Which steriliser/ bottles to use? Avent or MAM?

[LoveKnowsNoBounds]

Any recommendations or warnings? I used Avent last time. It was ok, wondering if there is anything better? I've used Mam bottles before but at the time there wasn't a steriliser to go with it. I've seen they also have a bottle warmer, any good?

[emc2]

I was given some old Avent bottles but they weren't any good, the design whenever it was made, you took the whole bottle apart. They look different now though.

I have ended up using Pigeon bottles. I planned to BF but it didn't quite happen, so at the last minute I bought a Pigeon breast pump, and that is how I've ended up with Pigeon bottles. I then bought Pigeon breastmilk storage bottles which worked out cheaper than the proper bottles. Now most recently, I've bought/fluked two lots of Pigeon bottles on eBay, so I just have to buy teats.

I have an Avent microwave steriliser I got from the op shop, but now I'm onto using Milton.

Now I've found out two more bits of information, the newborn/early stage teats are slower flowing; and wide neck bottles are apparently more like breastfeeding.

Also Pigeon bottles seem compatible with Medela.

So I would ask if you are thinking about breastfeeding, which pump do you think you will get, as that might affect which bottle.

Then if you pick a brand of bottles, it seems easier to stick to that as then all the bits go together.

Also a bottle drying rack is useful, I have a Munchkin drying rack.

hth

[LoveKnowsNoBounds]

I was thinking of using/hiring a Madela breast pump. Do they have a bottle and sterilizing system?

[LoveKnowsNoBounds]

I saw the drying rack today. Never seen that before, it does look handy.

[emc2]

Yes well you could just get some Medela bottles to begin with for sure. With sterilizing you can just use a microwave vege steamer.

Then down the track you could investigate with other bottles.

I have worked out Pigeon are compatible with Medela, but the problem is they aren't stocked everywhere. That is the reason why Avent are so popular, they are available at supermarkets and Big W, Kmart etc.

[surprised]

Hi hun,

I expressed full-time using Medela pump. I also had some Avent bottles. Here are my thoughts for what they are worth:

- I hope this isn't an insensitive question, but are you anticipating having troubles with breastfeeding? You might not even need a pump?

- If you're going to buy a pump, it might be worth seeing if you can hire one that has compatible parts with the pump you're buying. I hired a lactina (double collection kit was about $85, which you must buy), but when I bought my freestyle, the only bits that were compatible were the actual bottles - so was kind of a waste of $85.

- I really liked the Medela bottles (esp the newer ones). They were lightweight and BPA free (only the honey-coloured Avent ones are). You can also buy larger sizes for when you are expressing more or baby is drinking more. My DS liked the Medela teats. I think Medela even have a new-fangled bottle that is just like breastfeeding (well, as close as the bottle gets). If I did it all again would just stick to all Medela bottles/teats etc. So much easier to store breastmilk directly in the bottle you're using.

- Not sure if I would get a bottle warmer or not if I did it all again. They warm when standing in hot water, but we found DS was happy with it straight from the fridge.

- I used an electronic Avent steriliser. The medela stuff fit just fine - not as perfectly as avent bottles but really wasn't a big deal. I was a bit worried about what the microwave might be doing to the plastic.

- I think Pigeon are available at Franklins?

HTH xo

[LoveKnowsNoBounds]

Hi I used a pump last time because I liked to pump on the occasion that I was out and couldn't make a feed. Though saying that I'm not sure how long I will breast feed this time.

[crumpet]

we are FF from birth and used avent from day dot with DD....

have had no issues with them at all, the only thing i find is if i do the lid up to tight they leak, but i obviously know about that now so dont do it

we also have the avent electronic sterilizer and love it, so handy! it keeps bottles sterilized for 24hrs, so i can put them on at night and then know they are fine till the morning.

[berrme]

I only used bottles when I expressed to leave my boys with sitters etc. My boys took anything so I have used lots of different bottles. Never had a problem with Avent and used the Avent steriliser for everything, you don't need the steriliser to be the same brand as the bottles in my experience. I do really like the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature bottles. There is a pump that goes with that and it is supposed to be good but I haven't tried it. Pigeon ones are good too. They have pigeon, medela and TT at the Chemist Warehouse.
I froze breast milk in ice cube trays so I liked wide neck bottles better as the cubes fitted through the neck of the bottle.

[kristi14]

I recommend Tommee tippee closer to nature

Ive got the bottles and the electric steriliser which is very good. They also have lots of accessories.