How Do I Choose the Right Bottle for my Baby?

Aug 27, 2024

Life is about learning new skills: learning how to walk, learning how to talk, learning how to kiss someone, learning to show up at dull meetings with an exploding pack of … (nah nevermind, that’s a story for another day) but learning how to feed a baby is a whole different level of skill 🤯

I mean, you’d think it’s simple, you either decide to breastfeed or bottle-feed (just a choice and entirely up to you, right? But not only do you realize that your baby also has a say in this (not to mention the rest of the world), but also that they might have specific taste in nipples, how much milk they like to get in one feeding etc. Oh and yes, you are entirely, completely, responsible for your baby’s wellbeing, growth, happiness… NO PRESSURE.

Only kidding.

Ok, let’s back up for a minute and make a list of things you’ll need to get started if you decide to bottle feed that beautiful bébé of yours.

When it comes to bottle feeding, what you need is pretty straight forward:

A bottle, with teat and cap

Milk, either breastmilk or formula, warmed to body temperature

A nice set up to feed (sofa, bed, pillow etc..)

Let’s zoom in on the details:

What you’ll need

Number of bottles: you might need to test a few so only get started with one before buying a whole set but once you choose the right type for you and bebe get 4 to 6 bottles with teats and caps.
Type of bottle: You also have a whole lot of bottles with anti-colic systems that reduce air intake, or some nipples that mimic the natural shape and feel of the breast but hey, remember a lot of it is marketing and your baby will make sure to let you know which one works best… so go with that. No stress on choosing, just make sure to stay simple and test out before committing to a brand/style.
Nipples: nipples are labeled with an age but really it’s just a general indication and what you end up with might depend on your baby. I never moved my son to a higher flow than 3 which is equivalent to 6m+ but some babies might need a higher flow sooner. Follow your baby’s cues.
Plastic bottle vs glass bottle: Make sure the bottle shape is easy to hold and that the brand you select is BPA-free. This is if you choose a plastic bottle because you can also choose a bottle in glass. Plastic bottles however are much more convenient for travel and glass ones can be too heavy for a baby to carry when they begin holding the bottle themselves.
Bottle brushes: Get a good bottle brush to clean your bottles properly! It’s something you’ll use every day. I invested in one that’s light and easy to carry. I took the bottle brush with me on trips and cleaned my baby’s bottles everywhere – airplane toilets, hotel bathrooms, even my friend’s kitchen (how do you clean your bottles, Emmie?!).

What you dont need

A whole variety of sizes: no need to get a whole set of the small 4 oz bottles because it won’t be too long before your baby switches to a bigger one.
Sterilizer: As new parents we want to do things perfectly, and we might get very stressed out about sterilizing bottles. The answer is: NO, you don’t need to sterilize your baby’s bottle after each use, but YES you need to do it the first time BEFORE using it then you can clean it thoroughly with warm soapy water. If you want a deeper clean you can put the bottles in the top drawer of your dishwasher and use the sanitize mode if you have one.

That’s a little start into the world of bottles for babies. That’s it! You’re all set.