As a parent, the joy of parenting is sometimes overwhelming, especially for new moms. Unless you’re a mom with your own kid, it is hard to imagine what it’s like to care for another infant human being. So, when next you see a mother with a newborn, pay some attention for she’s juggling multiple duties to make sure that baby is fed with the right type of baby feeding bottles, not to mention the multiple messes that need to be cleaned up on a timely basis.
Buying a good baby bottle to feed your infant used to be easy and most were made of plastic until we discovered some of the harmful chemicals in the material. Luckily, the use of Bisphenol A is now banned by the Food and Drug Administration in all sippy cups and baby bottles.
Apart from growing up with younger brothers and sisters, I have kids of my own, which means I know a lot about baby bottles and how it can help a nursing mom get some needed break. I would recommend you breastfeed your newborn for several weeks before introducing the little one to a baby bottle.
Why do baby bottles have a nipple design? The nipple design of most baby bottles is meant to trick your baby into thinking it is the real thing. You definitely will need one of the top baby bottles reviewed in this article if you intend to feed baby formula to your newborn.
For clarity sake, this article is broken into several sections; the types of feeding bottles for babies, unique factors to keep in mind while searching for a brand that is made from safe and healthy materials, reviews of some of the best baby bottles for newborns, and finally, tips that could be helpful to new or experienced parents in taking care of infant feeding bottles the right way.
The Types of Bottles for Feeding Babies
Keep in mind that when we talk about the types, were referring to the materials used, and the three most commonly used are plastic, glass, and stainless steel. It is also true that there a few “hybrids” when it comes to baby bottles that are made with an infusion of different materials.
Baby Bottles Made From Glass
When you look at it from a health perspective, baby bottles made using glass offers the best safety, and guarantees that harmful chemicals are not infused into the design formula. While it is true that the collar will be made using plastic and the nipple out of silicone, at least the part holding your baby’s food will be made out of glass.
Glass baby bottles are easier to clean and will not absorb any of the ingredients used in making the baby formula. But on the other hand, glass needs to be handled with utmost care if you want it to last.
Based on the type of flooring you have in your home, a simple drop will shatter it into pieces. Glass baby bottles are also heavier and cost multiple times what you can get a set of plastic baby feeding bottles for.
Lately, there are glass baby bottles you can buy with sleeves that are made out of silicone to make them shatter proof. While some of the best baby bottles are made out of glass, the cost ratio as compared to the ones made out of plastic is quite significant.
Three of the Best Glass Baby Bottles
1 – Lifefactory 4-Ounce Glass Baby Bottle with Silicone Sleeve
The design for the Lifefactory 4-ounce glass baby bottle is unique in that it has a wrap-around silicone sleeve to protect the glass from breaking if accidentally dropped. If you’re worried that all the promises of safer plastic materials might just be a masquerade, this glass bottle would not disappoint.
Apart from the high-quality borosilicate glass used, it is also made to be thermal shock resistant, which makes it safer to move the bottle from freezer to boiling hot water. Since glass surface can be slippery the included silicone sleeve ensures your infant can master holding the bottle within a short period of time.
This is one of the best glass baby bottles and made to be compatible with . If you’re worried about using plastic bottles, this is a worthy alternative, thou an expensive one.
2 – Philips Avent Natural Glass Bottle
Another product worth its weight in gold is from that famous company called Philips. It is made from BPA-free high-quality borosilicate glass. It is quite easy to boil or sterilize this glass bottle from Philips. Another standout feature is the ergonomic design, which helps your baby master holding it in a very short time.
The wide open mouth design ensures you can fill it with ease, and the measurement markings on the side will be your guide as to when to stop pouring the milk formula. It is not only heat resistant but also thermal shock resistant as well. The absence of a silicone sleeve to protect the glass means you have to handle it with care.
3 – Evenflo Feeding Classic Glass Twist Bottles
I am sure every mom in America have heard about this company called Evenflo, for they have dozens of products that cater to the many needs of a growing infant. If you compare the baby glass bottles by price, this brand offers a greater bang for your buck.
