Non-responsive feeding has been associated with discomfort and fussiness in the short term (NHS 2021) and linked to obesity in the longer term (Hurley, 2011; Watchmaker 2020).

Because for us, there is nothing more worthwhile than supporting the healthy development of babies and making parents’ daily life easier. Before the bottle is placed in the water bath or the bottle warmer, the sealing cap is always removed. This will ensure that baby makes the perfect transition from breastfeeding or bottle feeding to independent drinking. When it comes to bottle feeding your baby, it can be tricky to figure out which teat type and size to choose, or when it might be time to move up to the next teat level.

This makes the switch between bottle and breast especially easy, so babies are able to relax from day one. But it’s pretty common for a baby to be perfectly content with one teat size the whole time they’re bottle feeding, but the flow rate will need to change over time as they develop. As a baby’s feeding develops and they are taking a longer time feeding from a Level 3 teat, many parents choose to move up to a Level 4 teat. Be sure to clean all baby bottles and teats thoroughly in hot soapy water after each use before you sterilise them. They’ll help you with hand-expressing your colostrum and feeding it to your baby using a spoon, syringe or feeding cup (Unicef 2017).

As a baby’s feeding develops and they are taking a longer time feeding from a Level 2 teat, many parents choose to move up to a Level 3 teat. Sterilising bottles is recommended for babies under a year because bacteria can easily grow in any milk remaining on the bottle or teats (Unicef, 2019). Make friends with other parents-to-be and new parents in your local area for support and friendship by seeing what NCT activities are happening nearby. We have medium flow teats, which most babies are ready for at around three months, and a fast flow teat which is best from around six months.uk/babyfriendly/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/02/Guide-to-the-Unicef-UK-Baby-Friendly-Initiative-Standards. As a result of exposure to BPA, experts and studies have seen disruptions to the hormone system and brain, diabetes and heart damage as well as an increased risk of cancer. If you are exclusively bottle feeding your baby, whether formula or expressed breastmilk, you might want around four to six bottles and teats to get you started. A Level 1 or newborn teat generally comes on every bottle and is a great starting point for many babies.