Expressing breastmilk: what sort of baby bottle to use?

**Ladylove** · September 18th, 2011, 11:16 AM

Hello!

In February I will be a mama for the first time. Of course all sorts of random questions have been popping into mind, one of which is expressing milk. I have no idea what sort of bottles and teats are best for newborns to say 12 months? I intend to breastfeed but am thinking of the future if I want to go out for dinner or something and nanny is looking after baby. Any thoughts or other threads to point me to?

Thank you!

LL

**Harriet** · September 18th, 2011, 12:16 PM

Hi Ladylove - I was passed down a heap of Avent bottles, pumps and steriliser so thats what I'm hoping to use.
Having said that, I think that every baby is different and not all will take a bottle, so I would be careful spending too much before the baby is born.

[An ABA link was just posted to one of my threads about carers bottlefeeding baby, (which is a bit off topic for you I know) I can post it here for you if you'd like.]

**onthefly** · September 18th, 2011, 12:23 PM

What sort of pump are you going to use? Bottles tend to match with pumps, you might want to start there

**Ladylove** · September 18th, 2011, 02:15 PM

Lol no idea re a pump! I'm not planning to buy a heap of stuff but want to be prepared and am making lots of lists.

**Fleur** · September 18th, 2011, 04:41 PM

Pigeon have a range of bottles which are supposed to mimic the shape of the breast, we used them when trying to coax DD2 back to the breast. I used to just express into the bottle that came with the pump & then tip it into the Pigeon bottle for feeding.

You could use anything really, as MadB said they do tend to match up to pumps so that is one way to go, and Harriet is right oo - all babies are different in their preferences. The only thing I would caution against is trying a bottle too early. Let the breastfeeding get well established first.t

**Lisa B** · September 18th, 2011, 07:47 PM

My hospital recommended Medela bottles. Something about the teat length being more compatible. Tommee Tippee does one as well which is supposed to be more like a breast shape 'closer to nature' my hospital also recommended it. I agree with the other comments about expressing into whatever bottles the pump comes with and tipping into the bottle you want to use. Also, I definitely agree with Fleur's comment about not introducing the bottle too early. There are probably a number of factors relating to me and my bub, but one factor that probably hindered getting BF established was introducing the bottle really early due to BF problems. I think it compounded our problems but at the time I felt I had little choice.

**Olive** · September 18th, 2011, 07:48 PM

i had a medela pump and used avent bottles with DD1, but they leaked... never liked them, with DD2 she gagged on the so i used the pigeon peristatic bottles and teats which i found awesome!

***TripleJ*** · September 18th, 2011, 09:09 PM

there is a medela teat that mimics brestfeeding just do a google search

**nickle730** · September 18th, 2011, 09:21 PM

I have a Medela Swing pump, it's great. My DD is happy with the bottle which comes with the pump.

**Ladylove** · September 18th, 2011, 11:55 PM

Good advice everyone- thank you so much.

**Butterfly Dawn** · September 19th, 2011, 12:51 AM

tommee tippee closer to nature are awsome! My pump came with 1 bottle so I just decant into our tommee tippee bottles

**HotI** · September 19th, 2011, 01:07 AM

None of the bottle teats look anything like my nipples or breast or mimic breastfeeding, although many of the companies will advertise this way to get people to buy them.

If you are planning on breastfeeding, you don't need a heap of bottles. If you want to get one or two, go ahead, but unless you live in an isolated area, you will be able to source bottles if you need them later.

Here is some info on feeding the breastfed baby Australian Breastfeeding Association - A Caregivers Guide to the Breastfed Baby
and expressing Australian Breastfeeding Association -

**The[cookie]Doctor** · September 19th, 2011, 02:44 AM

HotI I have to *spread the love*.

I have a Medela one (or two) because I have a Medela pump but am yet to actually buy bottles as at this point the pump is going to be for a freezer store for a few months.
Last time I had an Avent pump and used the Tommee Tippee Close to nature bottles.
Go for something BPA free.. and HotI is right, the marketing is a gimmick - nothing can truly mimic your breast ore breastfeeding itself.

***TripleJ*** · September 19th, 2011, 02:08 PM

the one im talking about is a medela calma teat it works similar to the breast i didnt say it was the same but they are pretty expensive it doesnt flow out like a normal teat it works on a vacumn principle i know someone who used it because her baby wasnt able to attach in the early days

**PumpkinZulu** · September 19th, 2011, 02:41 PM

the one im talking about is a medela calma teat it works similar to the breast i didnt say it was the same but they are pretty expensive it doesnt flow out like a normal teat it works on a vacumn principle i know someone who used it because her baby wasnt able to attach in the early days

I have this teat, my doula bought it for us when DD attaching. Unlike other teats, this one is backed with evidence-based research which can be accessed on their website. The baby has to suck and draw the milk into a reservoir, and then suck further to get the milk into their mouths. If you hold it upside down, it will not drip or flow like other teats. It is a teat made for breastfed babies. DD fed well from it and we'll use it again if she needs a bottle in the future