Glass Bottle with silicone Sleeve

A lot of natural moms have asked me in the last few months what they can do to avoid using plastic baby bottles. I usually tell them that they can always go with the old standard.glass baby bottles . Nowadays they are super cute and they are actually much safer than plastic when you consider that plastic can leach chemicals.

When heated, five of the most popular brands of polycarbonate — the clear, shatterproof plastic used in baby bottles — leached bisphenol A at levels that have been found to cause harm in laboratory animals, Environment California found.

One of the originals is a bottle by Born Free if you are not comfortable with glass bottles and their potential breakage factor. Born Free makes BPA-free plastic baby bottles, training cups, and sippy cups .

Also check out the Glass Bottle with silicone Sleeve

My favorite glass baby bottles are like this-- The bright colored silicone sleeve helps to protect the bottle from breakage and provides a great gripping surface and tactile experience during feeding. Bisphenol-A (BPA), phthalate, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) free, silicone sleeve is non-toxic and free of plastics, silicone nipples is non-toxic and latex-free, plastic ring, plug and cap are FDA approved.

How Many Baby Bottles Do I Need To Buy?

Whether you plan to breastfeed or bottlefeed, chances are you’ll need baby bottles at some stage. Here’s a guide to deciding how many to buy in each size, for varying ages and needs.

Planning for baby can be a complicated process. Every baby has a different appetite ,Every baby is born at a different weight, length and size– some babies will drink only small amounts at regular intervals night and day, while other babies prefer larger drinks and only during the day.

Of course this presents a problem when deciding what bottles to buy – you don’t want to spend too much money on bottles that will only be used for a month or two. And of course you don’t want to buy half a dozen when you’ll only really be using two or three regularly.

The following guide will give you some information to help you decide how many bottles you need to buy in preparation for baby.

Tip: When not around mum, breastfed babies will often feed less – this is called reverse cycling. So if your baby normally has four feeds in a seven hour period, don’t be surprised if they only drink 2-3 bottles while in care.

Baby Feeding Bottles For The Breastfeeding Baby
Even if you plan to breastfeed your baby, it’s a great idea to have options if you need to go down to the shop or simply if you want a night out. Having an expressing kit and spare bottles is the best way to plan ahead.
For the stay at home baby – If you only plan to go out for a dinner or date with your partner that won’t last more than a few hours, two bottles is a good number, and three is a safe bet.
For the baby that will go to day care or sitters regularly – It’s important that you have enough bottles to cover the entire time your baby is in care, without having to reuse them. Many daycare centres will ask you to send premade bottles for legal and safety reasons and many home sitters may prefer that bottles are made and ready. You’ll need about 1 bottle for every two and a half hours they’ll be in care, with an extra one just in case.

Tip: Until baby is approximately 6-9 months of age, it’s highly recommended that you sterilise BABY FEEDING BOTTLES .

Bottles For The Formula Fed Baby
If your baby is on formula from birth, it can really vary how many bottles you’ll use. You’ll need to take two things into consideration when deciding how many bottles you’ll need:-
How often you plan to wash and sterilise bottles and whether you will be making up a lot of bottles in advance or simply making one immediately prior to feeds.
For the stay at home baby: As a mimimum it’s a good idea to have three, although the above factors will probably influence how many you need. If you do plan to make bottles ahead, buy one for every two and a half hours.
For the baby that goes to day care or sitters: You’ll need at least one for every two and a half hours, plus some spares at home if you’re too busy or not in the mood to clean and sterilise some. Most carers require bottles to be

premade.

Choosing Bottle Sizes Baby Feeding Bottles Online
BABY FEEDING BOTTLES come in a range of sizes, since baby will require more and more formula or breast milk as they get older – so it’s a wise idea not to buy

too many in one size, or buy a few in each size. Bottles usually come in sizes such as:
4 oz (125mL) – newborn
9 oz (260mL) – 6 months +
11 oz (325mL) – older babies

How To Remove Smells From Baby Bottles And Sippy Cups

Have you ever scrubbed and cleaned your baby bottle only to discover that no matter how hard you try you simply

can not remove the foul odor inside? This is a common problem among plastic sippy cups and BABY BOTTLES .

