Never Say Never! 5 Best Bottles for Breastfed Babies 2015 | She's Expecting

Never Say Never! 5 Best Bottles for Breastfed Babies 2015 | She’s Expecting

You spent your entire pregnancy and, probably, time before that researching all things baby related. Now the baby is here (congratulations!) and reality is setting in.  Many moms go to great length, and with good reason, to breastfeed their baby for at least the first year. If you are a breastfeeding mom, you have probably discovered that breastfeeding is nothing like what you see in movies or read about in books. Like any new skill, it can be hard. It’s hard to learn – for you and baby. And, for many new mothers, it can be physically exhausting. However, the benefits to you and your baby make the effort well worth it – boosted immune system, fewer incidences of allergies and it’s free!

It is more than likely that a time will come that you (or another caregiver) will want/need to give your child a bottle. Much is written about the potential negatives of giving breastfed babies a bottle. You read about nipple confusion. You hear horror stories about pumping breast milk. You worry about using formula. Is it safe to use a plastic bottle? Is it safe to use a glass bottle?  All of this information makes something as seemingly simple as giving a baby bottle a decision fraught with peril.  It needn’t be. Whether you are supplementing with a bottle, need a bottle only occasionally or if you are ready to wean your baby you can help make the transition easier by choosing bottles that best mimic breastfeeding.

First of all, relax! Giving your baby a bottle for any reason – you’re sick, you’re away at work, you want a night out or even if you just need a break – is no reason for guilt or panic. Instead, investigate your options. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all bottle. A quick internet search will reveal bottles for every concern you might have. There are bottles of a variety of materials, colors, shapes and prices. The choices can be overwhelming. For babies who are breastfed the majority of the time, finding a bottle that most closely simulates breastfeeding is a priority. You’ll want a bottle that encourages baby to latch on just as he does when nursing. Additionally, you’ll want a bottle that blocks as much air from the milk in the bottle as possible to avoid tummy aches.

When deciding which bottle is the right one for your baby, do a bit of homework beforehand. Talk to other moms who have recently “road-tested” bottles. Read online customer reviews – they can be surprisingly specific. When you have it narrowed down, buy one or two types of bottles and give them a fair test.

When possible, have someone besides yourself give the bottle. Even better, do not be in the room when your baby first tries a bottle. Your baby knows you. If he has a choice between you and a bottle, he’s going to wait for the real thing! Having someone who has not been his main source of comfort and nourishment his entire life offer him a bottle is likely to be a more successful venture. Some babies are resistant to the bottle at first. However, if they’re truly hungry, they will soon figure it out – even if they aren’t thrilled with it.  Other babies don’t mind the transition at all and will happily go back and forth from bottle to breast.

Finding the right bottle for your baby can make all the difference. The five bottles below consistently rank high with breastfeeding moms.

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