Years ago, the only baby bottles parents had available were those that were made of glass. But glass has its drawbacks. It is both breakable and heavy. So plastic bottles, when they were developed, almost completely replaced the old glass bottles. The newer plastic ones were both lighter and shatter-proof so most mothers favored them.
But how do you choose the best baby bottles for you and your baby?
Essentially, there are three types of baby bottles. They are glass, plastic and plastic with disposable liners.
For a time, there was a concern about plastic bottles that were made containing poly-carbonate (BPA) because it is potentially harmful to babies. But that chemical has now been banned from all baby bottles. If you are concerned about a particular bottle, you can check the recycling symbol on the bottle’s bottom. If it has the #7 or PC, it most likely contains BPA. If it has #1, #2 or #4 it was made with polyethylene and, if it says #5, it was made with polypropylene. All of these plastics are safe and contain no BPA.
Disposable bottle liners also do not usually contain BPA. Just look for the label that says “BPA free.” Bottle liners are often more expensive than using bottles alone because they can only be used once.
If you prefer more old-fashioned glass bottles, they still work very well too. And if you are afraid they might break, there are silicone sleeves that can be put around the bottle to protect it.
If you would like to get started using the best baby bottles and understand the benefits the different types can provide, take a look at our ratings of the best baby bottles reviews below:
Comotomo Baby Bottles
One of the biggest advantages to using Comotomo baby bottles is that they mimic breastfeeding so there is less of a chance your baby will reject the bottle. Also, the body and nipple are made from silicone that is 100% safe and hygienic. It can also help reduce colic caused by too much intake of air with its dual anti-colic vents.
The ultra-wide design of the neck makes it easy to clean by hand and doesn’t need a bottle brush. In addition, it is safe in sterilizers, dishwashers, boiling water and microwaves.
Philips Avent Natural Glass Bottles
Just like the Comotomo bottles already discussed, the Philips Avent natural glass bottles come with silicone nipples that are wide and shaped like the natural breast. This helps the baby latch on and works well if you are also breastfeeding part of the time.
The glass itself is both heat thermal shock and heat resistant and has a wide neck so it can be cleaned and filled easily. It also has an anti-colic system that is directly incorporated into the nipple with no extra parts to worry about.
Tommee Tippee Closer To Nature Bottles
The Tommee Tippee Closer To Nature bottles have been getting high ratings for a long time. Their easy-latch nipples help keep the transition between breast and bottle smooth because the nipple has a natural feel that is like that of the breast.
They also have a slow-flow nipple and a venting valve that allows less air intake and less problems for the baby. They are both dishwasher and microwave safe and are easy to fill with clear markings that reduce mistakes.All of this makes the Tommee Tippee Closer To Nature bottles some of the best baby bottles on the market today.
How To Sterilize Baby Bottles
Parents sterilize babies bottles, feeding equipment and other baby items to keep their baby healthy and prevent illnesses. But what is the best way to sterilize baby bottles? This article compares different methods for sterilizing baby bottles for convenience, cost and travel.
What Are The Options?
When you are considering how to sterilize baby bottles, electric steam sterilizers, cold water sterilizers and boiling in a pan are the typical ways to sterilize babies bottles. However, the most convenient and quickest way to sterilize your baby bottles would have to be microwave sterilizer bags. This is now a good alternative to the traditional type of sterilizers that have been available on the market.
Microwave sterilizer bags are fast. While you could be waiting around for up to 12 minutes with an electric steam sterilizer, you could be placing a microwave sterilizer bag with all your baby bottles, nipples and any other items which need to be sterilized into the microwave for as little as 90 seconds and they will be all sterilized and ready for baby.
A microwave sterilizer bag is also convenient. Microwave bags are easy to carry and are reusable. When you are on the move, these bags are a convenient solution for baby bottle sterilization. The individual bags are light and are easy to carry. All you need to do is find a microwave where ever you are going, and have a small amount water (100ml) on hand. Some of these types of bags can also be used up to 20 times, so not only do they prove convenient but they are also extremely cost effective.
While I see microwave sterilizer bags as one of the best and most convenient ways of sterilizing your baby bottles, there are of course other alternatives.
There is cold water sterilization which involves dissolving a non-toxic tablet in a cold water solution which stays sterile for up to 24 hours, after which you need to change the solution. This method is also convenient, but I feel that it would be way too easy for a busy mother (and let’s face it is what mother isn’t a busy one?) to easily forget to change the water which could, in turn, lead to your baby getting sick from unsterilized baby bottles, nipples or pacifiers.
You could, of course, always go the old fashioned route and boil some water in a pan and boil your baby bottles for about 10 minutes. This is also a very effective method of sterilizing baby bottles. Apart from the inconvenience of such a method, you will also find that the nipples can quickly become unusable and a bit sticky. You will quickly figure out that it will cost you more money as you buy more nipples over a shorter period of time than if you were to use one of the other methods.
Electric steam sterilizers look great and do a good job. This is the most expensive method initially with the largest upfront cost. Electric steam sterilizers often take more time than other methods of sterilizing baby bottles and take up valuable counter space. I feel these are not ideal for a mom on the go.
So when you’re trying to figure out how to sterilize baby bottles, all these methods work, when compared side by side, nothing works as quickly, effectively or cheaply as the microwave sterilizer bag.
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