its shape resembles the mother’s nipple.
Parents: Pay close attention to nipple sizes and choose the one that matches your infant’s age. Note that nipples come in different materials and each one has its own pros and cons. To learn more about them, we invite you to read our article on physiological nipples.
2. The best bottle for your breastfeeding should be practical for daily use
Make sure the bottle you choose to supplement breastfeeding is easy to use. The bottle should not break if it falls to the ground—your baby could get hurt. That said, if you really want to get a glass bottle, you can fit it with a silicone sleeve to protect it from potential impacts.
It is essential that the bottle is easy to clean by hand and no milk residue remains stuck in hard-to-reach corners. This could promote bacterial growth and present a health risk to your baby. Being able to put the bottle in the dishwasher is a plus and will save you time! Its size should be ergonomic for an easy grip!
3. The best bottle for your breastfeeding should not cause stomach problems for your baby
You shouldn’t entrust the important task of feeding your child to an unsuitable bottle. Colic, reflux, regurgitation… A bottle should not cause your child any digestive discomfort.
Fortunately, some bottles are equipped with features to help reduce air intake during feedings. For example, some bottles have anti-colic valves. Others come in special shapes (angled or S-shaped) that allow the nipple to stay full at all times. This also significantly reduces the amount of air swallowed.
4. The best bottle for your breastfeeding should be comfortable for your baby
A bottle made of a soft material reminiscent of mom’s skin texture will be highly appreciated by your baby! Your little one should be able to hold it easily in their tiny hands, without the bottle slipping or being too heavy. Babies have difficulty managing frustration, and any interruption during feeding can trigger a crying episode or even cause your child to refuse the rest of the bottle.
The size of the bottle should match your baby’s age.
It is best to offer a graduated bottle that holds up to 5 oz. (150 ml) until your baby is about 2-3 months old, to suit the small quantities of milk newborns consume. If the bottle is larger, it will contain more air, which can increase the risk of infant colic.
5. The best bottle to supplement your breastfeeding must meet current manufacturing standards
It is nearly impossible today to find bottles for sale in France that don’t meet current manufacturing standards.
However, with the rise of secondhand stores and online resale sites, it’s important to stay vigilant. A bottle that’s twenty years old is most likely no longer up to code and should not be used to supplement your breastfeeding baby.
It is strongly recommended to purchase a bottle in its original packaging showing the required certifications. Also check that the label includes "Meets safety requirements."
6. The best bottle for your breastfeeding must not be damaged
It might sound obvious, but chewed-up and damaged nipples are still regularly given to children in France. This is dangerous for your child. They could swallow small pieces and choke on them, or worse, face medical complications (infections, blockages, etc.).
Always check before giving your baby a bottle to make sure it is in good working order and poses no risk to your child. If the bottle is damaged or broken, don’t throw it away—send it to the association TerraCycle, which will recycle it and give it a second life.
7. The best bottle for your breastfeeding should withstand heat
When you breastfeed your baby, the milk is at your body temperature, around 97 °F (36 °C). When preparing a bottle of formula or cooled breast milk, you can create conditions closer to breastfeeding by warming the bottle in a water bath. Some bottles do not handle boiling well and might eventually deform; this is especially true for plastic bottles. Glass bottles, on the other hand, can shatter if exposed to sudden, drastic temperature changes.
Silicone bottles are, however, highly resistant to extreme temperatures! They are also very soft, and babies particularly enjoy their silky texture.
Note: always check the milk’s temperature on the inside of your wrist before feeding your baby. Never refreeze breast milk that has already been thawed.
Key Takeaways:
The best bottle for breastfeeding should closely imitate breastfeeding conditions, be comfortable for your baby, and practical for everyday use.
To achieve this, you should be able to prepare, wash, and store it easily. It should not cause your baby stomach pain and especially should not show damage that could put them in danger.
Check that the bottle you choose to supplement breastfeeding meets current regulations before giving it to your child.If in doubt, don’t take any chances—but don’t throw your bottles away; give them a second life through collection and recycling associations!
