When can I start bottle-feeding?

From birth! You can bottle-feed exclusively or combine with breastfeeding. If you're mixed-feeding, it's often recommended to establish breastfeeding first.

What type of bottle is best for reducing colic and gas?

Anti-colic bottles with vented designs or twist systems help reduce air intake. Try the Meke Baby Anti-Colic Twist Bottle with Formula Dispenser.

How do I choose the right nipple flow?

Start with slow-flow for newborns, then adjust as baby grows. If they're struggling to get milk or getting frustrated, try the next flow up.

How often should I sterilise baby bottles?

After every use until baby is at least 12 months old. It's a pain, but it keeps them safe from harmful bacteria.

Can I switch between bottle and breastfeeding?

Absolutely! Use slow-flow teats and wide-neck bottles to keep the feeding experience similar to breastfeeding.

When to stop sterilising bottles?

Most experts recommend continuing until at least 12 months, then you can just wash thoroughly with hot soapy water

The Best Baby Bottles, Teats and Tips for Bottle Feeding

Whether you're exclusively bottle feeding, mixed feeding or feeding expressed breast milk, finding the right bottle can feel like mission impossible. The good news? Most babies are adaptable, and you'll figure it out together. Let’s go.

Choosing the Right Baby Bottle: Materials and Styles

Most baby bottles are made of lightweight, BPA-free plastic. Other materials to think about are silicone, which mimics the soft feel of a breast, stainless steel or glass.

Standard bottles - Your reliable, no-fuss option that usually does the job perfectly well. Try Tommee Tippee Essential Starter Kit.

Glass bottles - Durable and easy to clean, but heavier (and yes, they can break). Try Chicco Natural Feeling 250ML Glass Bottle

Anti-colic bottles - Designed to reduce air intake for babies who struggle with gas or reflux. Try the Meke Baby Anti-Colic Twist Bottle with Formula Dispenser.

Wide-neck bottles - Great for babies transitioning between breast and bottle. New Beginnings Wide Neck PP Bottles 250m.

Silicone bottles - Soft, flexible, and lightweight - mimics the feel of breastfeeding. Try the Nanobebe Flexy Silicone Bottle White.

Quick Guide: Bottle-Feeding at a Glance

What you need to know	The details
When to start	From birth - combine with breastfeeding or use exclusively
Best bottles for newborns	Standard, glass, anti-colic, wide-neck, or silicone
Bottle sizes	120-150ml for newborns; 240-260ml for bigger babies
For colic relief	Anti-colic bottles with vented designs
Breast to bottle transition	Wide-neck or silicone bottles
Materials	BPA-free plastic, silicone, glass, stainless steel
How often to sterilise	After every use until 12 months
Essentials checklist	4-6 bottles, steriliser, bottle brush, burp cloths

How to feed your baby using a bottle

Find yourself a cosy spot and get ready to enjoy this beautiful bonding moment. As you're snuggled in, we recommend holding your baby’s head slightly higher than their feet and angle the bottle so air bubbles can rise through the milk. Halfway through, take a little burp break - your baby (and your clothes) will thank you. Remember, babies know when they're full, so don't stress if they don't finish every drop

How to choose a baby bottle teat

Your baby might have very strong opinions about what goes in their mouth! Don't take it personally if they reject the first few you try.

“If your baby is able to take the bottle and you think they're taking it well, then keep using the same one,” says clinical midwife consultant Monique Maitland. “But if your baby isn’t liking it, try something else.”

Slow-flow teats

Perfect for newborns and babies still learning to feed. Slow flow nipples release a small amount of milk at a time, making it easier for the baby to control the flow and latch on properly.

Fast-flow teats

For older babies who can handle more milk flow and need to feed more efficiently. If your little one seems frustrated or impatient with their current teat, it might be time to upgrade.

How to sterilise and store baby bottles

Sterilising baby bottles

Yes, you need to clean and sterilise bottles after every feed until baby is at least 12 months old. It's tedious, but it protects them from nasty bugs. You can boil, steam, use chemicals, or microwave sterilisers.

Baby milk storage

Freshly expressed breast milk keeps for 6 hours at room temperature, 3 days in the fridge, 3 months in the freezer. Prepared formula should be used within 24 hours if stored in the fridge.

Bottle feeding schedules

Newborns feed 8-12 times in 24 hours (roughly every 3 hours). Yes, that's a lot. You're not doing anything wrong. As your baby grows, they'll settle into more predictable patterns, but milk remains their main nutrition source until around 12 months. Here are some tips on establishing a feeding routine.

Bottle-Feeding Essentials Checklist

4-6 bottles - Start with fewer and add as needed as you figure out your routine.

Steriliser - Choose from steam, microwave, or chemical options to keep bottles safe and clean.

Bottle brush - Essential for getting into all those tricky corners during cleaning.

Formula or expressed breast milk - Your baby's liquid gold, however you're feeding.

Bibs & burp cloths - Stock up on these - you'll go through more than you think!
Bottle warmer - Not essential but makes life easier for warming milk to the perfect temperature.

Common Bottle-Feeding Challenges (and How to Solve Them)

Baby refuses the bottle

Try different teat shapes/flows, have someone else offer it, or warm the milk slightly.

Too much air/gas

Check the teat flow isn't too fast, try anti-colic bottles, or pace the feeding.

Switching between breast and bottle

Use slow-flow teats and wide-neck bottles to maintain similarity.

Remember: there's no perfect bottle - just the one that works for your baby. Some little ones take any bottle happily, others are incredibly fussy. Both are completely normal.

The Bottom Line

Remember: there's no perfect bottle - just the one that works for your baby. Trust your instincts, be patient with the process, and know you're doing a great job.