While the bad smell wont have a negative impact on your babies health, it can transfer a foul tasting flavor onto

whatever liquid you put into the bottle. Fortunately you don’t have to throwout your expensive baby bottle and buy a new one, simply use the following preventative and removal techniques below to banish funky smells for good.

How to prevent odors from taking hold.

Rinse after feeding
Once your baby has finished his drink of milk or apple juice, quickly rinse the bottle out with cold water. The shorter time that the drink spends in the baby bottle, the less chance it will have to transfer its odor onto the plastic.

Refrigerate
While the preferred method is to rinse the bottle after feeding, you can also place the bottle in the refrigerator. refrigeration is important for drinks such as milk or baby formula as it prevents bacteria from forming. The bacteria that form at room temperature will help contribute to your bottles odor.

Make the switch to glass
One of the huge benefits of Glass Baby Bottles and sippy cups is that they do not absorb odors from liquids that are placed inside. If you are sick and tired of deodorizing your baby bottle then perhaps it is time to make the switch.

Removing milk or formula smells from baby bottles

Baking powder is your best friend when it comes to deodorizing baby bottles from smells that linger.

Simply add a heaped teaspoon of baking soda to your baby bottle and half fill with hot water. Place the lid on the bottle and shake vigorously for two minutes . Pour the baking soda solution out and rinse the bottle. You should no longer notice any trace of bad smell. A quick sniff will confirm this.

Depending on the type of plastic or age of the baby bottle then you may need to use a heavy duty variation of the above technique, soaking the baby bottle over night.

Find a tub or bowl that is large enough to accommodate your baby bottle, nipples and lids. Count out cups of hot water and add them to the bowl until your feeding equipment is covered. For every cup of water add a teaspoon of baking soda. Stir thoroughly. You may need to place a plate or heave object on top to ensure that the bottle pieces stay under the water.

Leave the baby bottle to soak in the baking soda solution over night. In the morning wash the baby bottle with dish soap and hot water. Leave the bottle to air dry. The smell will have vanished.

Removing juice smells from baby bottle

Sweet juices, particularly apple, can leave an unusual smell in bottles and baby water bottle . The best solution for for juice odor removal is vinegar.

Simply fill your baby bottle to the brim with vinegar and leave to soak over night. Place any lids in a bowl full of vinegar and use a heavy object to keep them submerged.

In the morning, wash the bottle with dish soap and hot water before air drying. Like magic, no more juice smell.

Removing soap smells from baby bottles

Have you swapped detergents recently only to discover whatever you wash now smells soapy? If your baby bottle has a soap scent then chances are whatever you place inside are going to taste “lemony fresh”.
Soap odors are generally caused by failing to rinse thoroughly. When rinsing, make sure that clean water covers all areas of your baby bottle and sippy cup. Swirl the water around until no trace of soap remains.

If you are using a sink full of water to rinse, be sure to empty and refill often when washing up. If your rinsing water gets too soapy then it is not performing its function properly, that is, removing soap from your dishes.

If you thoroughly rinse and the smell still remains then sterilize your baby bottles in warm water. The soap smell should disappear for good.

Once you have rid your baby bottle or sippy cup from the soap smell, consider switching to a mild dish soap when cleaning plastic baby feeding products

How to wash and clean your baby bottles and sippy cups.

Whether you call it a BABY BOTTLES or a feeding bottle, once your baby has finished his meal you are going to need to use the proper technique to get it squeaky

clean.

