Baby Bottle Basics

Let's get back to the basics of life.

Choices, choices, what’s a person to do?

If that is how you feel when confronted with the task of choosing a baby bottle, fear no more, The Baby Store UG is here to help. Here are some baby bottle basics to help you make the right choice for baby and you.

Despite all the different brands, baby bottles mainly differ in four ways; material, nipples, shape, and features. Let’s start with the material the bottles are made of. Baby bottles come in two different materials, glass and plastic. Glass bottles made their comeback in recent years when concerns about plastic bottles containing a dangerous chemical, known as BPA, became real. When choosing bottles, consider that glass bottles are heavier and more easily broken than plastic ones. They are, however, 100% free of dangerous chemicals. Plastic bottles on the other hand cost less, and are lighter and easier for baby to hold. When buying plastic bottles make sure they are certified BPA free.

All the plastic bottles sold by The Baby Store UG are certified BPA free. Another way we are looking out for our customers.

Next, let’s talk about the nipples. Bottle nipples come in many different shapes and sizes. The main difference is the speed at which the milk passes through the nipple. Younger babies take in smaller amounts of milk at a slower rate and so need nipples that control the flow of milk. As babies get older they consume more, at a faster rate, and therefore need nipples that allow them to do so. Babies actually get frustrated when using a nipple too small for them, as they have to work harder to get the milk to come out. Also, don’t forget to replace nipples when they become cracked, old, discolored, or show signs of wear and tear. Latex nipples, though softer, don’t last as long as silicone nipples and might need more frequent replacing. We recommend silicone nipples as they are stronger, sturdier, and last longer.

Make sure the nipple you are using is the right size for your baby.

The next thing to consider is the shape of the bottle. There are straight bottles and contoured ones, wide ones and narrow ones. Bottles with a broader neck are easier to clean by hand, while those with narrow necks require the use of a bottle brush.

Besides being easier to clean, bottles with a wider neck more closely mimic breastfeeding and so can help prevent nipple confusion. Contoured, or angled, baby bottles help prevent baby from swallowing air while drinking, they are also easier for baby to hold.

Contoured bottles may also help prevent ear infections.

Lastly, we’ll discuss the extra features that many bottles today contain. These include anti-colic features such as special venting mechanisms. While these might seem like frills added on to increase the price of bottles, these anti-colic features actually do make for better bottles. Vented baby bottles, or natural flow bottles, actually reduce the amount of air baby swallows which helps prevent gas and colic.

While all this can feel daunting, do not dismay, www.thebabystoreug.com has all these products and more to help you best take care of baby.