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Being an essential part of the bottle, the teat is important for the growth of the baby and - if the correct flow speed is selected will ensure that babies are aided in their development. The mouthpiece and shape have been developed alongside medical experts with your baby's healthy growth in mind. The oval shape is modelled on a mother’s nipple during breastfeeding and the teat has been adapted for the low viscosity of breast milk. A Level 1 or newborn teat generally comes on every bottle and is a great starting point for many babies.
NHS (2021) Bottle feeding Advice. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/bottle-feeding/advice/ [Accessed 6 December 2021]If you’re planning to breastfeed it isn't necessary to buy bottles ‘just in case’. Over 90% of maternity units in the UK are now Baby Friendly Accredited, which means a midwife on the infant feeding team should be able to support you if you do have any difficulties with breastfeeding straight after birth (UNICEF 2017). They’ll help you with hand-expressing your colostrum and feeding it to your baby using a spoon, syringe or feeding cup (Unicef 2017). Find out whether your maternity unit is accredited here. Comfort for your baby is vital, and our baby feeding bottles feature the MAM SkinSoft teat, which has a 94% acceptance rate*. These baby bottles feature patented teats, made with SkinSoft silicone. Not only are they the ideal shape for babies, but the soft lip rest makes it easier for your little one to feed. Plus, these options allow extra-slow drinking flow, for safer feeding.
Before sterilising, all bottles and teats need to be washed, either by hand or in the dishwasher (NHS, 2018). If washing by hand, you will need a separate brush for cleaning bottles and teats (NHS, 2019b). When should I throw away my baby’s bottle? As a baby’s feeding develops and they are taking a longer time feeding from a Level 1 teat, many parents choose to move up to a Level 2 teat. Sterilising bottles is recommended for babies under a year because bacteria can easily grow in any milk remaining on the bottle or teats (Unicef, 2019). Babies are more vulnerable to these bacteria. Step 1: Assemble clean bottle parts as follows: base with silicone valve, teat with screw ring, bottle body and protective cap. Step 3: Place the screw ring with teat in the bottle base. Place the bottle body on it (optionally screw in slightly to avoid pouring out hot water by removing the bottle from microwave). Place the protective cap on top.
You may hear that you should keep the teat full of milk to avoid swallowing air. However where the milk flow is too fast and not in your baby's control, it is more likely to cause indigestion or gas (Kellymom, 2020). Anecdotally, babies whose parents use paced feeding suffer less from gas (Herman, 2021).
Knowing when to move to the next teat level is an important – and sometimes confusing – part of a comfortable and happy feeding experience for you and your baby.Herman (2021) How you offer a bottle can be more important than what’s inside, Available at https://www.todaysparent.com/baby/breastfeeding/paced-bottle-feeding/ [Accessed 6 December 2021] It’s also recommended that babies stop drinking from bottles with teats by the time they are one year old as drinking through a teat leaves the teeth coated in milk and can lead to tooth decay (NHS Choices, 2015; Oral Health Foundation, 2017). Read more about this here. Once they’re older and used to bottle-feeding, you could move to a medium flow. Just follow your baby’s lead to see what teat is right for them. Some babies prefer to stay on the slow flow teats for many months. You can also buy variflow teats where the flow rate can be varied by changing the angle of the teat (Which? 2019). MAM baby bottles feature an innovative vented base for an even drinking flow, so your baby isn’t swallowing air. This can reduce colic in 80% of cases.
We support all parents, however they feed their baby. If you have questions, concerns or need support, you can speak to a breastfeeding counsellor by calling our helpline on 0300 330 0700, whether you are exclusively breastfeeding or using formula milk. Breastfeeding counsellors have had extensive training, will listen without judging or criticising and will offer relevant information and suggestions. You can also find more useful articles here.
Bottle teat
There is no “right” time to change your baby’s teat level. Some babies are content using Level 1 throughout their feeding days, while more aggressive eaters may advance sooner than expected. Your baby will offer signs if the flow is not fast enough and it’s time to move up a level. Typical signs include baby: Pearson-Glaze (2019) Best bottle for a breastfed baby, Available at https://breastfeeding.support/best-bottle-breastfed-baby/ [Accessed 4 December 2021] What is Colic? Colic causes are common when a baby swallows too much air during the feeding process. If your baby seems unsettled after their feeds, our anti-colic baby feeding bottles reduces baby colic by up to 80%**. The MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic bottles feature a vented base to reduce the air intake during feeds. As a baby’s feeding develops and they are taking a longer time feeding from a Level 2 teat, many parents choose to move up to a Level 3 teat.
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