If your baby is struggling with their feeds – spluttering, choking coughing – or on the other side of the spectrum becoming agitated and fussy while eating, it could be time to change teats. A Level 1 or newborn teat generally comes on every bottle and is a great starting point for many babies. NUK is a little different from some other manufacturers. It features two different teat sizes and each size comes with S, M and L hole sizes for you to choose from. Never leave your baby alone to feed with a propped-up bottle and never leave them alone in bed with a bottle. They may choke on the milk. Keep the bottle horizontal

Do not add extra formula powder. Using too much can make your baby constipated and may cause dehydration. If you're planning to bottle feed with expressed breast milk or infant formula, these tips will help you feed your baby and keep them safe and healthy. Variable – features an adjustable flow rate that can be change between 1 and 3 by turning the bottle.

How do I know when to change bottle teat size?

He started waking in the night.The poor kid was probably starving. I was trying to hold off on giving him the sixth bottle if I could help it so he started waking at 3am for the food he needed. I thought he was teething! Making lots of noise during feeds I noticed with both teats and breast pump parts, such as filters, how the plastic seems to just degrade over time.

You can see rough similarities in the banding between them – but remember that one brand’s slow flow rate won’t necessarily be identical to another’s. NHS (2019a) How to make up baby formula, Available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/bottle-feeding/making-up-baby-formula/ [Accessed 3 December 2021] You'll find the phone number for your health visitor in your baby's personal health record (red book). Your questions about bottle feeding Why if my baby does not settle after feeds? Wood, C. T., Skinner, A. C., Yin, H. S., Rothman, R. L., Sanders, L. M., Delamater, A., Ravanbakht, S. N., & Perrin, E. M. (2016). Association Between Bottle Size and Formula Intake in 2-Month-Old Infants. Academic pediatrics, 16(3), 254–259. Available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2015.08.001 [Accessed 3 December 2021] Step 1: Assemble clean bottle parts as follows: base with silicone valve, teat with screw ring, bottle body and protective cap.

How many bottles and teats do I need?

With my two babies I sometimes changed at just the right moment before they even showed any signs of needing to and it was seamless. Sterilising bottles is recommended for babies under a year because bacteria can easily grow in any milk remaining on the bottle or teats (Unicef, 2019). Babies are more vulnerable to these bacteria. As a baby’s feeding develops and they are taking a longer time feeding from a Level 1 teat, many parents choose to move up to a Level 2 teat. Some brands have more levels – as many as six different types of teat – providing a little more choice for parents looking to find a teat that’s just right.

So if you’re noticing a sudden change in your baby’s behaviour then you should cycle through the usual possibilities – growth spurt, developmental leap, sleep regression, teething– and add bottle flow rate to the list! You'll need several bottles, teats and a bottle brush, as well as sterilising equipment, such as a cold-water steriliser, microwave or steam steriliser. Your baby should be gaining weight and have plenty of wet and dirty nappies. Infant formula and allergiesThe MAM Silk Teat® makes switching between breastfeeding and bottle especially easy. Thanks to its silky soft silicone surface that feels so familiar. Teats take quite a lot of hammering from little gums and teeth, so they need to be changed regularly. We recommend replacing teats every 2 months or at the first sign of any damage or weakness. Can I buy bottles with faster flowing teats? Step 3: Place the screw ring with teat in the bottle base. Place the bottle body on it (optionally screw in slightly to avoid pouring out hot water by removing the bottle from microwave). Place the protective cap on top.

Hurley, K. M., Cross, M. B., & Hughes, S. O. (2011). A systematic review of responsive feeding and child obesity in high-income countries. The Journal of nutrition, 141(3), 495–501. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.110.130047 [Accessed 6 December 2021]

Subscribe to Save

Step 2: Fill the base with silicone valve with 20 ml of cool water. The protective cap makes a practical measuring cup. Brush the teat against your baby's lips and when they open their mouth wide let them draw in the teat. You are likely to change your baby’s teat size every two to three months. But that’s just a rough guide, and some babies may want a faster flow earlier than others.