Buying and caring for baby bottles and nipples


Definition

Whether you feed your baby breast milk, infant formula, or both, you will need to buy bottles and nipples. You have many choices, so it can be hard to know what to buy. Learn about the different options and how to care for bottles and nipples.

How to Choose Bottles and Nipples

The type of nipple and bottle you choose will mainly depend on which type your baby will use. Some babies prefer a certain nipple shape, or they may have less gas with certain bottles. Others are less fussy with certain bottles. Start by buying a few different types of bottles and nipples. That way, you can try them out and see what works best for you and your baby.

Nipples

Nipples can be made from latex or silicone.

Nipples come in different shapes.

Nipples come in different flow rates.

Baby Bottles

Baby bottles come in different materials.

You can choose from several different bottle shapes and sizes:

When your baby is small, start with the smaller 4- to 5-ounce (120- to 150-milliliters) bottles. As your baby's appetite grows, you can switch to larger 8- to 9-ounce (240- to 270-milliliters) bottles.

Cleaning and Care

These tips can help you safely care for and clean baby bottles and nipples:

References

American Academy of Pediatrics website. Practical bottle feeding tips. www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Practical-Bottle-Feeding-Tips.aspx. Updated December 27, 2011. Accessed May 25, 2023.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. How to clean, sanitize, and store infant feeding items FAQs. www.cdc.gov/hygiene/faq/index.html. Updated April 16, 2024. Accessed June 19, 2024.

Goyal NK. The newborn infant. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 113.


Review Date: 4/25/2023
Reviewed By: Charles I. Schwartz, MD, FAAP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, General Pediatrician at PennCare for Kids, Phoenixville, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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