Product Support

Thank you for purchasing Tommee Tippee Natural Start Deep Latch teats.  

Our breast-like bottle is designed to support a smooth transition from breastfeeding to bottle feeding, but the truth is, a new bottle can sometimes take a little getting used to. 

 This product support page is here to help you learn how to use, clean and care for your bottle, and to help with any queries you may have. 

View Product Manual

Natural Start Deep Latch Bottle Nipples

Getting started

Parts guide

A – Hood 

B – Self-sterilizing vents 

C – Silicone nipple

D – Anti-colic valve 

E – Screw ring 

F – Bottle base 

G – 50ml measure 

 

Preparing for use

Before first use, disassemble and place all components in boiling water for 5 minutes. This is to ensure hygiene. Follow the below steps to ensure your bottle is safe and ready to use: 

  1. Disassemble your bottle  

  1. Wash all parts in warm soapy water and rinse or use a dishwasher (top shelf only). 

  1. Use a teat brush to gently clean the nipple (C), do not turn inside out as you may damage it. Do not clean feeding hole or anti-colic valve (D) with the brush, as damage may occur. 

  1. Reassemble your nipple (C) and screw ring (E) and then place all parts in boiling water for 5 minutes or use another method of sterilization such microwave, UV, steam or cold-water tablet/liquid solution (ensure you follow the manufacturer's instructions). 

  1. After sterilizing, reassemble your bottle ready for use. 

  1. To prevent the nipple (C) from collapsing during feeding, pinch the valve (D) gently between your fingers to ensure it’s open. 

How to self-sterilize in a microwave

This method allows you to easily sterilize bottles using a microwave. Before self-sterilizing, always wash all components thoroughly and rinse in clear water or use a dishwasher (top shelf only). 

  1. Assemble the nipple (C) in the screw ring (E) and click the bottle hood (A) in place. 

  1. Pour exactly 50ml of water into the bottle base (F). The bottles have a 50ml measure (G). 

  1. Rest the assembled hood (A), nipple (C) and screw ring (E) on top of the bottle base (F). Loosely place the assembled hood on the bottle before microwaving. Do not tighten to allow pressure release. 

  1. Place in the microwave for 3 minutes. To sterilize multiple bottles see the timings table below. For glass bottles allow 30 minutes to cool down with the microwave door open. 

  1. Pour out residual water and screw the assembled hood (A), nipple(C) and screw ring (E) on to the bottle base (F) ready for use. After self-sterilization, the bottle and the nipple will remain sterile for 24 hours if the bottle is unopened and fully assembled. Always store bottles fully assembled. 

  1. To prevent the nipple (C) from collapsing during feeding, pinch the valve (D) gently between your fingers to ensure it’s open. 

Microwave recommended times for all bottle sizes, based on microwaves from 700 to 1000 Watts:

Storage and use

  • Inspect before each use and pull feeding nipple in all directions. 

  • Always clean and sterilize before each use. 

  • Keep away from solvents or harsh chemicals. 

  • Do not allow the product to come into contact with oil based foods. 

  • Not suitable for use in a conventional oven or a combination microwave oven with the grill feature switched on. 

  • Do not leave a feeding nipple in direct sunlight or heat or leave in disinfectant (“sterilizing solution”) for longer than recommended, as this may weaken the nipple. 

  • Niiples are recommended to be replaced at least every 2 months for safety and hygiene reasons. 

  • Please dispose of this product and packaging responsibly. 

Cleaning and maintenance

Cleaning

  1. Disassemble your bottle  

  1. Wash all parts in warm soapy water and rinse or use a dishwasher (top shelf only). 

  1. Use a teat brush to gently clean the nipple (C), do not turn inside out as you may damage it. Do not clean feeding hole or anti-colic valve (D) with the brush, as damage may occur. 

  1. Reassemble your nipple (C) and screw ring (E) and then place all parts in boiling water for 5 minutes or use another method of sterilization such microwave, UV, steam or cold-water tablet/liquid solution (ensure you follow the manufacturer's instructions). 

  1. After sterilizing, reassemble your bottle ready for use. 

  1. To prevent the nipple (C) from collapsing during feeding, pinch the valve (D) gently between your fingers to ensure it’s open. 

Warning!

  • Always use this product with adult supervision. Accidents have occurred when babies have been left alone with drinking equipment due to the baby falling or if the product has been disassembled. 

  • Never use feeding nipples as a pacifier

  • Continuous 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 period through the day and particularly through the night, when saliva flow is reduced or if it is used as a pacifier. 

  • Always check food temperature before feeding. Heating in microwave oven may product localised high temperatures. Take extra care when microwave heating. Always stir heated food to ensure even heat distribution and test the temperature before serving. 

  • Throw away at the first sign of damage or weakness. 

  • Keep components not in use out of reach of children. 

  • Never attach to cords, ribbons, laces or loose parts of clothing. The child can be strangled. 

  • Glass bottle may break. 

  • Loosely place the assembled hood on the bottle before microwaving. Do not tighten to allow pressure release. Do not heat in microwave with the bottle sealed. 

  • When making up feed, follow the formula milk manufacturer’s instructions. 

  • The bottle hood can pose a suffocation hazard – keep out of reach of children. 

Support FAQ's

The valve will work wherever it’s positioned but the best place for the valve is at the top, near your baby's nose.

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 Natural Start deep latch and wide latch nipples have a built-in air valve, and don’t work properly on our Advanced Anti-Colic bottles. 

It’s important to make sure you’re buying the right nipples for the bottles you have. Please note, deep latch teats are only available as part of our Natural Start range, they cannot be purchased for Advanced Anti-Colic bottles. 

Nipples take quite a lot of hammering from little gums and teeth, so they need to be changed regularly. We recommend replacing nipples every 2-months or at the first sign of any damage or weakness.

Our 2oz and 5oz bottles come with extra-slow flow nipples, our 9oz bottles come with slow flow teats/nipples and our 11oz bottles come with medium flow teats.  

As your baby grows and can feed more quickly, you can buy faster flowing replacement nipples. 

We have medium flow nipples, which most babies are ready for at around 3 months, and a fast flow nipple which is best from around 6 months. The ages are only as a guide - you know your baby better than anyone and will be able to tell when they’re ready for a faster flow. 

There are two reasons why a nipple will collapse, one is an indication that your baby is ready for a faster flowing nipple, or that the valve has reformed within the nipple. 

Our Natural Start nipples are made from a very sensitive soft silicone, therefore they may reform when not in use for long periods of time, for example, when in storage.  

You will have noticed a small tent like vent on the inside of the nipple; this should have a small slit along it, which allows the air to flow through the bottle.  If this valve reseals, it will cause the teat to collapse during a feed.  

Please gently rub the end of the valve inside the nipple to allow this to pop open.  

If the problem continues after the valve has been opened, it takes longer than 20 minutes for baby to finish a bottle, or if baby tugs at the nipple or baby falls asleep mid-bottle, you may need to increase the nipple flow rate. 

Please note that the ages on the nipple packaging are purely a guideline and some babies will require a faster flowing nipple quicker than others. 

As with other things around the kitchen, they can get a bit stained in the dishwasher or even when you hand wash them. 

Cloudy looking nipples generally occur as a result of strong cold-water sterilisation. Cold water sterilisation is perfectly fine, but if you’ve gone a bit over the top with the sterilisation solution, it can impact the color. 

Don’t worry though, as the nipples are still perfectly safe to use, they just look a little different. 

Nipples take quite a lot of hammering from little gums and teeth, so they need to be changed regularly. We recommend replacing nipples every 2-months or at the first sign of any damage or weakness.

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