Navigating Milk Bottles Part 1: PP? PPSU? Glass? Teats? Anti Colic...?

Nipple confusion! That's how I feel about this topic...ha ha ha. Bottles and teats turned out to be a whole research rabbit hole in itself. I didn't know there were so many types of bottles and teats and materials to consider till I went in search of a steriliser. All I knew was that baby needs bottles, and bottles need to be sterilised. 

I've attempted to put together all the considerations or good to know or I didn't know this info I found below. Hope it's useful!

Things to Consider (Note: This post focuses on newborns)

Teats 

• Shape: Teats for newborns are generally designed to mimic the breast and nipple and encourage good latching habits. Some claim to be "breast like" with a wider base, while others recommend a longer nipple. After reading a lot (and watching more Tiktok videos by people who claim to be lactation consultants and even speech pathologists), there isn't much of a scientific/medically proven conclusion which is better, though people claim that teats with a gradual slope that encourage a deep latch is preferable. Whatever suits your baby best! I'm not here to advise you :)
• Flow: Did you know that most established brands include a number on the teat itself (I had no idea)? This number does not necessarily indicate the age that the nipple is built for, but rather, the rate of milk flow. Note that these numbers aren't standardised across brands, so always remember to check your preferred brand's guide for what the numbers mean. E.g. Philips Avent starts at 0, while Dr Brown's starts at 1. 
• Angle: I learnt from a class that there is a specific way to angle some milk bottles so less air gets into the baby's system during feeding. For example, some teats have a hole on them and should face upright and not be covered during feeding to allow for air flow/release. 
• Material: Generally silicone, though there are latex options. Do take note especially if your family has a history of latex allergy. 

Bottle Materials (The TLDR) 

• Ensure bottles are BPA free
• Glass: Generally heat and thermal shock resistant and may be suitable for both UV and heat sterilisation (always check the manufacturer's recommendation). But may be heavier. 
• Silicone: Silicone is used in many pump parts, but is also growing in popularity as a bottle material for its light weight and flexibility. They can be UV sterilized, but this is not usually recommended as it degrades the material faster and causes a sticky residue. 
• Plastic: These are lighter in weight and may be more economical (not always).
• PP (Polypropylene): PP is a common bottle material that is lightweight and durable. It is heat resistant to about 110 degrees celcius, and may not be recommended for UV sterilisation.
• PPSU (Polyphenylsulfone): PPSU is medical grade and slightly yellow toned. It is heat resistant to about 180 degrees celcius. Some manufacturers indicate that it is okay to use with UV sterilisers with regular replacement.
• T-Ester Bottles: Pigeon has a range of T-Ester bottles, a material exclusive to their brand that is tested safe for use with UV sterilisers.
• There are other less common but durable plastics like PA and PESU too with similar properties to PPSU.

Ultimately, always defer to the manufacturer's recommendations on sterilising and frequency of bottle replacement. You may consider bottle material in tandem with your preference of steriliser, and I provide a rundown of popular brands and their materials here for your easy reference. 

Bottle Size and Feeding Habits: Newborn bottles sets tend to be smaller in capacity (120-150ml) with a newborn-suitable teat affixed already. I don't have an opinion yet whether getting bigger bottles right off the bat is more economical. But if you decide to do so, remember to change the teats to a flow suitable for newborns. 

Anti-Colic Features: I take a prevention is better than cure approach so I will personally be looking at bottles that have anti-colic features. 

Tips from Fellow Mums

• Baby Chooses, Not You: Ultimately, the tricky thing about buying bottles for newborns is that they may or may not take to it, even if you have considered everything thoroughly. One tip shared by an experienced mother that I found useful is that if you're planning to introduce bottle feeding to your newborn early, it's useful to have one or two of a few bottles types on hand to see which baby likes best. 
  
  
• Ask Your Nurse: If your newborn already tried bottle feeding in the hospital, it's also worth asking the nurses what bottles and teats were used. I would otherwise have just gone ahead and bought an entire newborn bottle set! 
  
  
• Stocking for Convenience: An exclusively pumping friend shared that she bought 8 bottles for her 8 daytime feeds once she figured out what her baby liked so she could rinse and soak them in the day, and then run them all in the steriliser in the evening at one shot. 

Recommended Buys

I'm constantly on the lookout for tried and tested bottles to have on hand below $10 for the "trial phase". So far, I've acquired the Dr Brown's Natural Flow Narrow 120ml bottle and Wide Neck 150ml bottle at just $5 each at January's Mummys Market flash sale. 

(At the time of writing) Mothercare Plaza Singapura is currently selling Tommee Tippee's Closer to Nature PP 150ml bottle at $19.90 for 3, but you can also get a great deal on a two pack on Shopee. 

Personally, I'm hoping to be breastfeed and pump, especially since I have to start work less than 3 months after I deliver, so bottles are a big thing for me. Not sure how that's going to work out, but I'll keep this space updated. Happy to receive any tips on this!

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