It is a tempered glass bottle and manufactured from BPA-free materials. One of the best-selling features of this product is the inclusion of micro air vents in the silicone nipple. It will also help with burping and gas reduction. The tiny air vents will also help prevent nipple collapse according to the manufacturer.
Stainless Steel Baby Bottles
If you care about the environment and into the movement to safe mother earth, a baby bottle made out of stainless steel is your best choice. Most of the materials used in making this type of baby bottles can be recycled.
Stainless steel baby bottles are lighter than glass versions and you do not need to be living in fear of dropping it, as it will not shatter like glass. Baby bottles made using stainless steel are just as expensive as the ones made out of glass.
Due to the lack of transparency in the design, you will not know if you baby is drinking the formula unless you open it up, which might lead to a fussy baby. It is also difficult to measure the exact quantity within the bottle, unlike glass or plastic baby bottles with clear and visible measuring yardsticks on the side.
Two of the Best Stainless Steel Baby Bottles
4 – Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Baby Bottle
This is another baby bottle that is made from stainless steel but with an unusual-sounding name. It is just as safe as glass baby bottles and definitely free of toxic materials. It has a tapered shape that’s slightly contoured, which ensures your baby’s small hands will be able to hold on to it in due time.
It also comes with a wide mouth design for easy pouring of the milk formula. The manufacturer claims only food grade stainless steel materials were used. The nipple is made from medical grade silicone and comes with double venting for easy outflow of the milk, while also reducing gar and burping.
5 – Pura Kiki 11-Ounce Stainless Steel Infant Bottle
I am sure by now you’re used to some of the odd sound names of the best bottles for babies and this brand falls into that category. It is certainly a good alternative to using plastic bottles but does come with a higher price tag than even the best plastic baby bottles.
The manufacturer guarantees that only medical grade silicone was used to make the nipple and the product is free of toxic materials. The inclusion of a lifetime warranty on all components is certainly the best within the industry.
Plastic Baby Feeding Bottles
With the advances in science technology, there are now many types of plastic, since it is now possible to infuse the materials with other stuff to create durable baby bottles. Baby bottles made out of plastic are the cheapest and most readily available infant feeding product one can buy online for less.
While the FDA banned the use of materials containing Bisphenol A when making plastic baby bottles and sipping nipples, it quite difficult to regulate and police, due to the global economy were all part of. In some countries, manufacturers are not even required to include the list of ingredients used in making any product.
Baby plastic bottles are harder to keep clean and can be scratched easily, which creates an opening for germs and bacteria to cultivate and multiply. If you’re looking for the safest baby bottles to use for feeding your infant, you should go with the ones made out of glass or stainless steel.
On the other hand, plastic is everywhere and it would be quite difficult to avoid using one in all your mothering activities as you try to take care of your baby. As a mom, I can assure you that your personal actions and activities play a bigger role in how well your baby develops.
Some of the Best Bottles for Babies Made out of Plastic
6 – Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Bottle for Newborn
This plastic baby bottle is made using Polypropylene and Silicone. It is said to stimulate vacuum-free feeding, due to the included positive pressure flow features. To prevent gas and burping, it has a vent system that is capable of removing the air bubbles that can develop in milk formula.
The manufacturer claims that the materials used in the construction of this product are free of PVC. BPA, phthalate, and lead. Dr. Brown’s baby bottles use an innovative vent technology to enhance your baby’s comfort while feeding.
7 – Philips Avent BPA Free Natural Infant Feeding Set
This baby bottle is made by that same company that is famous for creating many other durable products. It is made from Polypropylene, and the bottle can be used to stimulate the most natural way of feeding your little one.
To make it easier to clean, the Philips Avent infant feeding bottle set includes a long curved-head brush that could reach the bottom of the bottle. It is a good product and you can click the image for the cheap pricing.
