Bottles

[llghoney]

What kind of bottles do you or have you used that you absolutley love? I keep hearing that Dr. Brown is one of the best. Also, I see on T.V. these teeny tiny bottles and wonder where those come from? The hospital?

 

[llghoney]

No one uses/used bottles??

 

[CarrieAg93]

We used the Playtex (I think that was the brand name) ones with the liners. I loved not having to wash a ton of bottles all the time. Probably not the best choice money wise, but it was worth it for the convenience.

 

[quitespirit]

We used the Playtex (I think that was the brand name) ones with the liners. I loved not having to wash a ton of bottles all the time. Probably not the best choice money wise, but it was worth it for the convenience.

2nd-ed...

 

[CarrieAg93]

Also, I see on T.V. these teeny tiny bottles and wonder where those come from? The hospital?

The only ones I've ever seen have been from the hospital. I wouldn't recommend buying them even if you can. You'll be moving onto bigger bottles fairly quickly.

 

[GolfingMom]

We used Avent and hated them. They leaked and we ended up recycling them quite early on.
We LOVED the Dr. Brown bottles and invested in them for both kiddo's! I also used GLASS Gerber bottles and liked those too

 

[Birbitt]

I'll third the recommendation for the Playtex Disposables...the liners get kind of pricey but worth it when you consider that 1. You don't have a lot to sterilize when you wash bottles...because really only the nipples and rings needed to be boiled since that was all that would contact baby's milk. 2. Baby wouldn't get any air because you can squeeze out all the air and bubbles before feeding baby to prevent excess gas. and 3. convenience.....it is much easier and lighter to carry a few extra liners and sterilized nipples and rings around with me than 3 or 4 bottles filled with nursery water and a container of formula everywhere. So I would have to say those were the best...and we did try several other kinds of bottles throughout both babies and always went back to the playtex. Now we always give them as shower gifts.

 

[AJ29]

We used boobs. I loved not having to wash a ton of bottles all the time. Probably the best choice money wise, and it was worth it for the convenience.

Seriously though - are you planning to bottle feed, or do you want to give breastfeeding a go?

If you want to breastfeed at all, I would advise against purchasing ANY bottles until you need them IF you need them. We have a few (we got an Avent starter kit) that have been sitting in our cupboard virtually unused for 3 years (my toddler will occasionally use one for water, or guests may need a bottle for their babies).

I am not "bottle bashing" and you may have already posted about alternatives, but I am happy to discuss options further if you wish.

All of my bottle feeding friends recommend Avent bottles. Apparently they leak if you do them up too tight (rather than because they are too loose as you would expect). The advantages are that there are lots of "extras" available - such as sippy teats for toddlers.

 

[MyaShane]

We used the Playtex (I think that was the brand name) ones with the liners. I loved not having to wash a ton of bottles all the time. Probably not the best choice money wise, but it was worth it for the convenience.

Us, too. Loved the Playtex brand.

 

[llghoney]

Thanks ladies!

I do plan to BF but want to be prepared in case something crazy happens & I can't. I've also seen where in Canada they have recalled bottles that contain BPA if I'm not mistaken.

 

[TexasSky]

My children are grown. I used platex when they were little, but given this morning's Today Show, I'd go back to glass if I was feeding an infant in today's world.

 

[Redguard]

Thanks ladies!

I do plan to BF but want to be prepared in case soemhting crazy happens & I can't. I've also seen where in Canada they have recalled bottles that contain BPA if I'm not mistaken.

LOL

When I saw this thread, I was gonna come in and mention this exact same thing.

Here's a link in case you wanna research it further.

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_21856.aspx
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_21724.aspx

 

[quitespirit]

Thanks ladies!

I do plan to BF but want to be prepared in case soemhting crazy happens & I can't. I've also seen where in Canada they have recalled bottles that contain BPA if I'm not mistaken.

Congratulations on the baby and the plans to BF. I did one, both and the other with my son. BF was definitely the best for us.

May I give you some advice?
For an...enlightening bit of conversation ask a friend 'what did you learn when you first started BF'ing. I wish I had known, though it was quite...comical.

 

[Sign Of The Fish Burger]

I've also heard great things about the Dr. Brown bottles. Im in the same boat as you, I plan on BFing but I will also be pumping when I go back to work, so I definitely will need bottles. Plus I want to be able to go out and leave the bub with Dad so he can feed her

 

[seamonster]

We used mostly Gerber bottles and our son loved them. We did try the Avent bottles with the disposable inserts, and those worked pretty well, too.

 

[Singin4Him]

I personally have been very happy with the Playtex Nursers, they are very close to BFing. I honestly feel they are the closest you can get in a bottle. I also LOVE that they have drop-ins which collapse when the baby drinks, which means much less gas and tummy issues. They have been great for us! I mainly BF but we did use these when we went out and much more so when he was 4 months +.

 

[Neenie1]

I used Avent botles with my son. DD never took to a bottle at all. I am a breastfeeder but ds got a bottle when I went out somewhere. Dd just wouldn't take a bottle no matter how hard I tried, so I had to wait until she was a bit older, and left her with babysitter after a full breastfeed, with a "Nuby" cup in the fridge just in case. ROFL (she loved the Nuby cup but never liked the bottles)


I am concerned about this BPA thing I saw on the news. If I had to bottle feed today I would use a glass bottle.

 

[llghoney]

Congratulations on the baby and the plans to BF.

