If you’ve chosen to bottle-feed your baby, you will need to buy the necessary bottles and sterilising equipment for this. In this article, we will discuss how to choose the right bottles for your needs, and in the following articles, we will go into more detail on safely preparing, feeding, and storing formula.

Choosing the right bottle

New parents always want to do the right thing for their babies, and so I’m often asked which brand of baby bottle is "best" for their child. Unfortunately, there is no independent research that could show us differences in feeding ability, feeding pattern, or wind ingestion from the variety of available bottles or teats. So, you may need to experiment a little to see what works best for your family. This is an overview of the types of bottles on the market and some of their advantages and disadvantages:

Narrow-neck bottles These are usually inexpensive and widely available. However, they can be a little tricky to fill with powder and water due to the narrow neck. Some parents find that baby-led bottle feeding is a little harder to manage with these bottles.
Wide-neck bottles. These are shorter and fatter than the bottles above, but they can hold the same volume of milk. They are usually easier to fill due to the wide opening and can make baby-led bottle feeding a little easier.
Disposable 'ready' to feed bottles These bottles are often marketed to parents as a good solution for newborn feeding while still in the hospital. The advantage is that the formula has been pre-prepared, and the disposable teat that attaches to the bottle is already sterile and ready for use. The main disadvantage is the way milk flows from these bottles. The standard bottles above come with a teat with one slow-flowing hole to help the baby pace and control the feed. These disposable bottles usually have three large holes, which can ‘flood’ the baby with milk and make it difficult for you or them to control the pace or size of the feed.
Anti-colic bottles. These are marketed to parents as a way of reducing colic symptoms in your baby. They are usually more expensive and have many more parts to them, which can make cleaning a longer and more fiddly process. These bottles are typically designed slightly differently, and the manufacturers say this design reduces the amount of air swallowed by the baby. It is difficult to confirm these claims, as there is no independent research to support them. Some parents do find these bottles helpful, but often using baby-led bottle feeding techniques (see article 26) will work just as well.

Choosing the right teat

There are two main teat types available on the market: latex and silicone. Latex is more flexible, while silicone is stiffer. The latex teats need to be replaced more frequently, and if there is a family history of latex allergies, maybe be cautious about triggering an allergic reaction.

There are many different-shaped teats, wide or narrow, and some manufacturers claim that their particular shape is best for babies who are both breastfeeding and bottle-feeding. However, there’s no independent evidence to support this.

Initially, start with the slowest-flowing tea offered by the manufacturer of your bottles. This will support you in being baby-led in your feed volumes. A fast-flowing teat may cause a newborn to cough or splutter, and it will certainly lead to more milk spillage and air swallowing. If babies are unable to control the flow of the feed, they are more likely to overfeed and suffer the discomfort and fussiness associated with this.

As your baby gets older, they may be happy to remain on the slow-flow teats, but they may start to show signs of frustration. At this point, you can try the medium-flow teats and see if the feeds are calmer and happier for your baby. There is no fixed age to try this; watch your baby and experiment to see if feeding has become more challenging than it used to be.

What about BPA?

In the past, many food and liquid containers, including baby bottles, were made of polycarbonate or had a lining that contained the chemical bisphenol A (BPA). BPA was used to harden plastics, keep bacteria from contaminating foods, and prevent cans from rusting.

However, there were concerns that the chemical could leach out of the plastic and be absorbed by babies. Due to these concerns, back in 2011, the European Commission banned the use of BPA in baby bottles, and as such, none of the bottles in the UK should have BPA. The FDA in the United States has also banned the use of BPA in baby bottles. Please check local regulations if you are purchasing bottles from outside of Europe or the US.

How do I select the correct bottle for my baby?

Unii expert Wendy Lever shares how to choose the perfect bottle for your baby.