Baby Milk Bottle:How to choose baby milk bottle?

Babyment

Whether you are breastfeeding or not, baby milk bottle is an indispensable feeding accessory.  There are about 7 different brands of baby milk bottle available in Singapore market and each brand also has a few varieties of baby milk bottle.

Most important factor - Materials

One of the most important consideration of choosing a baby milk bottle is the material used to make the baby milk bottle. This is because materials used to make baby milk bottle can seep into baby’s formula milk and enter baby’s body. For some plastics, it will break down at high temperature and seep into baby’s food.

First, choose one that is BPA (Bisphenol A) free, PVC free and phthalate free. BPA is a chemical that has many negative effects on the health of the baby and should be avoided. It can seep into the food and impact the health of the growing baby.

Try to avoid bottles that contain BPS (Bisphenol S) as this chemical can also seep into the baby’s food and has a negative impact on health.

Because of BPA’s harmful effect, many manufacturers have switched to Polypropylene or Polypropene (PP) and Polyethersulfone (PES) in the production of baby milk bottles.

One disadvantage of Polypropylene or Polypropene (PP) milk bottles is that it will lose their transparency over time, lessening their active useful life. When put into boiling water or sterilize cycles, PP bottles have a limited shelf-life and need to be replaced more often.

Polyethersulfone (PES) plastic is able to withstand higher temperature and it will retain their tensile strength and form with continuous use at temperatures as high as 180 degree Celsius. PES is ideal for the construction of baby bottles because it can be safely and easily sterilized.

Glass is another material for construction of baby milk bottle. If you use glass bottle, you probably do not need to worry about chemical leach. However, for glass bottle, it will break if once it drops down.

It is recommended to use glass bottle for newborns.

Design to reduce colic, spit up and burping

If price is not an important consideration for you, then design to reduce colic should be the second important factor.

During feeding session, colic, spit up and burping may occur which can cause discomfort to your baby. If this happens at night, it will wake up a sleepy baby.

Colic, spit up and burping not only cause discomfort in your baby, but also waste formula milk.

Different manufacturers have different patented technologies in venting system to reduce colic, spit up and burping. You just need to make sure this feature is mentioned in the baby milk bottle you purchase.

Nipple materials and shape

Materials used to make nipple are either latex or silicone varieties. Latex nipples are softer and more flexible, but they don't last as long and some babies are allergic to them.

Nipples that made of silicone are firmer and are able to hold their shape longer.

If you are breastfeeding, shape of nipples should be an important consideration for buying a baby milk bottle. You should pick nipples that resemble shape of mom’s breast in order to avoid nipple confusion in baby.

Nipple size and flow

Nipples can have one hole, two holes or four holes. This is to cater to different needs of babies at different ages. Make sure you buy one that fits into your baby’s developmental stage.

Price range for baby milk bottles

Baby milk bottles designing for 0 to 3 months old baby will be more expensive. It usually will cost around $20.

Baby milk bottles for elder child will be around $18

Many manufacturers tend to sell it in pack of 2 or 3, this can help to reduce price of each bottle.

For some manufacturers, they also pack cleaning brush into pack. This will cost you slightly more.

Hope above can help you select a suitable baby milk bottle.