There are a number of types of baby bottle and there are numerous ways to classify them. They can be mostly categorised by the various materials from which they’re made, and also, by the shapes. Bottles can come in terms of different sizes and by the type of nipple and bottle-feeding experience that they offer.
When it comes to materials, baby bottles can come in clear and opaque plastic or in glass. Some parents prefer glass, although it is not really as portable and is more subject to breakage. Other parents prefer plastic, though some are opposed to certain kinds of plastic that contain high levels of chemical such as BPA, especially when overheated, which has been deemed unsafe. Companies such as Avent bottles in NZ make all of their bottles BPA free and are naturally a healthier option for most parents. Still, it’s a personal choice each family must make, and a little research goes a long way.
Shapes, Liners and Sizes
Another important consideration when choosing your baby bottles may be their shape. Round bottles are the most commonly used, although some parents have been trying out a type that has an angled neck, which can be more challenging to clean. Other baby bottles that are on the market are those with plastic, one-time use liners. These are attached to a hollow cylinder and secured by a lid and a nipple. They do make cleaning much easier, although you might want to make sure that the liners are BPA free.
Size matters when selecting baby bottles. While new-borns might not finish bigger bottles, larger babies can drink six to eight ounces (. 18-. 24 litres) at a time, at least. It might just get laborious to have to keep washing and filling smaller sized bottles when demand for formula, breast milk or other fluids arises. It would be wiser to start with smaller bottles and work up to larger ones, although some parents just begin from the start with larger bottles.
Teats and Baby’s Choice
Finally, different types of bottles have different types of teats. Standard size round bottles usually have the greatest selection, and with the purchasing of teats you will not need to match in brand, provided the standard fitting is the same. Still, if you are wanting to use BPA free products, it’s best to find a BPA free teat as well. The above-mentioned cylinder bottle usually has a flatter nipple shape that may appeal to some babies.
Baby bottles present a range of differing choices for parents. It may help to ask other people and get recommendations on what they’ve found to be the best to use. Or check out online sites and see what parents have said. At the end of the day, babies will may make the final decision by their response to the type of teat they like to drink from!
After all it is they who are doing the drinking!