Let’s take a look at the correct procedure to follow when cleaning your baby bottles. The same methods used to clean baby bottles can also be used on sippy cups

After Feeding Your Baby,It is best to clean your baby bottles immediately after feeding your baby. If you plan to wash your baby bottles later, it is vital that you at least thoroughly rinse each bottle to remove any milk or formula residue.

This will prevent the milk from drying and hardening, becoming incredibly difficult to remove.Instead of rinsing, you can also place used baby bottles in the refrigerator until it is time to clean them.

Rinsing your bottle after your baby’s meal is a crucial step regardless of whether you wash your baby bottles in the dishwasher or sink.washing your baby bottles int he sink can easily be achieved with these six simple steps.

1. Preparing Your Bottle To be Cleaned

Separate your baby bottle into as many pieces as possible. By washing the nipple, bottle and lid separately you will be guaranteed not to miss any dried milk that may be stuck in out of the way places. Bacteria loves dried milk

which makes it vital that you clean your baby bottle properly to prevent passing the bacteria onto your baby.

2. Baby Bottle Washing Solution

With your baby bottle in pieces, it is time to begin washing. Prepare hot water in your sink and add a small amount of mild dish soap. Mix the two together until the water is soapy and add your bottle pieces.

3. Scrubbing Your Baby Bottle

With your baby bottle pieces covered in soapy water it is time to get scrubbing. The easiest way to clean out the bottle chamber is by using a baby bottle brush

Not all baby bottle brushes are the same length, some are shorter than others. When choosing a bottle brush it is best to use one that can easily reach the bottom of your bottle while still allowing you to hold the handle with a firm grip.

Bottle brushes that are specifically designed to clean baby bottles may come with a silicone nipple cleaner. While this is a nice bonus, you will need to be careful using it. Unless the brush is the bristled type, it can easily tear your baby nipple.

With your bottle brush in hand, half fill your baby bottle with soapy water and insert the brush. Using a back and forth motion, carefully clean the inside of the bottle paying particular attention to the base, neck and lip of the bottle,

where milk can easily get caught.

For the outside of the bottle simply use a two sided sponge. Run the soft section of your sponge over the exterior, swapping over to the rough section of the sponge to remove any stubborn milk build up or grime.

4. Cleaning the baby bottle nipples

As touched on above, if you are going to clean your baby bottle nipple then you are going to need a bristled brush. As the bottle nipple is much narrower than the bottle, you will need a small sized brush like the one below. These

brushes are also great for cleaning sippy cup lids and straws

With the baby bottle nipple cleaner in your hand, gently brush around the interior of the nipple. Apply more pressure to remove stubborn milk build up. Rub the sponge around the exterior of the nipple making sure you have removed all traces of milk and baby saliva. baby bottle brush set

5. Rinsing your baby bottle

You do not want your baby sucking on soap residue for his next meal. When you have finished washing the baby bottle and accessories, run them under cold water to remove any remaining soap suds.

6. Drying your baby bottle

Now that you have finished washing your bottle it is time to set it aside to dry. Air drying is the recommended method for drying baby bottles.

When placing your baby bottle and nipple out to dry, arrange them with openings face down. This will allow any water droplets to run down and out of your baby bottle. Avoid allowing water to pool in your clean baby feeding

equipment as a pool of water can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

The easiest way to air dry your baby bottles is by using a dish rack. There are even purpose made baby bottle drying racks available. These racks have hooks to dry your bottles as well as slots to dry your lids and nipples. The baby

bottle drying rack is designed to take up as little room as possible, an absolute must for kitchens with limited space.
Congratulations, you have successfully finished cleaning your baby bottles .

Baby bottle FAQ

Below I will answer commonly asked questions about BABY BOTTLES . If you have a baby bottle related question you want answered, simply ask it in the

comments below and I will answer ASAP!

How many baby bottles do you need to buy?

Many parents keep a minimum two- three baby bottles on hand. If you find yourself leaving your baby with a carer or family member then you may want to purchase a bottle for each

individual feeding.

Can I buy used baby bottles?

