Closer to Nature® Bottle Nipples

Thanks for purchasing our Closer to Nature® nipples.

To help you get started and to keep your nipples working effectively, we’ve added all the guidance you should need to this page, as well as some handy hints and tips and troubleshooting advice.

Parts Guide

Getting Started

Before you use your bottles for the first time, please…

• Disassemble all parts and place in boiling water for five minutes, this is to ensure good hygiene.
• Wash all parts in warm soapy water.
• Rinse using clean water and sterilize.
• Assemble your bottle as per the diagram.
• When assembling your bottle, it’s important that you check the valve (C), holding it to the light to check that the slit in the silicone hasn’t sealed closed. If it has, pinch it gently between your fingers to re-open. If the valve has sealed closed, your bottle won’t vent properly.
• After use, wash all parts in warm soapy water, rinse in clean water, ready to sterilize again.

How to use your Closer to Nature® Nipples

1. Before use, wash all parts in warm soapy water, rinse in clean water and sterilize.
2. Assemble your bottle as per the above diagram.
3. When assembling your bottle it is important that you check the valve (C) by holding it to the light to check that the slit in the silicone has not sealed closed. If it has sealed closed, pinch it gently between your fingers to re-open. If the valve has sealed closed your bottle will not vent properly.
4. Make up your feed.
5. Serve.
6. After use, wash all parts in warm soapy water, rinse in clean water, ready to sterilize once more.

When using your nipples, do…

• Inspect before each use and pull the feeding nipple in all directions. Throw away at the first signs of damage or weakness.
• Keep all components not in use out of reach of children.
• For safety and hygiene reasons it is recommended that the feeding nipple is replaced every two months.

Please note…

• Do not store or leave in direct sunlight or near a source of heat or leave in disinfectant (“Sterilizing Solution”) for longer than recommended, as this may weaken the nipple.
• 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 oven with the grill feature switched on.
• Do not heat in a microwave with bottle sealed. Remove nipple, locking ring and dome cap.
• Never use feeding nipples as a soother.
• 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 periods through the day and particularly through the night, when saliva flow is reduced or if it is used as a soother.

Cleaning and sterilizing your Closer to Nature® Nipples

• Always wash the product immediately after use and clean and sterilize before each use.
• Wash in warm soapy water and rinse in clean water or use a dish washer (top shelf only).
• For cleaning other bottle parts, use a Closer to Nature® brush.
• Once you have cleaned your bottles, they're ready to sterilize.
• All bottle components should be sterilized.
• All bottle components are suitable for sterilization by steam (electric or microwave), UV light, boiling or cold water tablet/liquid sterilization.

Please note…

• Do not clean with harsh chemicals.
• Do not allow product to come into contact with oil based foods (e.g. oil / tomato based sauces) as staining will occur.
• Do not turn the nipple inside out for cleaning. Damage could result.
• Do not use a nipple brush or any other implement to clean the feeding hole in the end of the nipple or valve as damage such as splits and tears may occur.

Closer to Nature® Nipple FAQs & Troubleshooting

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.

Closer to Nature® nipples look the same, can I use them on Advanced Anti-Colic bottles?

No, you can’t use Closer to Nature nipples on Advanced Anti-Colic bottles. Closer to Nature nipples have a built-in air valve, and don’t work with our Advanced Anti Colic bottles. The valve in your Advanced Anti Colic bottles is situated inside the bottle, attached to the end of the venting tube and is shaped like a star. It’s important that you make sure you match the right nipple to the right bottle.

How long do nipples last?

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.

Can I buy bottles with faster flowing nipples?

All our bottles except the 340ml version currently come with slow flow nipples 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 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. 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.

The nipple is collapsing during a feed – why?

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 Closer to Nature® 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 nipple 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.

My nipples looks stained. What's happened and are they safe?

As with other things around the kitchen, they can get a bit stained and yucky-looking in the dishwasher or even when you hand wash them (blame that Bolognese sauce or carrot soup you had last night).

Cloudy looking nipples generally occur as a result of strong cold-water sterilization. Cold water sterilization is perfectly fine, but if you’ve gone a bit over the top with the sterilization solution (it’s easily done!), it can impact the colour.

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

Why don’t my nipples last very long?

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.