6 Questions to Consider Before Choosing your Baby’s Bottle

Welcoming a new baby will be the most exciting and rewarding moment. However, preparing for it and the journey ahead can be both expensive and daunting to new parents.

Expectant parents can sometimes overlook the importance of choosing a practical baby bottle until it is time to add one to their baby’s registry.  Finding a baby bottle that will support you and your baby is a top priority. If you’re also planning to breastfeed, a bottle that offers an easy transition from breast to bottle is ideal.

The challenge for new parents is that many brands in the marketplace each promise to be what you need for your baby. So how do you choose the right one for you and your baby?

The straightforward answer is that you won’t know what’s best until you try it. Even experienced parents would tell you that what worked for one baby doesn’t necessarily work for the next. However, there are some things to consider when selecting a baby bottle that will be important across the board.

Here are 6 questions to answer when choosing your baby bottles:

1.   Is it Safe? 

Baby bottle materials range from glass, stainless steel, silicone, and plastic. There are even a few hybrid bottles which are bottles made of more than one material. Selecting a  baby bottle brand that is safe, easy, and convenient will save you time, money, and stress. When buying your baby’s bottle, consider how many parts the baby bottle has.

While glass bottles have become popular, most parents purchase plastic baby bottles because they are lightweight and do not shatter easily. However, some plastic baby bottles require replacement after a certain time of use.  If your selection is a plastic bottle, it’s important to ensure that the material does not contain bisphenol (BPA). This is one of the many reasons why I recommend BabaLid bottle if you are looking for a good baby bottle that does not contain bisphenol (BPA).

2.   Is it easy to clean?

Whether you choose glass, stainless steel, silicone, or plastic, baby bottles require daily and thorough cleaning, especially in the first 6 months of life.  Therefore it is important that your baby bottles are easy and convenient to wash. Baby formula residue can quickly build up bacteria in hard-to-reach areas. If the bottles come with various parts, ensuring that you have the proper tools to reach and clean those parts is important.

If you are considering using a dishwasher, find out if it is recommended by the manufacturer. A simple search on the web and even on the packaging will help get those answers.

3.  What is the Price point?

Price is always a common factor to keep in mind before you buy any item. One way to determine how much you will spend on a particular brand is to compare the prices of similar brands. Remember that cheap does not always mean affordable, and expensive doesn't mean it's safe. Having price ranges in mind can help you know when you are overspending for a baby bottle. Nevertheless, these types come with their downsides too, and are often pricey.

4. What about the Nipple Size and Shape?

Finding a bottle with the right nipple shape and size is essential. The ideal nipple has a gradual slope from narrow to wide and doesn’t conflict with the baby’s natural feeding patterns. Breastfeeding moms who alternate between the breast and bottle appreciate nipples that mimic the breast because it encourages your baby to latch firmer during feeding.

5. What about the Size and Shape of the Bottle?

Understand that the shape of the bottle and its size can affect convenience. Grasping is easier with a firm lightweight bottle. Also, when choosing the right bottle size, always consider the quantity your baby consumes. A smaller bottle size like a 3-5 ounce can be suitable between 0-3 months. However, as your baby grows, consider replacing your small bottles with bigger sizes that can fill up to 10 oz.

6. What about the Lid/Cover of the Bottle?

Always ensure that your baby bottle has a good lid for hygiene and safety. Nobody loves the stress of trying to find your bottle lid each time you feed your baby. While many baby bottle brands are available today, only BabaLID comes with a tethered cover/lid that makes it easy and convenient to save and protect the nipple from germs and contamination.

In conclusion, considering these points before you start buying baby bottles for your baby, will limit your trial and error time to experiment different baby bottles and will ultimately save you time, money, and your mental health. Cheers to finding the BabaLid baby bottle for your baby’s dreams!