Baby bottles are one of the more inexpensive baby essentials and wont break the bank. There is nothing to be gained from buying a used baby bottle.

If I breast feed, what bottle should I use?

You want to choose a bottle that is as close to the breast feeding experience as possible. If your baby believes the Baby Feeding Bottles is a breast then he will be much more likely to take to it.

Another advantage is that your baby will use the same mouth movements (sucking) as he does to draw milk from your breast on the bottle itself. When you switch back from the bottle to the breast your baby will not suck improperly

and hurt your nipple.

Best glass baby bottles

Don’t like the idea of a plastic baby bottle because you don’t know the mystery chemicals that make it up? Glass baby bottles are a natural and effective alternative.

If you are clumsy or have a baby that drops his bottle often then be sure to choose one with a silicone sleeve!

Below are some of the best glass baby bottles available, loved by babies and parents alike.

Glass baby bottle with silicone sleeve

Style:Many different color options
Brand: ABA

Shock resistant.
Easy to hold.
Wide neck.
Dishwasher safe.

Lifefactory knows a thing about glass baby bottles; they are what their business was founded on. On the back of the baby bottles success, lifefactory has grown to offer some of the finest glass ware available. Their glass baby bottle is available in two different sizes:

4 ounce glass baby bottles 
8 ounce glass baby bottles

Instead it is constructed from borosilicate glass .Why is borosilicate glass so special? It resists thermal shock (breaking from rapid temperature change). In a practical scenario; this means that you could boil your baby bottle after pulling if straight from the freezer without it cracking. You definitely shouldn’t try this with other glass baby bottles.

As an added measure of protection, the Lifefactory glass baby bottles comes with a silicone sleeve (unlike other glass bottles that require you to buy the silicone sleeve separately). The sleeve has two separate purposes; it allows you or your baby to better grip the bottle and also protects it from shattering if dropped.

An added benefit to these bottles is the vast range of colors it comes in. If you pump your breastmilk ,then you will be able to color code your breast milk according to the day it was pumped. Organized mothers rejoice!

The introduction of nipple

The nipple

The nipples is the other major part of the baby bottle. When sucked on; milk or formula is drawn through the nipple and into your baby’s mouth.

Like pacifiers , baby bottles can come with many different styles of nipples. Your baby will be less likely to reject a baby bottle nipple if it is the same as the nipple found on his pacifier.

Once you have settled on a baby bottle it is recommended that you buy the same brand of nipple. While different nipples may fit, you may find that they leak or worse, pop off into your baby’s mouth.

Nipple material

Baby bottle nipples can be made from two different types of material; latex or silicone. Lets take a closer look at the pros and cons of each.

Latex nipples

latex rubber baby bottle nipple
Latex is a soft flexible rubber that closely mimics the feel of a nipple which is why some baby’s prefer it. Latex nipples are easily identified by their golden brown color and are fairly opaque (a fancy word that means you barely see

through them).

Baby bottle nipples made from latex wear quicker than those made from silicone. Over time you will notice tiny cracks and tears appear in the nipple. Fortunately, latex nipples are inexpensive and it will not break the bank when the

nipple needs to be replaced.

Another problem problem with latex is that many babies are allergic to it. If your baby suffers from a latex allergy then you will have to avoid nipples made from latex. If you do not know whether or not your baby is sensitive to latex

then you should still avoid these nipples. Better safe than sorry.

silicone nipples

clear silicone baby bottle nipple
Silicone is a clear flexible material. While silicone is firmer than latex it is far less likely to trigger an allergic reaction (Silicone allergies are incredibly rare) and is the go to nipple material in modern baby bottles.

Baby bottle nipples made from silicone will last 3-4 times longer than a latex nipple. If your baby is particularly rough with the nipple then this extra durability can be a blessing.

Silicone nipples are firmer than a latex nipple (and your own) and as a result not all babies will take to them.

