When You Should Change Nipple Size Of Your Baby’s Bottle?
When to change the nipple size of your newborn’s bottle? When is the right time to start using a bigger nipple on the baby’s bottle? When should you switch from an infant nipple to a regular one or vice versa? When should you switch from thick milk formula to watery milk formula???
These are all questions that many first-time parents ask themselves when they start feeding their babies with bottles. To avoid confusion, we’re going to answer these questions because as it turns out there isn’t just one clear-cut “right” answer.
When it comes to your baby’s bottles, Nipple size is only one of several options.
Feedings will be more pleasant and pleasurable for everyone if you choose the appropriate size nipple for your infant.
But how do you determine which nipple size is appropriate for your infant and when to upgrade?
Let’s talk about the best nipple sizes for formula-fed and breastfed (even entirely pumping) newborns, when it’s time to upgrade, and why your baby may be unhappy with the bottle.
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When To Change Nipple Size Of Your Newborns Bottle?
The baby’s bottle nipple size will be determined by whether they are formula-fed or breastfed, their age, and other developmental factors. The flow rate is determined by the nipple size; how quickly your infant can consume fluids is determined by the nipple size.
When Your Baby is Formula Fed
For those parents who feed their babies with formula, the age guide for nipple sizes usually comes included in the bottles. If you do not have this information or if it is missing from your package inserts, look up the brand of the bottle on its website to find what size would be best suited for your baby at his/her current stage.
Older babies need speedier nipples since they consume more at each mealtime and can manage the milk flow better. The majority of manufacturers adhere to the following guidelines:
- Slow flow: 0-3 months
- Medium flow: 3-6 months
- Fast flow: 6-12 months
Nevertheless, since all infants are different, age isn’t necessarily the greatest predictor of nipple size. Aside from age, there are additional indicators that your baby is ready to go up a size, also including:
- Your baby is sucking hard
- Getting aggravated (squirming, kicking and etc.)
- Flattening the nipple
- Smacking at the bottle
- Your baby eating less, but sooner getting hungry again
- It takes a long time to feed (up to one hour)
When your baby isn’t frustrated or taking a long time to eat, don’t size up. But if your baby is exhibiting symptoms of discomfort, try the next size higher. Learning through doing.
You should go down a size if your baby is gagging, coughing, choking, or dripping milk from the corner of her mouth. The rapid flow may have been too much for your digestive system, therefore you may want to go down the nipple size.
When Your Baby Is Breastfed
When you bottle-feed your breastfed baby, you should use a slow flow or “newborn” nipples. In fact, you should never increase a breastfed baby’s nipple size.
Since breasts produce milk far slower than a bottle nipple, breastfed infants have to struggle for their milk. This may cause laziness or even refusal in your breastfed infant. Basically, the bottle flow should mirror nursing.
On the other hand, you do not want to overfeed a breastfed infant while bottle feeding. Therefore you should feed the baby upright, by changing positions halfway through, and practicing timed bottle feeding.
In some of these situations, a quicker flow nipple may be more appropriate than a larger nipple. You may be irritated with bottles that take 30 to 45 minutes to complete if you have a rapid flow and your kid can breastfeed in 5-10 minutes.
Are You Pumping?
In spite of the fact that breast milk digests faster than formula and it is possible to overfeed a baby while bottle feeding, doctors advise using slow flow or “newborn” nipples. Feed your kid on demand (not according to a strict schedule) and use timed bottle feeding techniques.
Nursing sessions typically last 15-20 minutes, so plan on the same for your feedings. So, its advised to not hurry your baby’s bottle feeding.
Keep In Mind
Take into account other reasons if your infant is dissatisfied with the present nipple size but does not react well to a smaller nipple. You may wish to test with nipple texture, length, and venting systems.
Remember that a ‘preemie nipple’ does not always imply a sluggish flow, though some products do. Some manufacturers name the nipples ‘level 1′ and ‘level 2′ rather than age. To understand these labels, you’ll need to read the package or visit the company’s website.
The issue may not be with the equipment. Your infant may be preoccupied, teething, ill, or dissatisfied with the milk’s warmth. Perhaps you are misinterpreting your baby’s signals as a sign of hunger.
Conclusion
Feedings will be quicker, simpler, and more pleasant for everyone if you have the appropriate size nipple. The size of your baby’s nipples may be determined by whether he or she is formula-fed or breastfed, as well as their age and other readiness indicators.
Because bottle nipple size isn’t a one-size-fits-all recommendation, evaluate your circumstances and choose what will work best for you and your kid. Let it be if everything is going well with the existing size nipple.
READ MORE:
Understanding the Impact of Cold Formula on Your Baby’s Stomach
What to do when milk coming out of baby’s nose?
