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Bottle Feeding

All About Baby Bottle Nipples

Article By
Stu
Published On
09 May, 2022
Read Time
4 minutes

Many bottle feeding parents have questions about which type of bottle nipple and which flow rate to choose and wonder when to change the nipples on their baby’s bottles. 

We've compiled this guide for parents to help you get to know our different bottle nipple sizes, styles, and flow rates.  

How many baby bottles and nipples should I have? 

The number of infant bottles and nipples you need depends on how often you plan to use them to feed your baby. If you're only going to be using bottles once a day or just occasionally, then you might decide to buy one main bottle and nipple set, and maybe one extra as a backup. It's probably best to have at least two so that if lost, damaged or unclean you have a backup. 

Newborn babies can feed anywhere between 8-12 times over 24 hours. So, if you're exclusively bottle feeding a newborn, then you should have four to six bottles and nipples to get started with. 

What flow rate should I be using for my baby?

All Tommee Tippee bottles come with a slow flow nipple designed to suit newborn babies and help them get used to drinking milk from a bottle.  

Our nipples are all the same size and have the same breast-like shape, but come in different flow rates.  

A bottle's flow rate is based on the size or shape of the hole in the tip of a nipple. This changes the pace that the milk flows into your baby's mouth. The larger the hole, the faster the pace.  

Different nipples for different ages

Our nipples come in different flow rates to keep up with your growing baby (and their growing appetite). Each Tommee Tippee bottle nipple is marked with a letter or number according to its flow rate. Please note that these ages are only a guide as every feeding journey is different.    

  • X = Vari Flow: For use from birth and throughout their bottle feeding journey. With an X-shaped cut that means babies can control the flow and feed at the pace that’s most comfortable for them.  

  • 0 = Extra Slow: For use from birth. 

  • 1 = Slow Flow: For newborns and babies below 3 months. With the smallest hole for slower feeds.  

  • 2 = Medium Flow: For babies aged 3 months and up. With a medium hole for medium paced feeds. 

  • 3 = Fast Flow: For babies aged 6 months and up. With the largest hole for faster feeds. 

  • Y = Thick Flow: For use with thicker feeds from six months. The Y-cut lets thickened milk flow easily without clumping. 

Please note that the ages mentioned above are only a guide. You know your baby better than anyone and will be able to tell when they’re ready for a nipple with a different flow rate. 

Explore the Range

Baby Bottle Nipples

When to change bottle nipples

Baby bottle nipples need to be changed regularly. 

We recommend replacing your bottle nipples every two months or at the first sign of any damage or weakness. 

You should change the flow rate you use over time to keep up with your growing baby (and their growing appetite). 

You can use the age brackets of each nipple size to gauge when it's time to move up a size and/or flow rate, but your baby will also let you know when it's time to change, or even if you've moved up too quickly. 

You may need a nipple with a slower flow rate if your baby... 

  • gulps, coughs, or gags when feeding 

  • has excess milk dripping out of their mouth 

  • or refuses to feed  

And a faster flow rate may help if they... 

  • take longer than 20 minutes to finish a feed 

  • tug at the nipple 

  • fall asleep while feeding  

Natural Start® and Advanced Anti-Colic nipples, what’s the difference?

Tommee Tippee Natural Start® nipples have a built-in anti-colic valve that reduces air ingestion and helps reduce the symptoms of colic. 

Our Advanced Anti-Colic nipples are specially designed to work with the vented wand in our Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic bottles to help reduce feeding discomfort and provide specialist anti-colic support. 

Sterilizing your baby's bottles is vital, particularly for babies under one year who are more vulnerable to harmful bacteria. Be sure to clean all baby bottles and nipples thoroughly in hot soapy water after each use before you sterilise them to remove any milk residue.  

To some babies, yes, nipple size matters. This is because the size and flow rate of different sized nipples might not always suit your baby's feeding habits. Some babies are perfectly content with one nipple size the whole time they're bottle feeding, but the flow rate of their preferred nipple will need to change over time as they develop.  

All Tommee Tippee nipples are the same size but come in a range of different flow rates. 

If the hole in a baby bottle nipple is too large and the flow rate is too fast for your baby, then excess air can flow through with the milk and increase the likelihood of reflux. 

Baby bottle nipples can sometimes be damaged, so they need to be checked and changed regularly. We recommend replacing the nipples on your baby’s bottles every 2 months or at the first sign of any damage or weakness. 

All our bottles (except the 11oz version) come with slow flow nipples as standard, as they're best for newborns and most parents generally stock up on bottles before their baby arrives.  

Our 11oz baby bottles come with a medium flow nipple.  

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.  

These ages are only a guide though - you know your baby better than anyone and will be able to tell when they're ready for a faster flow rate. 

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