The Bottle Dilemma.

As parents, we always want what’s best for our kids. With the multitude of products out there, from Born Free BPA-free bottles to Medela bottles that are also BPA free, to Dr. Browns which looks all too complicated for our needs, you wonder what’s best when you don’t feed from breast.

I started off assuming I’d have much success with breastfeeding. After all, having a positive outlook is the best way to go about this, right? The problem: sometimes that positive outlook doesn’t actually mean things will work in your favor. Even though everyone said they loved how breastfeeding helped them shed their pregnancy weight and how they loved that bonding with their kid, it doesn’t always happen. Most people won’t tell you that breastfeeding isn’t always a walk in the park, but it happens, sadly.

Therefore, those of us who cannot feed via breast resort to bottle. But a first-time mother may not know what to buy at all. If you have very little knowledge of parenting, you might not know why to burp a kid — you just know you have to. You don’t realize that your child is taking in air when he/she feeds from the bottle.

But then there’s the whole bottle dilemma. Some bottles look different. Some seem pretty basic and work just as well, or so you think. There was the Medela bottle that seemed very much like the bottle I think I spotted when I was a kid. Then there were these little “add-ons” — you know, like the venting system of the Born Free bottles and what appears to be an uber complicated Dr. Brown’s venting system. Which one was going to be right for my child? And what’s the point of those little add on devices anyway?

I started with what was available at the drugstore: Avent bottles. Then, I rented a breast pump and had some Medela bottles. But I realized that burping a kid was going to be an issue, which unfortunately was not part of my idealistic view of parenting where babies would merely need to be fed (and they’d take the bottle easily and without mess) and burp on demand, giving me free time right after I was done with my baby duties. No way. I had no idea it was going to be unpredictable instead.

When I registered for the Buy Buy Baby registry, I got a few freebies, notably the Born Free BPA Free bottle. I noticed that the venting system helped and decided to go all out and buy a few of them. I now have five.

I don’t use them, though.

I mentioned previously that I met with a lactation consultant. She said that the flow of the nipple was too fast for David because the formula/milk was spilling out of the sides of his mouth. Apparently there is only ONE recommended nipple for babies: the Playtex NaturaLatch. (Why there’s only one super small nipple is beyond me.) In any event, I bought the nipples by themselves before realizing they won’t work with Born Free bottles, so I had to go back to the store and eventually invested in what I use now: the Playtext nurser system with drop-ins and the NaturaLatch nipples.

It was a bit of an interesting ride to settle on these bottles, to say the least. And once I got them, they were totally different than all previous bottles I tried. You’re advised against steam sterilizing these nipples, but I was so used to doing that with the other bottles and nipples that I made a mistake without reading the instructions. I ended up causing damage to the latex nipples and calling Playtex asking them for some guidance. They sent me a coupon. I guess I can’t complain.

The Playtex Nurser system aren’t just plain bottles. They have this drop-in system of plastic bags that go into the bottle, which I assume is to eliminate excess air (which in itself is a very smart idea, but I wasn’t convinced until I actually tried them). When the baby finishes eating, you throw out these bags. It’s a good concept and is great for parents who don’t wash their bottles that often, according to the reviews I read before I actually made the purchase. But the Drop-Ins were confusing at first. The thing is: there are also “standard soft bottle liners” that do the same thing — except they aren’t shaped like the drop-ins and are a pain to put in the bottle, according to other reviews I read AFTER I made an accidental purchase. So here I was, out $36 (I bought 900 on eBay). I ended up reselling them and eating $16. Oh well. You live and you learn.

I’ve experienced a lot of bottle woes and still am not 100% convinced on a bottle. In fact, the NaturaLatch is much better than the previous nipples I’d used, but it’s still not perfect since he still makes a mess (just not as badly). In a way, I wish he took to the breast, but I’m glad he does like the bottle since the hubby can help with feedings. But now I see why marketers and those with baby products are always trying to get a mother’s attention: there are so many products out there!

Which bottle is your favorite and why?