Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Baby Bottle Teats, Breast-Like, Anti-Colic Valve, Soft Silicone, Medium-Flow, 3m+, Pack of 2

Product Information

If your baby is not doing well on a particular flow rate, and you’ve tried changing it, it may be time to switch to another brand. Dr Brown’s Acceptance guaranteed - 92% of parents who used Closer to Nature® Teats with their babies recalled that they accepted it within the first 3 attempts, based on 1200 parents questioned. For safety and hygiene reasons it is recommended that the feeding teat is replaced every two months.

For babies who will be fed with anti-reflux formula, a single hole, fast flow Is ideal. Can a Fast Flow Teat Cause Wind? Acceptance guaranteed: Easy latch: Shaped like a breast for a natural latch and acceptance guaranteed* The MAM Baby range features four different flow sizes for teats. Confusingly their final size is called Size x, not size 4, and is an extra fast flow according to the manufacturer. Powdered formula is not sterile, so you need to use water at approximately 70 degrees to kill any bacteria that might be present (NHS, 2019a). If the water is too hot it can reduce the nutritional benefit of the powder, but if it is too cold it may not kill the bacteria in the powder. ‘Ready-to-feed’ bottles contain ready-made milk that has already been sterilised (NHS, 2018; Unicef, 2019).Teats are made from silicone or latex. Silicone is less flexible but more durable than latex, which needs to be replaced regularly (Which? 2019). Above are the signs baby needs faster flow teat. Babies usually start on a slow teat, but they move to a faster teat as time goes on. However, the question that bothers the mother is, ‘when do I know my baby is not comfortable with the teat he is using?’ Just to showcase how much flow rate varies by manufacturer, here is a guide to some of the bigger brands teat flows.

So if you’re noticing a sudden change in your baby’s behaviour then you should cycle through the usual possibilities – growth spurt, developmental leap, sleep regression, teething– and add bottle flow rate to the list!

Can I buy bottles with faster flowing teats?

The Philips Avent teats come in six different sizes. The smallest of which is ideal for preemie babies, and the range goes up to a fast flow.

Before sterilising, all bottles and teats need to be washed, either by hand or in the dishwasher (NHS, 2018). If washing by hand, you will need a separate brush for cleaning bottles and teats (NHS, 2019b). When should I throw away my baby’s bottle? Teats take quite a lot of hammering from little gums and teeth, so they need to be changed regularly. We recommend replacing teats every 2 months or at the first sign of any damage or weakness. Can I buy bottles with faster flowing teats? If you’re planning to breastfeed it isn't necessary to buy bottles ‘just in case’. Over 90% of maternity units in the UK are now Baby Friendly Accredited, which means a midwife on the infant feeding team should be able to support you if you do have any difficulties with breastfeeding straight after birth (UNICEF 2017). They’ll help you with hand-expressing your colostrum and feeding it to your baby using a spoon, syringe or feeding cup (Unicef 2017). Find out whether your maternity unit is accredited here.

Why is it important to sterilise both bottles and teats?

You may hear that you should keep the teat full of milk to avoid swallowing air. However where the milk flow is too fast and not in your baby's control, it is more likely to cause indigestion or gas (Kellymom, 2020). Anecdotally, babies whose parents use paced feeding suffer less from gas (Herman, 2021). Some advantages of using these bottles are that they can be easy to fill and clean. On the other hand, they can take more space in a steriliser so you probably won’t be able to clean as many bottles at once (Which? 2019). Ready-to-feed bottles When you notice any of the signs listed above, it is advised you change the nipple to a medium flow teat. Teat Size for a Reflux Baby It’s best to replace teats at regular intervals – at least every two to three months – as washing and sterilising will wear on the material.