Bottle feeding equipment
Before you begin bottle feeding you'll need to buy:
Baby bottles
- Four to six baby bottles generally suffice alongside regular sterilization of equipment. The amount of times a baby feeds is dependent upon its age so ensure you always have enough bottles on hand.
- Baby bottles come in a variety of sizes and widths. When choosing your baby's bottle, it may come down to what you and your baby prefer. It may be worth buying the larger sized bottles as your baby will grow out of the small ones.
Teats
- Four to six teats.
- Teats are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, flow rates and materials. The right type of teat for you and your baby will depend on what milk you are using and your baby's preference. For newborns, it's best to start with slow flowing teats, increasing the flow speed as your baby grows and gets used to sucking.
- If your baby chokes, splutters or leaks milk from their mouth during feeding it may be a sign that the flow is too fast - try a slower flowing teat. Again, if you think your baby is struggling with bottle feeding, switch to a different type or make of teat. Teats don't last forever and may wear over time and may need replacing, particularly if your baby has teeth and bites. So be sure to check them regularly and make sure you pick a size to suit your baby's stage of growth.
Equipment for sterilising
Your baby's immune system is still immature, especially if your baby is under six months old. Sterilising feeding equipment is therefore important. The equipment required depends on the sterilising method you have chosen. There are three ways to sterilise your baby's feeding equipment:
- Boiling
- Steam sterilising - using an electric steam steriliser or microwave sterilising
- Cold water sterilising - sterilisation tablets
A bottle brush for cleaning bottles
Before you sterilise bottles and teats, ensure you clean the bottles and teats thoroughly using warm soapy water and scrub them with a bottle-cleaning brush (you could also put them through the dishwasher).
Your choice of infant formula
If you choose to formula feed your baby, there are many formula choices available from different brands. Whilst each provides adequate nutrition for infants there are differences between the types and amounts of ingredients used. Consult your health care professional before introducing a formula and talk about how to choose an appropriate formula for your baby.
If you have any questions about bottle feeding equipment, give our expert team of health care professionals a call on 1800 438 500. Or chat to us online with our instant messaging service, LiveChat.