Nipple shape

There are two different nipple shapes available. orthodontic nipples and round shaped nipples.

Standard round baby bottle nipples

standard round baby bottle made from silicone
The most common baby bottle nipple available. Cheap and it does the job.

Orthodontic nipples

orthodontic silicone baby bottle nipple
it’s not a baby bottle nipple that has half melted. This funny looking thing is known as an orthodontic nipple.

Orthodontic nipples have an asymmetric shape (that is if you were to fold it in half, one side wouldn’t match up with the other) and an angled top.
According to Nuk, orthodontic nipples better suited for your baby than the standard round type:

These nipples are designed to fit the shape of baby’s palate and gums, giving the tongue and jaw more room to move naturally while sucking, promoting healthy oral development. The design also allows the milk to mix with baby’s

saliva for better digestion.
SO as you can see; while orthodontic nipples are more expensive and less commonly available, they offer unique benefits over the old rounded nipple.

So which type of nipple is better?

Round nipples have been around since you and I were born. We grew up just fine didn’t we? (If you know me, don’t answer that). Round nipples are cheap, easy to stock up on and can be found just about anywhere. While I’m not

saying that orthodontic nipples are useless, I just figure if something works and it works well then why change?

Nipple Size and flow

three different sized baby bottle nipples
Like baby bottles, nipples come in different sizes according to the stage of your baby’s development. In general the size of the nipple determines the rate that milk or formula can flow from the nipple.

Depending on the brand your nipple will be sized under different names. The most common used sizing is flow, age or stage. Below is a sizing chart you can use when trying to match another brands nipple with the one you already

have.

nipple flow rate symbol

Newborn
0-3months
Stage 1

Slow
3+ Months
Stage 2

Medium
6+ Months
Stage 3

Fast
9+ Months
Stage 4
Preemies and newborns will start with the smallest sized baby bottle nipple. This is because their mouth is smaller and they are still learning the correct swallowing technique (milk flowing too quick will cause your baby to choke).

As your baby grows, he will “graduate” to larger sized nipples with faster flows. You don’t have to follow these guidelines exactly. Different babies may prefer different sized nipples and flow rates so you may need to experiment a

little. In fact you may even find if you have twins that one baby will prefer one type of bottle nipple while the other prefers one completely different.

While most parents choose the nipple flow based off age, there are some other factors that can come into play.

When is slow flow suitable? If your baby easily chokes on milk or gets acid reflux and you are looking for the slowest flow nipple around. Dr Brown’s Preemie Standard Nipple is the way to go. While other brands claim slow flow,

this is one nipple that actually delivers.

When is fast flow suitable? If you are using a thicker formula then you may need a faster flow nipple just so that your baby can suck the formula out.

Nipple cover

baby bottle with nipple cover 
That plastic dome that sitting on top of the nipple in the picture above is known as a nipple cover and attaches directly to the lid of your baby bottle. Its purpose is to prevent the nipple from coming into contact with dirt and bacteria.

Your baby sucks on the nipple, you don’t want him sucking down germs with every gulp; do you?

A nipple cover is great for bottle feeding on the go (Nipple covers are also known as travel caps). If you carry your baby’s bottle around in your carryall then it will come into contact with all many of dirty things such as your mobile

phone (how often do you clean that?) or wallet (another item hardly cleaned). A nipple cover will prevent all these objects and more from coming into contact with the nipple.

Not all baby bottles come with nipple covers. If you only bottle feed at home then a nipple cover may not be needed at all as it is an extra piece that needs cleaning or can get lost.

Stock up!

Once you have decided on a nipple that your baby readily takes to then it is time to stock up! Nipples are like the socks of the baby bottle world (they very easily get misplaced). There is nothing more frustrating that a nipple breaking

(or go missing) only to discover that you have no spares.

Many parents not only buy spare nipples but also the next size up as well, particularly if they plan to continue bottle feeding through their baby’s next development phase.