Product Spotlight Series: Bottles

galactickates · September 2018

Lets talk all things bottles!

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(Also just a reminder that if anyone wants to revive old threads to ask questions as we get further along and it becomes more likely everyone is doing further research, please feel free!)

saltedcaramel518 · September 2018

I think I posted this in another thread, but here’s my thoughts again.

We used Dr. Brown’s bottles for DS. They’re supposed to help with colic/gas, but DS was super gassy, and I’m not sure that the bottles really helped. There’s SO MANY little parts. They didn’t seem so bad at first, then I had visions of setting bottle parts on fire after washing them nightly for a few months.

I did like that they had a preemie size nipple. DS used that size for several months because of its slow flow. I also liked that the bottles could be screwed into my pump parts, so I could pump directly into it.

We we had a couple of Como Tomo bottles, and I hope to use those exclusively this time. I like that they’re silicone and easy to clean. They are pricey for a bottle.

DS was never picky about bottles, so I don’t have experience with trying several brands. Hopefully, this baby will be the same way.

kns1988 · September 2018

I was a big proponent of NUK bottles and then they ALL broke when they were 9 months old. I was super pissed! They would spontaneously break or DS would drop it on the floor and it would break and breastmilk would go everywhere. Now I have to buy all new bottles for DD, so eff NUK.

kns1988 · September 2018

@saltedcaramel518 we had one Como Tomo, and I might go with that this time around. They didn't break on you, right?

saltedcaramel518 · September 2018

kns1988 said:

@saltedcaramel518 we had one Como Tomo, and I might go with that this time around. They didn't break on you, right?

No, we didn't have any problems with the Como Tomo, but we also didn't use them all that often since we were mostly using the Dr. Brown's.

wkuandrea · September 2018

my sister and her SIL both swear by the como tomo bottles. I picked up several for her when BRU was going out of business. Hopefully she'll let me use some as well (she's having #3 any day now, so four months ahead of me).

tosh24 · September 2018

Unless you know you are exclusively pumping or formula feeding, my advice would be to not go out and buy a ton of bottles beforehand (maybe just a few). Neither of my kids would take a bottle since they just wanted to BF after doing that exclusively for the first few weeks so they just went from BFing to solid food. So, I guess on that same note, if the flexibiity to bottle feed is important to you (but you still also want to BF), definitely invest in the smallest, slow flow nipple you can find to mimic the breast. I know SO many people whose babies refused the breast after introducing bottles because the baby got used to the easy-flowing milk from the bottle nipple and didn't want to work for it anymore from the breast! Lazy babies

parentingishard · September 2018

We used Dr. Brown's with DD1 and I swore I would never, ever use them again. Too many parts!

@saltedcaramel518 did you have any issues with fibers getting stuck to the outside of the como tomo bottles? We have a dog and I've heard those bottles collect fibers (from rugs, blankets, furniture, etc.) and pet hair like crazy.

We are planning to get a few Avent bottles this time around and see how it goes. I just want an easy bottle this time!

PolarBear517 · September 2018

I was lazy so I just used the Medela bottles that I pumped into. DD took them fine and that way I didn't have twice the amount of bottles to wash! We had a few other brands, Dr. Browns and Avent, DD just got used to Medela. We introduced the bottle early on, like 2 weeks postpartum- may hold off longer with this LO. At the time I was still predominantly feeding at the breast. Once I went back to work full time DD had awful nursing strikes and just preferred the bottle so we were on/off exclusive pumping. Pumping before work, and after DD was in bed, in addition to constantly washing pump parts and bottles added a lot to my schedule. I'm hoping this LO doesn't have that problem so I can at least skip pumping at home once I'm back to work!

kns1988 · September 2018

@PolarBear517 I exclusively pumped for 4 months before DS learned how to latch. I really hope to avoid EPing this time around. It takes so much time.

molosmiles · September 2018

I used Dr Brown bottles with both babies. I hate the all the parts but they work and both my girls liked them. I also used the kiinde system for pumping and feeding and might just go that route from the beginning for all pumped milk. I tried regular bags but the kiinde system is so easy. Especially when traveling. I used it for formula too. Pricey but worth every penny.

emmaaa · September 2018

I would buy a few of a couple of different brands of bottles to see what works for your baby. Some can be pickier than others!

