Choosing baby bottles and teats

Plastic, glass or silicone

Plastic bottles are light and don’t break. They are usually made of polypropylene (PP) or PPSU, a sturdier, heat-resistant plastic. Since 2011, baby bottles in the EU may no longer contain bisphenol A (BPA).

Glass bottles are heavier and can break, but scratch less and don’t go cloudy. Some have a silicone sleeve. Silicone and stainless steel bottles exist too; check what the manufacturer says about warming and sterilising.

Teats: shape and flow

Teats are made of silicone (odourless, long-lasting) or natural rubber (softer, wears faster). There are classic round teats, flat orthodontic teats and wide teats that the manufacturer calls ‘breast-like’.

The flow runs from slow to fast, with a size or an age. Those sizes differ by brand: size 2 from one brand is not the same as size 2 from another.

Anti-colic systems

Many bottles have a valve or vent that lets air into the bottle while your baby drinks. Manufacturers call that an anti-colic system. Whether it makes a difference for your baby, LeBaby can’t say; discuss cramps or feeding problems with the consultatiebureau or Kind en Gezin.

Wide or narrow neck

Wide-neck bottles are easier to fill and clean. Note that teats, lids and breast pumps often fit only bottles of the same brand and neck size. If you want to pump straight into the bottle, check which bottles fit your pump.

Cleaning and replacing

Manufacturers advise checking teats before every use and replacing them regularly, often after one to two months, and straight away if there is a tear or thin spot.

Clean bottles with a bottle brush, or in the dishwasher if the manufacturer allows it. A steriliser and a bottle warmer are handy; which ones fit depends on the size of your bottles.

Preparing formula

How to prepare formula, how often to sterilise and how much your baby drinks belong with the consultatiebureau and the Voedingscentrum (Netherlands) or Kind en Gezin and ONE (Belgium). LeBaby compares products and gives no feeding advice.