Bottle nipples

hunterjumper102 · February 2013

So C is EBF but we do give him a bottle of expressed milk every night before bed so DH can be involved. We use Avent bottles/nipples and he is still on level 1(0months) at 3.5 months old. We have tried to move up to their level 2(1+ month) nipple and he really can't handle it. He starts gulping and gets overwhelmed and then gets angry. It doesn't bother me because he is eating fine with the level 1 and taking 6oz in about 10-15min but it bothers DH. DH feels like it is a developmental thing and he should be able to take a level 2 nipple and that we need to force the issue. Thought? I am not sure about forcing the issue because well I don't want him to choke and I worry about creating a problem that I don't see is there. Am I wrong or does this seem like an issue to you?

ELF4321 · February 2013

Don't force it. If he isn't ready, he'll end up gulping a lot of air and get really gassy. DD has never moved up on the timeframe they claim on the nipples.

Plus, if you are BFing, a lot of people stay with the slower ones because it's closer to the speed of BFing. If he gets used to a faster flow from the bottle, you run the risk that he will start getting frustrated with BFing and may begin to refuse the breast.

wille2b · February 2013

i seriously would not worry about it, our first ds used the slow flow well into 6 months. I dont think its a developemental issue. if he is used to BFing then the flow is fairly slow so you should keep with the slower flow with a bottle as well, that is what he is familiar with

IBackBevo · February 2013

We use a different bottle, but it has slow flow, medium flow and fast flow. The "slow flow" is supposed to be for 0-3, the "medium" 3-6 and "fast" 6+.

My LO is still (for the most part) on the slow flow at over 5 months. We give him the medium flow when we give him his prevacid because it cloggs up the nipple on the slow flow. Occassionally, he ends up with a medium flow just because someone will not be paying attention and put the wrong nipple on the bottle. He does not choke on it and eats much faster, but I also notice that he gets alot more gas, spits up more and will tend to get fussy. Therefore, we have kept him on the slow flow. It is a pain in the behind because at times he will take 10-13 ounces and it will take him 45 minutes or more to eat!!!

I do not think it is a developmental issue. For my LO, I think the slower flow nipples help him take in less air and help with his GERD (reflux). I also think that with the faster flow nipples he will gorge himself to the point of being sick (and spitting up), but the slower flow nipples give him a chance to realize that he is full. With that said, my LO is also a bit of a glutton and does not seem to have an "off" switch when it comes to eating. He was IUGR at birth so I am glad he is such a good eater, but I also think it means that he can eat to the point of making himself sick at times.

amandaleigh1 · February 2013

For an EBF baby, it is best to keep them in the slow flow so long as they can take it since bottle feeding is easier than the breast.

Even though DS is 100 bottle fed, I only move him up when he is obviously frustrated by the slower flow.

TJ1979 · February 2013

ELF4321:
Don't force it. If he isn't ready, he'll end up gulping a lot of air and get really gassy. DD has never moved up on the timeframe they claim on the nipples. Plus, if you are BFing, a lot of people stay with the slower ones because it's closer to the speed of BFing. If he gets used to a faster flow from the bottle, you run the risk that he will start getting frustrated with BFing and may begin to refuse the breast.

This! E is over 6 months and still on the level 1 (we use avent too.) If LO is BFing, you do not want to cause bottle preference by having bottle feeding be easier than BFing. Maybe if you explain it from this angle, YH will understand more.

jesselayne8 · February 2013

Like PPs have said, its better for BFing to stick with the level 1 nipples. I never switched DD, she was still using level 1 nipples when she weaned from the bottle at 11 months.

hunterjumper102 · February 2013

Thanks ladies! I feel much better after reading your posts. It makes sense to me now that I think about it to keep him on a slow flow since I am BF. Hopefully when I explain this to DH he will calm down about it!

BabyKsMommy · February 2013

Yes these ladies here are smart ; for a BF baby the slow flow is the best. I have also heard that Avent bottles have a faster flow than a lot of other bottle brands. The only reason I move DS up a nipple flow was because he was getting very frustrated with the bottle but that was at over 6 months. So tell DH you are the mommy and you know best :

RoseHQ12 · February 2013

ELF4321:
Don't force it. If he isn't ready, he'll end up gulping a lot of air and get really gassy. DD has never moved up on the timeframe they claim on the nipples. Plus, if you are BFing, a lot of people stay with the slower ones because it's closer to the speed of BFing. If he gets used to a faster flow from the bottle, you run the risk that he will start getting frustrated with BFing and may begin to refuse the breast.

This!

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