With DD, we used Dr. Brown's with the premie nipple for the first 3 months or so but I felt like DD never latched good and dripped milk constantly (and so many parts). So we switched to the Avent Naturals with the size 0 nipple and it was a game changer, she did better on those. She used the size 0 or premie nipples for about 6 months and then size 1 until we weaned from the bottle at a year. She was a slow nurser and drinker to begin with. I plan to try to start with Avent this time and see how the baby takes them

saltedcaramel518 · September 2018

@parentingishard No, I didn't have that issue.

MrsDho11 · September 2018

We used Dr. Brown's and absolutely loved them despite all the little parts. I got the Dr. Brown's specific dishwasher basket, and that helped a TON. Really hoping baby #2 here likes them as well!

drabong88 · September 2018

I used the avent naturals too with the slowest flow nipples. They were easy to clean and DS never had a issue going from bottle to breast. We introduced the bottle around 3 weeks old because we had a wedding and he needed to take a bottle. We gave him a bottle at nighttime pretty much every night and I pumped before bed. It was a nice break for me and DH liked the bonding of putting him to sleep.

mrsmang · September 2018

@molosmiles did you use the bottles that go with the kiinde bags? The system itself looks cool, but the bottles seem strange. Not sure if it’s better used as just a pumping/storage system or if the bottles are good too.

saltedcaramel518 · September 2018

@mrsmang No personal experience, but I have a friend that exclusively used the Kiinde bottles. She loved them.

molosmiles · September 2018

@mrsmang. We used the bottles too. So super easy to use and you only have the nipple to clean. We found them so much easier than pouring the milk into another bottle. You squeeze out the air, and then they deflate as the baby drinks so there is no air...much like the liner style bottles.

mrsmang · September 2018

@molosmiles awesome, thanks! I put a whole set on our registry but also a couple other two packs of random brands in case we find they aren’t working. I like less stuff to wash for sure though!!

ersh1010 · September 2018

Hi ladies, so when you say get a few bottles how many you thinking?
Should I register for 2 different brands, maybe a 2 pack each brand? Or 3 brands, 2 packs? For the record im hoping to breast feed

MrsDho11 · September 2018

@ersh1010 - I'd say more like three brands, BUT think about doing things like signing up for a registry at Amazon, Target, Buy Buy Baby, etc. Most of the time you can keep your registry private if you don't want to share with people but still get perks like welcome gifts. Often the welcome gifts will have a bottle in them, so that's an easy/cheap way to try out a couple different brands.

(Amazon's has improved since I was last KU. It's an awesome box! You do have to buy $10 of things off your registry to get your welcome box, but let's be honest, you'll probably buy at least $10 of stuff anyway. Mine had onesies, a bottle, a full sized pack of wipes, and a nice swaddle blanket plus a few other things, IIRC.)

mrsmang · September 2018

@MrsDho11 I had been waiting on someone else to buy off our amazon registry, but that sounds too awesome and I’m too impatient, so I just made a purchase just so we could get the box!

MrsDho11 · September 2018

@mrsmang - I'm pretty sure it can be ANYTHING. So you can put something else you were going to buy for yourself on the registry, buy it off there, and you'll be all set.

Don't forget to delete after your registry box order if you don't want people to see whatever it is if they look at purchased items on your registry!