Ty!!

I think what I may do is buy some of each to maybe see what she will take or what not. I will probaby pump as well some. And to make sure they are BPA free!

 

[AJ29]

Thanks ladies!

I do plan to BF but want to be prepared in case soemhting crazy happens & I can't. I've also seen where in Canada they have recalled bottles that contain BPA if I'm not mistaken.

Honestly... your success with breastfeeding will be determined by your determination. If you want to breastfeed, it will be hard work! Chances are, you will end up with chapped and cracked nipples, you will be more tired because you will be the one getting up through the night, you may end up with mastitis or nipple thrush so that it feels like your baby's mouth is made of razor blades when he/she attaches. Then, at around 3 weeks, just as you feel you are getting into the swing of things, you will think that your milk has dried out because you no longer get engorged between feeds (when in fact, your body has just become efficient and only produces what is needed, so doesn't leave you feeling so "full" and uncomfortable).

If you have bottles "ready just in case", I would bet that you use them - early on.

(I should note that all of those horrible side effects from the early stages of breastfeeding do not last - they settle down if you persevere).

By all means - research bottles. Look around to see which stores carry which bottles. Find out where you can get bottles locally at a 24 store, so that you know that if that "just in case" moment happens, you can send your hubby out to pick some up for you. I just wouldn't actually purchase any UNTIL you actually need them.

A word of "warning" too - expressing isn't all it is made out to be. I was terrible at expressing milk, even though I had plenty. I tried it a few times. I managed to get about 20mL (which is less than an ounce) for over an hour's worth of expressing. Then, when I actually tried to get my hubby to feed my baby that milk, my baby refused it. It was frustrating and a waste of time (for me). I don't have a single breastfeeding friend who has had any real success with expressing (although some have had success with formula "top ups" in bottles).

I found that when my babies were tiny (ok... so until they were well over 6 months old, by which time a little bit of solid food was ok too), I really didn't WANT to leave them with anyone so I could just go out. If you really want to breastfeed, even if it is just until you go back to work, I really wouldn't spend money on bottles at least until your baby is born. You may end up like me and waste money, and worst of all, cupboard space (lol) on bottles that are really not needed.

Again, not a bottle bashing post, but if I have come across that way, please let me know and I can remove my posts and I will bow out of the discussion gracefully!

All the best either way! I know the feeling of wanting to be prepared for all of the "what ifs". Having a baby is very exciting and it is nice to feel like you are really ready for anything!

 

[heart of peace]

I also used GLASS Gerber bottles and liked those too

Could you tell me more about this? I would like to allow others to feed the next child God blesses me with. Like Neenie's daughter, my son just didn't like the bottle at all.

My mother used glass bottles with me and I have definite memories of them and even breaking one while playing with my siblings and being told that I wasn't allowed to use the glass bottles anymore and I was very upset by it....lol This is actually one of my earlier memories!

If you want to breastfeed at all, I would advise against purchasing ANY bottles until you need them IF you need them.

All of my bottle feeding friends recommend Avent bottles. Apparently they leak if you do them up too tight (rather than because they are too loose as you would expect). The advantages are that there are lots of "extras" available - such as sippy teats for toddlers.

I have a few relatives that successfully expressed their breastmilk for 6 months for their children. One only expressed milk. I think 6 months of breastmilk is a great thing and if they were not able to express their milk, it would have been more like 4 weeks of bm.

I definitely want to use them with my next child. I want my son to help feed his baby brother/sister, my MIL would feel extremely blessed to be able to bond with her grandchild in this way (and I want her to bond as much as she can) not to mention that I would like to be able to have one on one time with my son alone, which would mean leaving an infant with dad who doesn't have any glorious breasts...lol I plan on extended breastfeeding my next one as well and hopefully pursue a CLW again as I am with my current son.

I think that it may be easier for bf moms the second time around to incorporate bottles with direct bf than it is the first time around. I could be wrong though.

I've also seen where in Canada they have recalled bottles that contain BPA if I'm not mistaken.

Toys R Us and Walmart are phasing out these plastics by the end of '08/early '09. Also, some of the bottle manufactures are not going to use the dangerous levels (#7 I think) in new productions, so within a year, it should be a safer market for bottle users. Most of the problems lie in microwaving the bottles of milk, which is already a known no-no as the milk can have hot spots which can scald baby's throat.

A word of "warning" too - expressing isn't all it is made out to be. I was terrible at expressing milk, even though I had plenty. I tried it a few times. I managed to get about 20mL (which is less than an ounce) for over an hour's worth of expressing. Then, when I actually tried to get my hubby to feed my baby that milk, my baby refused it. It was frustrating and a waste of time (for me). I don't have a single breastfeeding friend who has had any real success with expressing (although some have had success with formula "top ups" in bottles).

Me too! The first few weeks I could express like a champ but then I would "milk myself" for an hour and get next to nothing in the container. I just gave up with the thought of a bottle and I just weaned my son to a cup at 9 months old.

AJ, I wish someone gave me the lowdown of what to expect from my tender nipps when I first began bf but since no one I was close to was a bf mother at the time I had my son (even now, no one close to me has bf beyond 6 months), I had no idea what was in store and it was very very difficult to experience all that I did those first 6 weeks! All I remember is my good friend's older sister tossed me a small bottle of lanolin (sp) before I went in to have my son telling me it will become my best friend in the beginning, and boy was she right!!! I was inseperable with that bottle.