Do nipples "expire"?

lew0509

I've been stashing away all of DS's stuff for the new baby, but I'm wondering about the nipples on his bottles. I know that pacifiers have a certain lifespan, does this apply to nipples to? I really don't want to have to buy all new nipples all over again. We use the Avent bottles.

mplesset23

Supposedly you are supposed to buy new nipples every few months or when they show signs of ripping, etc. 

I am going to save all my nipples for my next LO (whenever that may be).  If when my next one arrives and the nipples don't look good, then I'll go out and get more. 

SunnyD2011

Ya I would think you need to get new ones for the next baby.

memali26

The bottles themselves should be fine to use for the next baby, but I would replace the nipples. Same reason as the pacifiers - the soft plastic/latex they are often made of can break down easily, especially if stored at very high or very low temps, or if the temp swings from one extreme to the other. Plastic that breaks down is prone to ripping/tearing more easily, which poses a choking risk if a chunk comes off. I'm sure plenty of people re-use them with no issue, but for me, it's a better safe than sorry kind of thing.

candylies

I was not going to save any nipples. I will re-use the bottles but will definitely buy new nipples for the next one.

 

kflo416

I was wondering the same thing, and technically, the manufacturer recommends to replace them every 3 months I think (yeah right!).  I am storing mine in a plastic tote in my closet to avoid extremes in temperature, and I will check them out once we have another baby.  I agree that the bottles should be fine, and probably the smaller nipples (Avent 1,2) that baby didn't use for long.  DS is getting much more use out of the Avent 3 and variable flow nipples, so I may discard those once he is done with them.