BitterBetty12 · September 2018

I’m the minority here but DD hated the nipples on Dr. Browns. She would only take Mam bottles (starting around 1-2 months, in the beginning she would acrually take anything). The nipple is a pretty unique shape compared to other bottles. They have a lot of pieces and are a pain to clean. But no worse than doctor Browns. I also liked that they had 4 different nipple flows. DD would get bored while eating and we usually sized her up every two months.

That being said - definitely register for small packs of several different brands. We only landed on mam because we tried several brands. And once we realied those were if we bought more.

Also I know this isn’t about binkies but if you’re going to use them, I’m a HUGE believer in the mam binky. Even if you’re not using mam bottles. They seem to be pretty universally accepted amongst babies who don’t like the other types (namely avent-like binkies).

wildcat2017 · September 2018

I’m not sure if anyone has ever heard of mam bottles or not? We used them with my little girl and absolutely loved them! We bought all mam products such as pacifiers and even sippy cups. She loved them and immediately took to the nipple. It has a funny curvature about it and seems to just fit right with their little mouths. I exclusively pumped and everyone I knew commented on how fast our little 5lb babe could down a bottle. It’s definitely worth a try! Good luck.

sweetyjenj · September 2018

A lot of others mentioned this, but don't stock up on one kind until you know what LO likes. I initially read online to get several small bottles, then several 9oz bottles....but DD never used the 9oz bottles. If you're using formula, you will need several in each size, but if you're planning to nurse as long as possible or exclusively pump, you might not need them. We stuck to the 5oz ones the whole time, because breastmilk actually gets higher in cals/fat as baby needs it, so you don't need to keep increasing the ounces as they grow, like you would with formula. I exclusively breastfed, but pumped to have stored milk for when I went back to work AND I wanted DH to be able to feed her so I could rest. When she was a newborn she only took 2-3oz at a time, then around 3-6 months she increased to about 3-5oz at a time, then stuck at about 4oz each feeding until a year.

If you plan to pump several times a day while at work, you might like to STOCK UP on medela bottles. I would hand wash them once a day with my pump parts, and once I went back to work I would end up with about 10-15 dirty medela bottles at the end of each day, and I liked having extra in case I needed them.

Also....like someone said before, if you combine bottles AND nursing, USE SLOW FLOW nipples the first several months, since it'll be more realistic to the nipple. Around 6 months we moved up to a faster flow for daycare, since she was getting frustrated, but stayed with slow flow at home. Around 9-10 months she was using a fast flow at daycare and at home and nursing fine, but she would get frustrated with waiting for the let-down.

AliKay20 · September 2018

Team comotomo right here! When DD was an infant, we tried different kinds since some were gifted and some came w registry goodie bags! We also liked Mam & Avent but as she got older, we only began to give her comotomo ones.

Warning: Comotomo bottles are not hard to wash when compared to Dr. Brown’s but the material makes it hard to twist and take off the nipple when you’re about to wash them!! Semi-annoying but I’ll live.

kerryann124 · September 2018

Does anyone know if the Dr. Brown's wideneck and normal bottles require different nipples? Does anyone have a preference?

saltedcaramel518 · September 2018

kerryann124 said:

Does anyone know if the Dr. Brown's wideneck and normal bottles require different nipples? Does anyone have a preference?

They do require different nipples. I preferred the normal ones bc they fit in the diaper bag more easily.

MrsDho11 · September 2018

saltedcaramel518 said:

kerryann124 said:

Does anyone know if the Dr. Brown's wideneck and normal bottles require different nipples? Does anyone have a preference?

They do require different nipples. I preferred the normal ones bc they fit in the diaper bag more easily.

I concur that they require different nipples. I stuck to wideneck because I was told it would more closely mimic the breastfeeding experience/shape of the breast. But *shrug* who knows if that's actually true.

parentingishard · September 2018

We tried MAM bottles first and DD hated them. I was so happy to have 3-4 different kinds of bottles on hand those first few weeks!

molosmiles · September 2018

I preferred the wideneck Dr. Brown bottles because they were so much easier to fill, especially with formula!

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