Everything new parents need to know about baby bottles

Whether you’re planning on breastfeeding, bottle feeding or even a bit of both, there are, no doubt, many questions you have about baby bottles and how to use them. However, with a bit of expert advice, you’ll be confident and ready for whatever comes your way.

In our recent TMB TV live chat with Midwife Tylah McConnell, brought to to you by b.box and their new PPSU Baby Bottles, we covered a lot of vital information to help you navigate the new world of baby bottles. Here are answers to some common questions.

Watch our chat with Midwife Tylah – covering pregnancy, birth, and life with a newborn – below.

Can I combine breastfeeding and bottle feeding?

If you need to go back to work soon after having your baby, you might want to be prepared with a bottle to make that transition as smooth as possible. Or maybe you want to be able to express so your partner can take a turn with some of those late night (or early morning!) feeds.

As Midwife Tylah points out, it’s absolutely fine to mix breast and bottle feeding from birth, and many women do do this. “The general recommendation from a lactation consultant would be to wait until that six week mark, if you know you’re going to mix feed, and that’s generally the amount of time most people can definitely have off work,” she says. “But women definitely do it from birth, it’s just a matter of seeing what works for you and making sure that baby’s gaining enough weight.”

Do I need to sterilise bottles?

During those early months, it is important to sterilise your baby’s bottles and teats as their immune system is fragile and weak. However, according to Tylah, when your baby reaches that six-month mark and is tackling eating solids, it is more a case of what you feel comfortable with.

“Once you have a six-month old, they do start crawling around, putting the all sorts of things in their mouth, and that’s when their immune system starts developing,” says Tylah. “It’s really up to you, maybe you want to sterilise them every couple of uses, or maybe you just want to use warm, soapy water and that’s perfectly safe.”

Read reviews of sterilisers on Tell Me Baby.

Which bottle do I choose?

There are so many bottle available on the market, and sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error to find the right one to suit your baby.

Think about what material you’d like best: glass, plastic or silicone? The new b.box PPSU Baby Bottle is made from polyphenylsulfone, a premium, medical-grade plastic that’s heat resistant; it will stand up to the test of constant washing and sterilising, and it doesn’t absorb colour or odours, so it won’t go cloudy over time. The silicone anti-colic teat promotes natural feeding, while the handles encourage your baby’s independence.

Like all b.box products, the PPSU bottles are free from all harmful toxins such as BPA, BPS, phthalates or PVC, giving you piece of mind that you’re making the very best choice in terms of your baby’s safety and well being.

Read more about b.box PPSU Baby Bottles.

What size bottle? And what about teats?

Some mums choose a smaller bottle size (150ml) when their babies are young – after all, not much fits in to those tiny tummies! But to save money in the long run, you might opt to go straight for larger bottles you’ll be able to use throughout their feeding journey.

Choosing the right teat is also important – make sure it’s the right flow for whatever stage your baby is up to (generally, the younger the baby, the slower the flow). You’ll need to update your teat every few months – and if it shows signs of tearing or chewing, it will need replacing.

How do I heat up a bottle?

The best way to heat your baby’s bottle is to place it in a container of warm water for just a few minutes. Check the temperature by shaking a few drops onto your wrist. It should feel just warm, but if it’s cool, that’s also fine.

Never use the microwave to warm up the bottle as it heats unevenly and can result in scalding your baby or damaging breastmilk milk. Discard any unused warmed breastmilk or formula as bacteria from the air or baby’s saliva can contaminate the feed.

How do I transport bottles?

When out and about, place bottles of breastmilk or formula in an insulated bag with ice bricks and use within two hours. If appropriate, place the feeds in the refrigerator when you arrive at your destination and make sure you use within 24 hours of the time of preparation.

Will I still bond with my baby using a bottle?

You will definitely enjoy that special bonding process while bottle-feeding your baby. Get yourself into a comfy position and snuggle in close so your baby can hear, see, feel and smell you. Make sure you slow down and take your time, giving baby full focus. You might even want open your top a little so you both can enjoy that wonderful skin-to-skin contact that promotes a sense of closeness and precious intimacy.