Breastfeeding Bottles

Some bottles are designed to ease breastfeeding transition

Although The First Years Breastflow baby bottle (*Est. $5 for one 9-oz. bottle) is shaped like a standard nurser, it has the advantage of an unusual and highly rated nipple design. The double nipple system consists of a soft outer nipple and firm inner nipple. This combination is supposed to make the baby compress and suck in a way that mimics breastfeeding and allows the baby to control the flow of milk. The Breastflow bottle is marketed to nursing moms who want to switch between bottle and breast without risking nipple confusion, and to moms whose babies are reluctant to take a bottle after a period of exclusive breastfeeding.

Moms on Amazon.com, Target.com and ToysRUs.com say it does in fact work as advertised. Users say babies who refuse other bottles latch on well with the Breastflow Stage One nipple, even compared to the Adiri Natural Nurser (discussed below), which is shaped like a breast. A number of moms combining breastfeeding and bottle feeding have posted that their babies don't experience nipple confusion and that they are able to continue breastfeeding part-time as planned. A few even claim the Breastflow works as a latch trainer to help babies nurse more effectively. Despite a few complaints on ToysRUs.com about leaking bottles and collapsing nipples, most parents say the Breastflow bottles are durable and easy to use. The First Years is one of the six major bottle manufacturers that agreed in March 2009 to discontinue selling bottles containing bisphenol A in the U.S., so The First Years Breastflow Bottle is now BPA-free. Due to a lengthy supply chain, some Breastflow bottles on retailer shelves may still contain BPA, so consumers should take care when purchasing to verify the packaging features a BPA-free label.

The Adiri Natural Nurser (*Est. $12 for 8 oz. Bottle) is designed to make a baby's bottle-feeding experience as close as possible to breastfeeding. The Natural Nurser isn't shaped like a traditional bottle, and it doesn't have a standard nipple. Instead, it has a large round top with an integrated nipple made of a soft thermoplastic elastomer called P-Flex. The cover, core and cap are made of a non-BPA polypropylene copolymer. ZRecommends.com names the Adiri Natural Nurser a top pick because of its completely BPA-free construction, but parent feedback is mixed. Some moms posting to Amazon.com say the Natural Nurser has been a lifesaver for introducing the bottle to their picky breastfed babies. Others are less enthusiastic, with the most common complaints being leakage and poor durability. Some parents also dislike that the Natural Nurser has to be turned upside down for filling, meaning that milk or formula can spill out if the cap isn't on just right.

Adiri's Natural Nurser comes in only one size, and one reviewer on Amazon.com notes that as a result of the design, it's necessary to have a fair amount of liquid in the bottle in order for the baby to not swallow air, so it may not be practical for newborns who are only drinking a few ounces at a time. Bottom line: the majority of reviewers say The First Years Breastflow is a better choice, but if your baby won't take the Breastflow, you might want to try the Adiri Nurser.

The Medela Breastmilk Feeding and Storage Set (*Est. $16) is really just a standard baby bottle designed to fit directly onto a Medela breast pump. The idea is that you can attach the bottle, pump directly into it, and then use it to store expressed milk until you need it. Medela bottles are made from polypropylene and are BPA-free. Parents say they're durable, high quality and easy to use and clean. Reviews on Amazon.com and ToysRUs.com are mostly positive, with most parents appreciating this convenient storage feature. Parents reviewing this product are, for the most part, using it in conjunction with a Medela breast pump, and the consensus is that the overall system works well for pumping, freezing, storing and feeding. The most common complaint is leakage, although opinion is fairly evenly split about whether or not that's a problem. A few parents complain about the nipples, although the nipple rings are designed to work with most brands of nipples for easy interchangeability. Another issue for some parents is that the Medela bottles lack vents, meaning they may not be the best choice for colic-prone babies. While only Medela bottles are specifically made to fit Medela pumps, some moms and dads note that other models, including the Evenflo Classic Glass Nurser, work well too.