Babes and Kids: Bottle Feeding

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Showing posts with label Bottle Feeding. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Avent Bottles

4 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 7:30 AM

Avent bottles were recommended to me by a friend when I first had Chandler. Although I did breast feed him for 5 months, I wanted to make sure he would take a bottle while I was away. After trying a few bottles, we decided to stick with the avent.

Pros: These bottles have been clinically proven to reduce colic. There is an airflex valve which allows your baby to control the flow of the bottle, thus making the transition from breast to bottle a breeze. The skirt on the nipple of the bottle allows air into the bottle without letting your baby swallow air. This was one of my favorite features. The nipple stays full and air stays on top of the milk. I love how the nipple does not collapse. It is a nice wide, sturdy nipple that is also extremely easy to clean. The outside of the bottle also has very easy to read ounce measurements which makes measuring breastmilk or formula so easy. Another thing I love about these bottles - they hold up. They don't fade, and don't deteriorate. Chandler used these bottles numerous times throughout the day for over a year and they still looked great and new. They come in 3 convenient sizes, (4 oz, 9 oz & 11 oz), and have five different flow rate nipples that will grow with your baby. You can also buy sippy cup tops and training handles for these bottles when your baby gets older.

Cons: The biggest con about this bottle is if you don't screw the top on straight, or screw it on too tight, it will leak. Once I mastered putting it on securely but not too tightly, it wasn't a problem. However, I know some moms that this is frustrating for and don't like the bottle for this reason. There also used to be a concern with these bottles and BPA. "BPA is a chemical some companies were using in their plastic. There is controversy that high levels of BPA in the body can influence hormone levels and increase the risk of health problems." (Taken from about.com) Yes, it is controversy and not proven. However, Avent is now making their bottles without BPA in them. Look on the outside of the bottle before you buy to see that it is BPA free. At one point a few months back, Babies R Us was taking Avent bottles back (even used ones) and giving a credit for them since they contained BPA. Not sure if they are still doing this.

The Bottom Line: I think Avent bottles are great and would recommend them.

Price: Around $4.00

Where to Buy: Target, Amazon, Kmart

Rating: Great

Monday, November 10, 2008

Playtex Ventaire Bottles

5 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 8:00 AM

Playtex VentAire bottles have a special design to reduce gas and colic in babies. Playtex has been around for 75 years so did they get the bottle right?

Pros: There are two different types of VentAire bottles - the standard and wide. I have only had experience with the standard bottle so I will mostly be focusing on it. I really like the unique shape of this bottle. It helps keep the nipple full which is a great step in helping reduce the air that a baby swallows while eating. Your baby can also eat sitting in more of an upright position with these bottles. These are also very easy to clean as they unscrew at the top and bottom. They are priced well and are not too expensive to try.

Cons: I didn't like how these nipples were smaller and seemed to collapse quite easy. After reading up about the wide vent aire bottles though, I think the wider nipple may have solved this problem. Even though these bottles are easy to clean, because the bottom screws off, it is one more part you have to clean and put back together. The first time using these bottles, the nipple flow seems VERY slow. It does get better over time, but you want a bottle to perform from the start right?

The Bottom Line: Good Design and bottle. I have talked to moms who love these bottles but I didn't care for them.

Price: $2-3

Where to Buy: Walmart, Target, Amazon

Rating: OK

Monday, October 13, 2008

Boppy Pillow

1 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 7:30 AM

The Boppy Pillow is yet another mom inspired invention. It was intentionally designed for young babies who couldn't yet sit up by themselves. It has many versatile uses and has quickly become a very popular product.

Pros: This C-shaped boppy pillow is a simple idea but serves it's purpose well. It can be used around your tummy as a breastfeeding support. You simply put the pillow around your waist and have automatic support for baby. I have heard that it isn't optimal for mothers who have had c-sections as it puts pressure on the incision. I have had both of my boys via c-section and had no problems using this pillow. If anything, I felt like it alleviated the pressure. Because baby rests on the pillow, it helps mom relax as well, giving her arms a much needed break. It isn't just for breastfeeding, it works great with babies who are bottle feeding too. Once your baby is a little older, it is great for tummy time. It helps strengthen neck and back muscles. You can also prop baby on their back so that they can look around while having a support system. I also loved using this pillow for the boys to sit in the middle of, around 5 months, when they couldn't quite sit up by themselves, but really wanted to. If they tumble to the side, they have a soft landing. Another great feature of the boppy - slip covers. I have a few different covers including the boppy luxe cover. It is a soft velvety cover that I would definitely recommend. I love that if my baby spits up on this pillow I can easily change the slipcover. The covers wash up wonderfully too. Lastly, this pillow is awesome at holding it's shape. When I had Chandler, I had a similar pillow to the boppy, but it wasn't the boppy. It served it's purpose but got lumpy and didn't have the interchangable slip covers. I've had my boppy for 9 months and it still has a great shape and hasn't gotten lumpy. To the right is a picture of my sweet Rowan laying on his boppy at the hospital.

Cons: I wish that this pillow were a little smaller in ways so that you could take it places with you. Because of the size, it seems too large to take on an outing or in the car. Other than that, I think the boppy is great in every way.

The Bottom Line: Great pillow, great investment! The Boppy Pillow website also offers more information on this pillow.

Price: $30-$35 for the pillow, $10-15 for slipcovers

Where to Buy: Target, Babies R Us

Rating: Excellent