Many people choose to bottle feed their infants because of convenience, work schedules, or even medical issues. But before a person chooses which infant bottle whether it is the use of plastic or glass baby bottles and nipple is right for them and their baby there are some things they will want to consider. This article is designed to help answer some questions parents may have regarding different bottle and nipple types as well as safety concerning the bottle and nipple material.

As a person looks through the baby bottle aisle at any store they may feel overwhelmed by the amount of different baby bottles and bottle nipples. Some bottles are angular, curved, or straight. Some bottles have tubes inside. Some baby bottle nipples are round, some square. Some have light or slow liquid flow and others have fast liquid flow. Even though a person needs to have some bottles on hand when they bring baby home, it might be wiser to buy a few different brands and kinds of bottles and nipples. This way a person can try out different ones and decide which ones work the best for their baby. Even after a baby may seem to prefer one type of bottle, the bottle nipple preference may change. Most infants will start out with a slow flowing nipple and progress to a faster one as the infant grows. If an infant is choking or having difficulty in keeping up with the amount of milk coming out, a parent may need to get a nipple that has a smaller flow. Also, darker colored latex bottle nipples may pick up smells and tastes over time and can carry a higher risk for an allergic reaction than clear silicone nipples do. What’s more, a parent may want to match up an infant pacifier to the bottle nipple the infant prefers.

In recent times, there has been much debate over a lightweight plastic called Bisphenol A that is used in baby bottles. Some people believe that this plastic poses a risk to children’s health. The truth of the matter is that in 2007, the FDA reaffirmed their standing, stating they had “determined that the use of polycarbonate-based baby bottles and BPA-based epoxy coated cans used to hold infant formula is safe.” When plastic baby bottles are used as they are intended, levels of bisphenol A from the baby bottle are well below any level than can cause harm to an adult or child. These findings should make any parent comfortable with their purchase of any baby bottle.