What kind of bottles to use?

[40smama]

I know I'm obsessing about this.  Unfortunately I'm forced to bottle feed this baby which is sad since I nursed my other ones.  But anyway, I never knew there were so many choices out there!  I'm now to the point of buying some Dr. Brown's (which are pricey), Playtex Drop-ins, Avent Tempo (expensive too), Avent (regular).  The list goes on.  I've been doing lots of research & pretty much it seems like the reviews are mixed.  Anyone else going through this?

[Beano1964]

When our daughter was born, we "inherited" every type of baby bottle known to mankind from friends and family (including the expensive Dr. Browns & Avents). Through trial and elimination, the last bottle left standing was the good old tried and true Gerber. Price was really no object, we would have gladly paid more for a better bottle. It just so happened that in our opinion, the BEST bottle also happened to be the CHEAPEST and most readily available bottle.  

[lhughes]

Also ... and there are SO many choices.... nipple selection.  Our 2nd daughter would only take Dr Browns because of the softer nipples.  She was a preemie, though.  After she was able to suck better, we switch to cheapies from walmart with the nubby nipples...variflow.  They are leak proof (until they get teeth and chew them up).

No worries on the bottle versus breast feeding.  Our 2st was breast and second was bottle.  1st dd had more strep and ear infections than #2 dd... #2 has asthma and allergies unlike #1.

You will miss it, though.  I did.  There's nothing like that kind of bonding.  
Good luck to ya, and yes...there's a lot of choices out there!

Don't forget to sign up with the formula companies to ship you samples and COUPONS!

[RockRose]

Are you sure you're forced to bottle feed?  

[pcarsey]

Hey Jen- I found this info out on a web page.. hope it helps a little..

It's wise of you to have laid in a fresh supply of bottles for your new baby, as older glass bottles can have cracks and chips, and plastic bottles can develop scratches in which bacteria can grow, contaminating formula or breast milk. Bottles should be examined periodically for wear and tear and discarded when it appears.

There are other less-toxic options available, both in plastic and glass baby bottles. #5 plastics are among the most recyclable and have not been found to leach potential hormone disruptors. Clear plastic, rigid baby bottles are likely to be made of #7 polycarbonate, which can leach bisphenol-A, a suspected hormone disruptor.

Tempered glass bottles do not leach any chemicals; they are made by Lamby as well as Evenflo. See our list below for product names and sources.

When storing and freezing breast milk, avoid #3 PVC plastic containers, which can leach phthalates and adipates, linked to reproductive harm and liver cancers in mice. Look for 8-oz., wide-mouth glass canning jars, which won't crack when heated or chilled. Also, polyethylene bags have not been found to leach toxic chemicals.

Nipples made of #3 PVC should also be avoided. Clear silicone bottle nipples and pacifiers are safer than plastic or latex ones, according to pediatricians Philip J. Landrigan, M.D. and Herbert L. Needleman, M.D. and Mary Landrigan, M.P.A., in Raising Healthy Children in a Toxic World (Rodale, 2001, $12.95; see review in The Green Guide's online bookstore.)

Baby Bottles (#5 Plastic)

Rubbermaid Chuggables Bottles

Rubbermaid Sippin' Sport Bottles

Evenflo Colored Baby Bottles

Evenflo Baby Bottles (opaque, pastel)

Gerber Baby Bottles (colors)

Medela Baby Bottles

Baby Bottles (Glass)

Lamby Glass Baby Bottles

Evenflo Glass Baby Bottles

Resources

Baby SuperMall, 888/276-6654 www.babysupermall.com

Kitchen Etc., 800/232-4070 www.kitchenetc.com

Medela, 800/435-8316 www.medela.com>medela.com

The Natural Baby Catalog, 888/550-2461 www.kidsstuff.com

[40smama]

Thanks, Patty for all of your info - I knew I could count on you!!  Quickly, yes, I do have to bottle feed sad to say - it's a medication issue....sigh.......Lhughes - thanks for reminding me about the nipple selection.  Thanks for your input, beano - I need to hear from a 'pro'.  If there's anything else you guys can think of, let me know.

[Tanker Chic]

Hey Jen,

Through the weaning I have been trying different bottles and I'm sure confusing the heck out of poor little Jacob.  I started with playtex drop ins, then bought he Avent Tempo, then bought the Medela and then the smoothies.  In the end I went back to the playtex but enyone of them probably would have worked.  At some point he latched onto each one of them but after an oz or so he would stop.  

If I was to start over again, i would probably go with the Medela.  They are bisphenol-A free.  A friend of mine uses their nipples on another bottle, and her dd does great with those nipples.  

Some people don' t think the bisphenol-A is a big deal because we all survived it, but now that I know, I just can't give him one of those bottles.  

[Jenny100]

Well my baby is mostly breastfed but I do give some bottles too. I tried the Playtex Drop-ins and didn't like the whole plastic bag business. Also, those times when you need to prop the bottle, I found that it was way too long and skinny and would fall over really easily.
SO I tried the Avent bottles---short and fat. They propped much more easily. And also, I think it's easier to pour the water and put the powder in with the wide, big opening in the Avent bottles rather than the littler, narrow tops of regular bottles.
AND they are easier to clean because they are short and fat--with the long narrow bottles its hard to get in there to the bottom and make sure its clean.

[40smama]

Thanks for the info, jenny100 and tanker.  I will now buy some more supplies.  You guys would laugh if you could see my collection of bottles.  Ahh, to go back to the easeness of breastfeeding.  

[azqtpies]

40SMAMA

I have found that my newborn likes the othrodontic nuk bottles .. I also breastfeed but he really takes to them as they are soft like a breast but the same as the nuk pacifier and are good for healthy development of the mouth! because I breastfeed it took 4 different types till we found the nuks, works great for us, but as you know it is all trial and error try couple different types of nipples and see how baby does. Good luck  to you =)

Kelly

[maybebaby29]

Try safemama.com. There is a good list of PVC free, PBA free products.