April 2007
Baby bottles and nipples: Features to consider
Shape. Nipples come in several shapes: the traditional "natural" bell, or dome, shape; a slightly bulbous "orthodontic" design;
or a flattened shape. Most nipples are smooth. An exception is the Playtex NaturaLatch, a silicone nipple. Although we recommend
silicone nipples, there's also a Latex version of the Playtex NaturaLatch, which has two flow rates. Whether silicone or Latex,
the NaturaLatch is slightly textured instead of smooth around the perimeter of the nipple, to feel more like mom. It's intended
to promote latch-on and reduce nipple confusion for babies who are both breast- and bottle-fed. The silicone nipple comes
in three flow rates: slow, fast, and tri-cut, for thicker preparations, such as infant cereal mixed with formula or expressed
breast milk.
Flow rate. Nipples come in three standard flow variations with different-size holes appropriate for the baby's age: newborn or slow flow (for newborn to 3 months), medium flow (for newborn to 12 months), and fast flow (for babies over 3 months). A nipple should offer some resistance, but not so much that your baby has to struggle to get milk. Generally, younger babies prefer a slower flow; older babies, a faster one (although that's not always the case).
Some bottle nipples, such as Munchkin's Tri-Flow Standard Nipple, are compatible with different brands of standard bottles so you can mix and match, although most bottle nipples are designed to be used with the same brand of bottle. Munchkin's Tri-Flow nipple gives you a choice of three flow rates in one: fast, slow, and medium. A turn of the nipple ring changes the flow rate. Dr. Brown's makes a Preemie Flow nipple for feeding babies born prematurely. Dr. Brown's and other brands, such as Gerber, also offer a Y-cut (a tri-cut or cross-cut) nipple for cereal or thick juices, but the American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't recommend giving a baby "food" through a bottle because it can lead to excessive weight gain. And it's good for a baby to get used to the eating process--taking bites, resting between bites, and setting an eating pace.
Flow rate. Nipples come in three standard flow variations with different-size holes appropriate for the baby's age: newborn or slow flow (for newborn to 3 months), medium flow (for newborn to 12 months), and fast flow (for babies over 3 months). A nipple should offer some resistance, but not so much that your baby has to struggle to get milk. Generally, younger babies prefer a slower flow; older babies, a faster one (although that's not always the case).
Some bottle nipples, such as Munchkin's Tri-Flow Standard Nipple, are compatible with different brands of standard bottles so you can mix and match, although most bottle nipples are designed to be used with the same brand of bottle. Munchkin's Tri-Flow nipple gives you a choice of three flow rates in one: fast, slow, and medium. A turn of the nipple ring changes the flow rate. Dr. Brown's makes a Preemie Flow nipple for feeding babies born prematurely. Dr. Brown's and other brands, such as Gerber, also offer a Y-cut (a tri-cut or cross-cut) nipple for cereal or thick juices, but the American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't recommend giving a baby "food" through a bottle because it can lead to excessive weight gain. And it's good for a baby to get used to the eating process--taking bites, resting between bites, and setting an eating pace.
