by Alexis Fischer

Created on: January 01, 2011   Last Updated: January 02, 2011

Nowadays parents have a lot of options when it comes to choosing what type of bottle to use to feed their baby. It is important to consider the materials the bottle and nipple are made from, the size of the bottle and the shape when making a decision about which to purchase.

Glass vs Plastic

The development of plastic baby bottles made the old fashioned glass bottles almost obsolete, however more recently concerns about chemicals have led to glass being considered again. Glass bottles don't contain chemicals and therefore do not risk these getting into the baby's milk or formula. They are however heavy and breakable. Plastic in comparison is light and is not a safety hazard if dropped. Some people however have concerns about bisphenol A (BPA) which is found in some plastics and may be harmful. It is important to remember that the government and FDA do not believe that baby bottles contain dangerous amounts and that using plastic bottles will not put your child at risk. If this is not reassuring enough, concerned parents will be pleased to know that BPA free bottles are readily available from many retailers.

Size

Baby bottles come in a range of sizes and can be chosen according to the baby's appetite. Newborns only consume small amounts of milk or formula, while larger babies may need six to eight ounces at each feeding. Bottles that are too small for the baby mean that more than one may be needed per feed, resulting in extra washing, sterilising and filling.

Shape

The main consideration when it comes to the shape of the baby bottle is whether it has an angled neck or not. An angled neck can be advantageous as it reduces the amount of air the baby swallows as it feeds and therefore reduces wind. This does however make the bottle harder to clean so some parents may prefer a straight necked, round bottle for ease.

Nipples

Many different kinds of nipple are available for baby bottles. Frequently bottles have standard fittings so nipples of various brands can be used rather than needing to stick to the same brand as the bottle. The main two materials used for bottle nipples are latex and silicone. Latex nipples are often preferred by newborns and breastfed babies as they are more malleable, however latex allergies are becoming more common nowadays so parents may prefer to avoid exposure. Silicone avoids this allergy risk as well as being more durable. Nipples come in a wide variety of shapes. This is a personal preference and it is easiest to try various shapes until one the baby likes is found. It is also important to consider the flow rate of the nipple. It is best to start with nipples with a slow flow and move on to faster ones as the baby grows.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each of the options currently available for baby bottles. It is important to consider these when making a choice, but also to take into account the preference of the baby and be willing to use trial and error until a combination acceptable to both the parents and the infant is found

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