Great to see that you’ve purchased our Closer to Nature bottles. To help you get started and to keep your product working effectively, we’ve added all the guidance you should need within this area, as well as some handy hints and tips and troubleshooting advice.
Parts guide
A step by step guide to all the component parts and how they can be fitted together.
How to use Tommee Tippee Baby Bottles
*Inspect before each use and pull the feeding teat in all directions ** For safety and hygiene reasons it’s recommended that the feeding teat is replaced every 2-months or sooner if damage or weakness is noticed
Where should the valve be when I'm feeding my baby?
The valve will work wherever it’s positioned but the best place for the valve is at the top, near your baby's nose.
Can I use Advanced Anti-Colic teats on closer to nature bottles?
The simple answer is no, due to the different valves. Most of our products have interchangeable parts to make life as simple as possible. But the Closer to Nature Teats have a built-in air valve, and don’t work properly on our Advanced Anti-Colic bottles.
How long do teats last?
Teats take quite a lot of hammering from little gums and teeth, so they need to be changed regularly. We recommend replacing teats every 2-months or at the first sign of any damage or weakness.
Can I buy bottles with faster flowing teats?
All of our bottles except the 340ml version currently come with slow flow teats as standard, as they’re best for newborns and most parents generally stock up on bottles before baby arrives. Our 340ml bottle comes with a medium flow teat.
As your baby grows and can feed more quickly, you can buy faster flowing replacement teats.
We have medium flow teats, which most babies are ready for at around 3 months, and a fast flow teat which is best from around 6 months. The ages are only guides though - you know your baby better than anyone and will be able to tell when they’re ready for a faster flow.
I've heard bad things about BPA - Is it in your bottles? (& What is it anyway?)
All Tommee Tippee bottles are BPA-free. They’re made of a plastic called polypropylene that’s lightweight, easy to clean, and completely safe. BPA - that’s (CH₃)₂C(C₆H₄OH)₂ for you science geeks - is a chemical that’s been used in some plastics since the 1960s and it’s believed to mess around with your hormones. It’s generally not good, so we don’t use it.
Can I store breast milk in bottles?
Yes, our bottles love to look after your breast milk. We even have special lids that you can pop on to store your milk in the fridge or freezer. If you’re expressing and storing breast milk, our Express and Go™ range may be handy too - it features a clever pouch that you use to express, store, warm and feed (it’s our all in one show). This means there’s no need to transfer milk at any stage, so you’ll never lose a precious drop.
Can I recycle my bottles when I'm done?
Yes. Our Closer to Nature and Advanced Anti-Colic bottles are made from polypropylene (PP) that can happily be recycled.
Dos
Before first use, disassemble all parts and place in boiling water for 5 minutes, this is to ensure good hygiene
Clean before first and each use
Always wash the product immediately after each use
Clean in warm soapy water or in dishwasher (top shelf only)
For cleaning, use a TT bottle and teat brush
Sterilise all parts of the bottles after cleaning and before use (all bottle parts are suitable for sterilisation by steam (electric or microwave), boiling or cold-water tablet/liquid solution.
Inspect before each use and pull the feeding teat in all directions
Throw away at first sign of damage or weakness
For safety and hygiene reasons it’s recommended that the feeding teat is replaced every 2-months
Don'ts
Do not clean with solvents or harsh chemicals
Do not allow product to come into contact with oil-based foods e.g. tomato based sauces or carrots
Do not turn the teat inside out for cleaning as damage could result
Store or leave in direct sunlight or near a source of heat, or leave in disinfectant (“sterilising solution”) for longer than recommended as this may weaken the teat
Do not store with or allow to come into contact with solvents or harsh chemicals
Not suitable for use in a conventional oven or a combination microwave with the grill feature switched on
Do not heat in a microwave with the bottle sealed. Remove the teat, screw ring and bottle hand first
WARNINGS
FOR YOUR CHILDS SAFETY & HEALTH WARNING!
ALWAYS use this product with adult supervision. Accidents have occured when babies have been left alone with drinking equipment due to the baby falling or if the product has been dissassembled
Always check food temperatures before feeding. Heating in a microwave oven may produce localised high temperatures. Take extra care when microwave heating.
Always stir heated food to ensure even heat distribution and test the temperature before serving.
When making up a feed, follow the formula milk manafacturer's instructions and allow the freshly boiled water to cool before pouring it into the bottle
NEVER use feeding teats as a soother.
Continouse and prolonged sucking of fluids will cause tooth decay. Tooth decay in young children can occur even when non-sweetened fluids are used. This can occur if the baby is allowed to use the bottle for long periods through the day and particularly through the night, when saliva flow is reduced or if it is used a soother.
Is it ok to put bottles in the dishwasher?
Of course! Pop them on the top shelf though. As with all white and clear plastic things they can get a bit stained and yucky-looking in the dishwasher (blame that Bolognese sauce or carrot soup you had last night). If they do get discoloured there’s nothing to worry about - they’re perfectly safe, they just don’t look as nice.
Can I recycle my bottles when I'm done?
Yes. Our Closer to Nature and Advanced Anti-Colic bottles are made from polypropylene (PP) that can happily be recycled.
Why is my bottle misshapen?
Our bottles have a unique ‘waisted’ design that makes them cute and easy to hold. If your bottle has lost its shape, it could be that the water which was poured in was still too hot. Doing this can cause a vacuum effect, where the bottle sucks inwards, making it a very odd shape indeed. The best bet (as endorsed by WHO - World Health Organisation) is to let freshly boiled water cool for around 30 minutes before making up a feed. This will make sure your Tommee Tippee bottle keeps its cute waisted shape.
If you haven’t already looked at our Perfect Prep machine , which makes your bottle in under 2-minutes at just the right temperature, now may be the time to do so. Perfect Prep means no misshapen bottles……
My teats don't seem to last very long?
Teats take quite a lot of hammering from little gums and teeth, so they need to be changed regularly. We recommend replacing teats every 2-months or at the first sign of any damage or weakness.
Why has the decoration/ measurements rubbed off?
First of all – whilst we appreciate that this will be frustrating, please be assured that the ink used on our bottles is food grade certified, so it poses no harm to your little one if it ends up in their mouth, on their fingers or anywhere else.
We test all of our bottles and do our best to stop this from happening.
Here are a few things to think about, based on feedback from parents and real-world experience:
How long have you been using your bottle(s)?
We’d love our bottles to last a lifetime, but general wear and tear can occur after months of use, especially if you’re using, washing and sterilising the same bottle each and every day.
How are you washing your bottle(s)?
Hand washing in warm soapy water or placing into the dishwasher on the top shelf is ideal. Scrubbing or placing into the bottom of a dishwasher could damage the decoration/ measurements causing the ink to come away.
How are you sterilising your bottle(s)?
All methods of sterilisation are perfectly fine, although strong cold-water sterilisation, or keeping them in the solution for longer than needed could affect the decoration/ measurements and generally make your bottles and teats look a little cloudy.
