When to Increase Nipple Flow

TerraC75 · October 2012

I did a search and saw tons of old posts on this topic but really didn't find the answers I was looking for.

How do you know when LO is ready for the next level of nipple flow? Are there signs I should be looking for when she is eating or is there a certain age when we should just move to the next level?

We currently use the Playtex drop in bottles with the slow flow nipple. Sometimes it takes her forever to finish a bottle and sometimes there is a loud "smacking" sound when she is sucking.

Weight gain is definitely not an issue so I know she is getting plenty from the slow flow. She was 7 lb 6 oz at birth and is about 11 and a half pounds now.

Mrs.RockyM · October 2012

I'd switch when it starts taking forever for her to drink the bottle, or she's really frustrated at how hard she has to suck.

kpearse99 · October 2012

Hi!

Look for the nipple to be collapsing, that is a good sign that the flow is too slow and it's time to try the next level nipple.... not so much taking too long to eat. DS is almost 4 months and we tried the next level a few days ago because the level ones were collapsing, but he spit up more. So I'm going to wait a few more weeks and try again (which was some advice I got from the 3-6 month board) and they said it worked like a charm for them.

downwardsunshine · October 2012

We switched to level two's because it was taking like an hour for him to finish a bottle and he would fall asleep before he was finished.

katieh1017 · October 2012

downwardsunshine:

We switched to level two's because it was taking like an hour for him to finish a bottle and he would fall asleep before he was finished.

This exactly.

NJbaby2012 · October 2012

I don't use playtex - I use Dr Browns. My daughter took forever to finish the bottle on a level 1 at about 4 weeks old. Switched her to level 2 and she's fine. The thing to watch for is more spit up cause they start gusling. LOL

rpt06 · October 2012

You could always try a vari flow nipple. The harder baby sucks the more that comes out.

lancyjo · October 2012

Aria is still on the slow flow nipples at 8 months. She gets furious if you try to bump her up to anything faster.

I was worried that something was wrong, since she should be on the fast flow ones if you go by the age on the package. My pedi said this was actually a marketing gimmick, and the slow flow best mimicks the flow baby would get from the breast. He said if you want to bump your child up to a faster nipple and they tolerate it well, then that's fine... but there's nothing wrong with staying on the slower flow indefinitely.

It takes Aria around 10-15 minutes to down 8 ounces. We don't have any belly issues, and she doesn't ever fuss at the bottle.

ETA: We use the Playtex Ventaire bottles, regular sized nipple. (not wide-neck)

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