Everything You Need to Know About Baby Bottles and Teats
Teat Size
Our baby bottles offer varying teat levels for different age ranges. Slow flow is recommended for 0+ months, medium flow for 3+ months, and fast flow for 6+ months, so you can approximately judge which teat size might be the best based on your baby’s age.
Every baby is different, so it’s a good idea to base your decision on a mix of the above, and your baby’s own unique eating habits.
The flow rates of each teat refers to the size or number of holes in the tip of the teat, which affects how quickly milk flows into your baby’s mouth.
When to change bottle teat size
Signs that it’s time to move up a teat size:
• Becoming impatient or aggravated when eating
• Taking longer than 20 mins to finish a feed or they fall asleep on the bottle
• Sucking hard and/or the teat collapsing in on itself
Signs that the teat you’re using is too big:
• Gulping or hard swallowing
• Coughing
• Choking
• Excess milk dripping out of the mouth
• Refusing to eat
How long do teats last?
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.
Sterilising bottles and teats
Sterilising your baby’s bottles is vital, particularly for babies under one year because during this time they are even more vulnerable to harmful bacteria.
Clean all baby bottles and teats thoroughly in hot soapy water after each use before you sterilise them.
When to sterilise baby bottles
You should always sterilise all the parts of baby’s bottle, including the teat, hood, and any connectors before you use it for the first time, whether it’s brand new or has been used before. You’ll need to sterilise after every use too. Anytime your bottle is used bacteria starts to grow in the milk residue, so sterilisation helps to remove all those nasty germs.
How To Sterilise Baby Bottles
Always wash your baby bottles and teats in hot soapy water first to remove as much milk bacteria as possible prior to sterilisation. Most bottles can be cleaned in a dishwasher (top shelf only) however, they could be contaminated with other food debris so washing bottles separately in hot soapy water is the best method.
You can safely sterilise baby bottles using:
• Hot water – boiling or steam sterilising in a microwave or electric steriliser
• Cold water – using sterilisation liquid or tablets
• UV light
How to sterilise baby bottles in a steamer:
You can create your own steam steriliser by putting bottles and teats inside a metal rice or pasta drainer over a pan of boiling water. Make sure all your cooking gear is clean and isn’t likely to transfer smells and tastes, your little one won’t appreciate garlic flavoured milk.
How to sterilise baby bottles in an electric steam steriliser:
Electric steam sterilisers are a real time saver. You can usually sterilise 6 bottles at a time and the process can take as little as 6 minutes. Once your baby’s bottles and feeding things are sterilised you can store them inside, so they remain sterile for up to 24 hours. Some will even sterilise and dry baby’s bottles in one go.
How to sterilise baby bottles using cold water:
If you don’t have any way of heating water to sterilise your baby bottles, then sterilising tablets or liquid are also effective at protecting against bugs and bacteria. This can be a great option if you’re travelling. Just make sure you follow the instructions carefully.
How to store sterilised baby bottles:
Once you’ve sterilised baby’s bottles, you’ll want to use them to feed your baby straight away or store them safely, so they don’t pick up any germs or bugs. Reassemble the clean and sterilised bottles using the teat tongs provided with the steriliser, taking care not to touch the teats. Once assembled you can store those bottles for approximately 24 hours before you need to pop them back in the steriliser. Don’t leave sterilised baby bottles out on work surfaces as they will quickly become unsterile.
If you use a microwave or electric steam steriliser, you can store baby bottles inside for up to 24 hours if the lid remains closed. You can also keep sterile bottles in a sealed container in the fridge to help avoid any germs or bacteria. The container must be sterilised too.
How long do you have to sterilise baby bottles?
It depends on the method of sterilisation, so always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. For microwave and electric steam sterilisers, baby bottles and teats can be sterilised in as little as 5 minutes. If you’re sterilising using boiling water, items should be submerged in the water for at least 10 minutes.
Can you boil bottles to sterilise them?
Yes, you can. You’ll need to make sure that bottles, teats, and other baby feeding items are submerged in boiling water for at least 10 minutes. If you use this method regularly the heat may damage some items more quickly so you may need to replace them more often.
Do you need to dry sterilised baby bottles?
No. Any remaining water inside the baby bottles will be sterile. Using a towel, no matter how clean it seems, to dry baby bottles runs the risk of introducing bacteria back inside baby’s bottles.
Can you sterilise baby bottles in a dishwasher?
It’s not recommended to sterilise baby bottles in a dishwasher because not all dishwashers get hot enough to kill bacteria that may linger inside, and there’s a risk of contamination from other items. You can use a dishwasher to clean baby’s bottles before you sterilise them. Just make sure you follow any instructions and place them on the top rack.
What needs to be sterilised?
It’s recommended that anything coming into contact with baby and baby milk will need sterilising. Bottles and teats are most regularly sterilised, but you will also need to sterilise your breast pumps after every use and soothers, teethers and some baby toys can be safely sterilised.