Baby Bottles

Mars · #1 October 25th, 2008, 02:33 PM

I'm hoping to breastfeed exclusively for the first 3 months but this may also involve using a bottle (with pumped breastmilk). I've been researching all the different brands of bottles and thought I'd post the question here for additional reviews/feedback/

I think I would prefer to use glass bottles but am not opposed to BPA-free bottles. Any one has a favorite brand and a little review on it?

We don't have a whole lot of brands on the island but I've been seeing Avent, Dr. Brown, Evenflo, Playtex and a few others. My sister's coming in from Nova Scotia in December so if I find a good brand online that I don't get here I can get her to bring it for me.

Thanks.

#2 October 25th, 2008, 03:19 PM

Well, we use the Platex Drop-Ins Nursers. Reid definitely doesn't love them (sometimes has a hard time eating because he will refuse the bottle). However, he does take it most of the time, and it works for now and doesn't seem to give him gas or leak. I have one MAM bottle that DH said that he liked, so I may get more of those. The nipple shape looks more comfortable for a baby.

Frozendesire · #3 October 25th, 2008, 04:20 PM

Canada has a limited selection of bottles due to them taking every non bpa free bottle of shelves but we do also have born free. I'm going to look into that. They actually have a glass version.

I prefer bigger bottles and bigger nipples, I would think this would help to keep baby's latch open larger but I don't really know for sure! haha.

I am debating doing either Born Free or playtex drop ins. But I'm still undecided!

Here is a link to the born free website

http://www.newbornfree.com/

thepinkleprechaun · #4 October 25th, 2008, 04:34 PM

I used a ton of different kinds with Aden, so I can give you my opinions on those. We are using the Playtex drop ins original with this baby, once I go back to work anyways.

Playtex Vent-Air:
HORRIBLE! Never buy these they are so crappy. Aden had such a hard time eating from them, they leaked and it seemed like a lot of air got in there and gave her gas.

Playtex Drop Ins:
Good bottles, you can get several different kinds of nipples for them. We are using the latex (brown) nipples because they are softer and more like the breast. It was also nice to have the disposable bags, although I think they are better for breast milk because with formula it's hard to mix in that kind of bottle. Never had any gas/burping problems because you can squeeze all the extra air out.

Dr. Browns:
GREAT bottles for not getting air/gas problems. They are really wonderful, but having several parts to clean can be a pain. We got one of those baskets that goes in the dishwasher and those are great for all the little parts. Another one that is probably good for breastfeeding because you can't really mix the formula in those. I used it with both breastmilk and later formula though. They also come in glass as well as BPA free!

Nuby:
We used these when she was older and she was on formula. They were awesome because they come in 7 oz and 11 oz, the 11 oz one is great for mixing a full 8 oz of formula in the bottle because there is enough room! They also come in wide neck bottles for breastfeeding babies. And of course they are BPA free because they are softer plastic.

Frozendesire · #5 October 25th, 2008, 04:45 PM

Also be prepared that the bottle you like baby might not! It might take a couple different bottles to get one baby likes... especially if you are BFing first.

Resi · #6 October 25th, 2008, 04:49 PM

I bought glass bottles and BPA free bottles. I have about 4 different brands. Last night we tried the "green to grow" brand. It seemed to work well. It's a bottle that has to be ordered online. I also have the Born Free bottles to try.

ScottishBrit · #7 October 25th, 2008, 04:50 PM

We have playtex drop in's. I bought the advent ones and then the whole BPA thinh came about. I returned them for the dropin's... Cambria only like the clear nipples, she always gags and makes funny faces with the brown ones. So far we haven't had any problems....

Frozendesire · #8 October 25th, 2008, 04:51 PM

Oh Resi! Let me know how they work, whenever you get around to trying them

IamMom · #9 October 25th, 2008, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Dr. Browns:
GREAT bottles for not getting air/gas problems. They are really wonderful, but having several parts to clean can be a pain. We got one of those baskets that goes in the dishwasher and those are great for all the little parts. Another one that is probably good for breastfeeding because you can't really mix the formula in those. I used it with both breastmilk and later formula though. They also come in glass as well as BPA free![/b]

on Dr. Browns. This was all I used with DS once he was on formula exclusively around 6 weeks. He has gas problems so these were terrific (along with Enfamil's Gentlease formula). I highly recommend these - they are a bit pricier and as Katie said have a lot of parts to clean but that never seemed to bug me too bad (I had about 40 I got as gifts....I used the dish washer basket and it seemed to fit the parts perfectly!)

