Feeding

As a new parent, thinking about feeding your baby can be both exciting and daunting. With so many different terms floating about and tons of baby feeding equipment on the market, it can be overwhelming to know what everything means and what you're truly going to need.

But don't stress, that's why we've put together this guide! It's here to help you understand the language of baby feeding and to help you decide what essentials you'll need to keep your new arrival fed and happy.

So, let's dive in and run through the world of infant feeding from A to Z!

• Baby bottles: You'll need baby bottles to feed your baby if you're giving them expressed breast milk or infant formula.
  • Anti-colic baby bottle: These bottles are designed to soothe the discomfort caused by colic, they take the air out of baby's milk as they feed and stop it reaching their tummy. Ours have a patented triple-vented wand that keeps air away from milk and baby, meaning less air in their tummy and a proven reduction in colic symptoms.
  • Glass baby bottle: Glass is long-lasting, recyclable and doesn't stain. Our durable, glass baby bottles are fitted with a breast-like silicone teat and have a built-in anti-colic valve.
  • Plastic baby bottle: Our wide-neck plastic bottles are BPA-free.
  • Silicone baby bottle: Silicone is a soft and squishy material and Tommee Tippee bottles made from silicone are boob soft for comfort and warmth.
• Bibs: Babies can sometimes make a bit of a mess when they feed, so it can help to pop a bib on them. Babies wear these around their necks to catch any dribble and absorb any spills, then it's just a case of washing them ready for the next feed.
• Bottle brush: This is a specially designed brush with soft bristles that you use to clean your baby's bottles and teats thoroughly. You should clean all your baby's feeding equipment after each use.
• Bottle warmer: If you've expressed breast milk, you may want to warm it up before you feed it to your baby. A bottle warmer is a safe way to heat breast milk while preserving the essential nutrients.

• Breast milk: The literal definition of breast milk is a white liquid that's produced by women to breastfeed their baby. It's made by mammary glands that're located in the breast, and released when baby breastfeeds.
• Breast pads: These are circular pads (some are disposable, some reusable) that you wear in your bra to absorb leaks and keep your nipples comfortable in between feeds.
• Breast pump: Breast pumps can be electric or manual. They work by expressing milk from your breast using suction - much like a baby does when they breastfeed. Expressing milk maintains your supply if you're separated from your baby and can help relieve engorgement.

• Cutlery: You won't need any cutlery for your newborn, but once your little one hits six months and starts weaning onto solid food, you may want to pick up some baby-friendly forks and spoons. These are usually made from soft plastic and are designed to be easy for tiny hands to hold.
• Flange: Also known as a horn, this is the part of the part of a breast pump that connects to your breast.
• Hand expressing: You can remove breast milk manually from your breasts using your hands. This involves gently squeezing your breast to get breast milk out and then collecting it in a sterile container, ready to go into storage or to feed to your baby.
• Highchair: A highchair is a specially designed chair for babies and young children that's raised so that they can sit at the same height as adults during mealtimes. They typically feature a tray that can be easily removed for cleaning, and adjustable straps or a harness to keep the baby safe and secure. They come in a variety of styles and materials, including plastic and wood, and can be used starting from when a baby can sit up on their own until they're ready to eat independently at the table.
• Infant formula: Infant formula is specifically designed to meet the nutritional needs of infants who are not breastfed. It's typically made from a combination of dairy or soy protein, carbohydrates, and fats, as well as vitamins and minerals. It's an important alternative to breast milk for infants who cannot be breastfed due to medical issues or personal circumstances. However, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider before deciding to use infant formula as a primary source of nutrition for your baby.
• Lanolin: Extracted from the wool of sheep, this cream has soothing, moisturising and healing properties and is often used to help ease painful nipples after breastfeeding.
• Milk powder dispenser: If you're formula feeding your baby, these pots are handy. Each one holds up to eight scoops of formula - so no there's no need for a separate, bulky container - and fits neatly inside a feeding bottle, so are perfect for feeds on the go.
• Milk storage bags: Once you've expressed breast milk, you need something to safely store it in, and our milk storage bags are perfect for the job. They can be filled with breast milk and then popped in the fridge or freezer.
• Muslin cloth: Made from a lightweight, loosely woven cotton material that is soft and breathable, muslin cloths are often used to absorb spills and dribble when baby feeds. They're a very versatile baby care essential.
• Nipple cream: Nipple cream is a soothing ointment that's often used by breastfeeding people to soothe soreness and dryness in the nipple area. It's made from natural ingredients and is safe for both parents and babies. It can provide relief from discomfort and promote healing, allowing for a more comfortable and successful breastfeeding experience.
• Nipple shield: A nipple shield is a small, flexible piece of silicone that's placed over the nipple during breastfeeding. It's designed to help protect sore or cracked nipples, as well as assist with latch-on issues, and creates a barrier between the baby's mouth and the nipple so that they can suckle without causing pain.
• Nursing pillow: Breastfeeding pillows come in different shapes and sizes to accommodate different body types and breastfeeding positions, but ultimately, they're supportive cushions that're help position baby comfortably and reduce strain on your back, neck, and arms while you feed. They can also be used for tummy time and as a support for the baby as they learn to sit up on their own.
• Pacifiers: Also known as dummies, soothers, or binkies, pacifiers go in a baby's mouth. Some little ones find them calming because they mimic the comforting shape of mum's breasts and the suckling motion that babies use when they breastfeed.

• Perfect Prep® machine: A Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep® machine makes a body temperature bottle of formula for your hungry baby in just 90 seconds* (that’s up to 10x faster than a kettle**). ​No boiling. No cooling. Less waiting. And less to clean up.
• Sippy cup: From the age of six months little ones can start having sips of water alongside their meals, and you can use a specially designed sippy cup to help them transition from a bottle to a cup.
• Steriliser: You need to sterilise everything that goes in a baby's mouth for the first 12 months of their life. There are several different kinds of sterilisers. Microwave sterilisers, for example, sterilise bottles in the microwave, electric steam sterilisers use pure steam to kill germs, and our UV steriliser uses nothing but UV light and is a fuss-free solution with four clever modes.
• Tableware: Baby tableware is specially designed to be drop-proof and easy to clean, and it comes into its own when little ones start weaning onto solid foods from the age of six months.
• Teats: Also known as nipples, teats are the part of the bottle that goes into the baby's mouth. They come in a range of flow rates that are designed for different age ranges (usually slow flow for newborns, medium flow for three months, and fast flow for six months and up), meaning you can roughly judge which flow is best based on your baby's age. There are also vari-flow teats that allow your little one to control the pace of their feed. Flow rates are defined by the size or number of holes in the teat which changes how quickly the milk flows from the bottle.

*Based on a 5oz feed, room temperature water tank, refers to time from start of hot shot to completion of cool shot.​​

**For verification see tommeetippee.com/perfect-prep-explained.​