8 – Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottles
Do not let the unusual sounding name prevent you from seeing this product as a worthy baby plastic bottle. The nipple features a wide-neck design, which makes it easier for your baby to latch on as if it was the real thing. Tommee Tippee plastic baby bottles are made from BPA-free materials.
The volume markings on the side will let you know the exact quantity in milliliters and ounces. It has a unique hygiene cap to seal the bottle when traveling. The valve flow system is on the sensitive side, which helps to eliminate unneeded air flow, thus leading to less gas and burping.
Keys Features in Selecting a Good Baby Bottle
Now that you know the types of baby feeding bottles, the next step is to determine what features you want in a highly rated brand. In this niche market, there are dozens of brands competing for your attention and money, but you have to be careful, as some will come at you with questionable, wild claims.
When comparing the different types and brands of baby bottles the following are the features you want to keep in mind:
Is it Leak Proof – Nothing annoys more than a baby bottle that leaks after only a few uses. The closing mechanism on the baby bottle is just as important. A good bottle should not leak any milk formula once it is properly closed.
Can the Nipple Mimic Breastfeeding – this is the ultimate aim of using a baby bottle, and the nipple design should be as close to the real thing as possible. If you have to create more holes in your baby’s feeding bottle nipple then the design is not worth the asking price.
The nipple of the bottle will determine how fast the milk formula is delivered for your baby’s enjoyment. The delivery of the baby formula inside the bottle should be just right, not too slow neither should it be too fast.
Cleaning Routine – with the limited time we have in each day, cleaning your baby’s feeding bottles should not take up a great deal of your time. Baby bottle that’s made out of stainless steel or glass can be cleaned far easier than the ones made out of plastic materials.
Most of the best bottles for babies will tout the fact they’re dishwasher safe. I would urge you to wash your baby feeding bottles by hand rather using a dishwasher. Dishwashers are notorious for harboring germs and you do not want them infecting the bottles you use to feed your newborn.
Just thinking of all the crap you wash through your dishwasher should give you pause and make you seek the safer alternative of hand washing?
The Warranty – most of the manufacturers of top rated baby bottles would at least provide a one year warranty against any potential factory defect.
Feedbacks from Current Users – do your best to read some of the feedbacks from existing users of the product you have in mind. Most of the current customers should at least love the product, and it is one of the best ways to spot baby bottles that might come with more factory defects than you care to deal with.
Upkeep Tips for Baby Bottles
Depending on what type of bottles you’re using to feed your infant, these tips should come in handy even for experienced parents. Infants have delicate internal organs and skin, and your actions can affect them negatively if care is not used in keeping your baby’s feeding bottles clean.
What You Should be Doing
Before breastfeeding or preparing your baby’s milk formula you should always wash your hands, preferably with an antibacterial soap.
If you’re suing a baby bottle that’s made from glass, make sure you use hot water in cleaning out the residue of the old formula. You should consider using a sterilizer or soak the glass bottles in boiling water for a few minutes.
Baby bottles made out of any type of plastic should only be washed by hand and limit the use of soapy water. Despite the use of the term dishwasher safe, you should make it a habit of washing the bottles by hand especially ones made from any type of plastic material.
Based on suggestions from pediatricians, baby bottle feeding should be slowly sopped by the twelfth or thirteenth month. This is a good time to introduce your little one to the merits of using a sippy cup.
The nipple part of any baby feeding bottle should be cleaned thoroughly and it is never okay to put them in the dishwasher since bacteria might hide inside the tiny openings.
What You Should Not Do
Refrain from drinking and smoking while nursing your baby. Keep in mind that whatever is in your system might be transferred to your baby. When you finds teenagers that start experimenting with alcohol and tobacco at an early age, mom was probably into those activities either while pregnant or during the breastfeeding months.
Using the microwave to heat up baby formula or breast milk is not wise and potentially hazardous to your baby’s development and growth. I know many parents do it, but that does not make it right. You can read about the dangers posed by microwaving your food – here!
Paula F. Kennedy
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