Mars · #10 October 25th, 2008, 05:18 PM

Thank you all sooo much!! I'm so happy for the reviews.

Steph, I do agree with you that the baby may not like the one that I like so I'm hoping I can get a starter kit in whichever brand I eventually go with to see how it works out.

I'm buying diapers and bottles like this. I don't want stock up on something and then the baby doesn't take to it.

Kati, thanks for the comparison and Resi, I'll like to know how the other brands work when you get around to trying them.

I was really liking the glass bottles or the playtex ones that Breanna and Amy use. My concern with the playtex here would be making sure I can get the bags/drop-in bags.

The Dr Brown's I've seen here so far are only the plastic and I'm not sure if they are the BPA-free ones so I will need to check back on those.

ETA: When I start to use formula, I figure I can mix it in another container and then pour into the bags if I choose the Dr. Brown's or Playtex. A bit more work but if the bottle is good, I'd be willing to put in the extra effort.

Glass bottles don't seem to be very popular here (I've only seen a few evenflo ones), at least not at the places where I've been but I'll be really looking around next month to see what I can find before my sister comes.

Frozendesire · #11 October 25th, 2008, 05:42 PM

When we put Curtis on formula when he was older, I'd just make a jug of formula (a days worth) every morning and just use that, pour it into the bottles. I found it to be WAY easier actually

then it was cold and great for teething and summer months!

greeneyes · #12 October 25th, 2008, 05:51 PM

We'll be using the Born Free bottles - I like them because they are BPA-free, have an air vent to reduce gas/colic, and have the wider nipples to be more like the breast.

For a great list of BPA-free bottles, sippy cups, and milk storage, check out this list from SafeMama: http://safemama.com/2007/11/22/bpa-free-bo...up-cheat-sheet/

Oh, also! Born Free does make a glass bottle that has the air venting system as well: http://www.newbornfree.com/ProductInfo.aspx?id=2795995

They're the same price as the BPA-free ones.

thepinkleprechaun · #13 October 25th, 2008, 05:52 PM

Quote:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Quote:

Dr. Browns:
GREAT bottles for not getting air/gas problems. They are really wonderful, but having several parts to clean can be a pain. We got one of those baskets that goes in the dishwasher and those are great for all the little parts. Another one that is probably good for breastfeeding because you can't really mix the formula in those. I used it with both breastmilk and later formula though. They also come in glass as well as BPA free![/b]

on Dr. Browns. This was all I used with DS once he was on formula exclusively around 6 weeks. He has gas problems so these were terrific (along with Enfamil's Gentlease formula). I highly recommend these - they are a bit pricier and as Katie said have a lot of parts to clean but that never seemed to bug me too bad (I had about 40 I got as gifts....I used the dish washer basket and it seemed to fit the parts perfectly!)
[/b]

I just found out that Dr. Brown's actually makes a dishwasher basket, one for the wide neck and one for the regulars! I might get those if I end up using Dr. Browns again.

http://www.mothertochild.com/drbrown.html

Adriana's Mommy · #14 October 25th, 2008, 09:25 PM

When Adriana was taking a bottle, we used Platex Drop-Ins Nursers.. What's great about these is that you can throw the liner away.. Easy to clean and we never had problems with colic, gas, spit up.. Nothing..

Mars · #15 October 26th, 2008, 04:13 AM

I'm going to the supermarket today so I'll begin looking around to see what my options are.

IamMom · #16 October 26th, 2008, 05:00 AM

Mari - for what it is worth - I always mixed Harrison's powder formula right in the Dr. Browns bottles and I never had any problems. Also, I believe they are BPA Free - or at least are being made that way now. Good luck!

~* Helen *~ · #17 October 26th, 2008, 07:32 AM

With Ryan I used avent bottles and plan to with this baby once have stopped breastfeeding, I swear by avent, never had any problems with them and great value for money.

Mars · #18 October 26th, 2008, 12:33 PM

I only saw the Avent ones at the supermrket I went to this morning but the package didn't say if it was BPA-free or not. I never thought that finding and buying baby bottles would be so involved.

~* Helen *~ · #19 October 26th, 2008, 03:16 PM

Whats with the BPA- free thing ??? We don't have none of this here in the UK, we just choose bottles and buy, I used them from when Ryan was 2/3 weeks old and had no problems. Avent are very popular bottles here in the UK as are others such as tommee tippee and mam.