Guest Post: Choosing The Right Baby Bottle For A Newborn

For any new mother there are always going to be thousands of questions. One of them is the choice of the baby bottle. As a baby grows there are going to be different bottles that serve their purpose during that phase of their life. The newborn is in the process of learning the proper way to use a bottle and this can make choosing a bottle tricky in the beginning.

BPA

One of the very first considerations when choosing a bottle for any baby is a chemical that is called BPA. This is the short name for the chemical bisphenol A. It is a chemical that is used in the manufacture of polycarbonate. This type of plastic is used to make some varieties and brands of baby bottles. There is controversy surrounding whether the chemical is dangerous or not and studies are currently underway. Until there is a determination, these will still be manufactured and offered on the common market.

As a parent, the best bet concerning these bottles is to simply avoid the chemical until a decision has been made. The plastic of these polycarbonate bottles is marked with a number 7, usually on the bottom. There may be no danger, but at the same time there is also no reason to put anyone at risk until it has been settled.


Choices

The bottle itself is one choice to be made, but the more important choice may be involving the nipples themselves. These have three distinct differences amongst them. The shape is important for a newborn and should be a large part of the method of choice. One of the best shapes for a newborn has a wide base and narrows quickly to a long, thin nipple. The wide base makes for a strong seal on the baby’s mouth.

The narrow nipple makes contact with the baby’s tongue at several points which is what begins the reflex of sucking in a newborn child. If you find that the nipples do not flow fast enough, rather than choosing a wider hole in the nipple, there are nipples that have three holes instead of one. This makes for more flow, while at the same time prevents the nipple from just pouring liquid into the baby’s mouth.

If the baby refuses to drink most of the time, there are nipples that have a flat and wider top that more resembles a mother’s natural nipple. These are also good choices and have fed many babies through their early months. If a baby chokes a great deal during feeding, then it is important to watch what is happening right before the baby chokes. If the newborn stops for a breath and then chokes, then the nipple flows too much without the sucking action of the baby.

This can be easily tested by taking the bottle out of the baby’s mouth and inverting it. If there is a flow of liquid from the nipple then this is likely what is choking the baby. As we mentioned before, there are nipples that have three small holes as opposed to one larger hole and this can provide a good flow of milk during the sucking process and then almost stop when the baby is breathing. Also, try to watch and pull the bottle out every once in a while to give the baby a short break.

Bottles

The ultimate choice when choosing a baby bottle is disposable versus non-disposable bottles. The best kind of disposable bottle will hold the liquid in a plastic bag within the bottle. This means that rather than air replacing the liquid as it is used, the bag simply collapses. This will prevent gas and irritation that can come from swallowing too much air.

If choosing a non-disposable bottle, glass has a lot of benefits. The main reason that glass is chosen is the fact that it is much less porous and malleable than plastic. This may not seem important, but every little scratch within a plastic bottle becomes a place where germs can breed. Glass is simply more sterile and more easily sterilized than plastic.

While these may seem like hard choices, the fact is that every mother and every father makes it through these times without many issues. Even newborn babies are a little sturdier than the parents realize. This does not mean that they do not need some very special care, but at the same time it is important to take the time to enjoy each moment and worry a little less about the vast array of choices that are out there.

Author Bio

Grace Kelly writes for Zintro, a marketplace of experts in various

fields that helps connect investors, lawyers, doctors, analysts, entrepreneurs,

and more. Find an expert by discipline on Zintro.com consultant directory.