How to choose a baby bottle?
Important notice: Breast milk is the ideal and natural food for every infant; it is best suited to their specific needs. If using infant formula when the mother cannot or does not wish to breastfeed, it is essential to strictly follow the preparation and usage instructions and consult a healthcare professional.
Choosing the ideal baby bottle for your baby can seem like a complex task with all the options available. Between the different shapes (round and flat), sizes (flow rates 1, 2, 3, 4…), and materials (glass, plastic or silicone body), it is essential to find a bottle that not only meets your child's physiological needs, but also ensures comfort, practicality and safety during feeding.
First and foremost, it is important to remember that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by a gradual introduction of complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding up to two years or more.
The choice of bottle will depend on the feeding method: whether the mother cannot or does not want to breastfeed, whether it is mixed feeding , or whether the mother expresses milk. This choice of bottle may also be necessary if you wish to give your baby water in case of high heat, fever, vomiting, or diarrhea (from birth to 4 months) 1 .
Let's explore together the essential criteria to consider when choosing baby bottles and discover the advice of Dodie , an essential French brand in baby care.
The essential criteria for choosing a baby bottle:
1. THE MATERIALS OF THE BABY BOTTLE
- Made of glass : durable, resistant to sterilization, easy to clean, and does not absorb tastes or odors. However, it is heavy and can break.
The Dodie advantage: Dodie anti-colic glass baby bottles are made of pharmaceutical-grade borosilicate glass, ultra-resistant to thermal shock! They are available in 150ml and 270ml sizes and can be found in pharmacies!
- Made of plastic : lightweight and unbreakable, it allows for easy handling by both parents and baby. It is important to choose BPA-free* and BPS-free baby bottles to avoid controversial chemicals.
The Dodie advantage: Made in France, Dodie plastic bottles are guaranteed BPA-free* and BPS-free**! They have a triangular shape for easy handling and their graduations start at 30 ml for use from birth.
- Made of silicone : flexible, durable and BPA-free*, but it can be more expensive and harder to handle, especially when full.
2. THE PACIFIER
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Its different forms :
Flat teats are the most common type on the market. They are designed to easily adapt to the baby's mouth. They mimic the flattened shape of the nipple during feeding, thus facilitating easy sucking. They are ideal for all babies and all types of feeding: bottle-feeding, mixed feeding, and for a smooth transition from breast to bottle.
The Dodie advantage: at Dodie, our anti-colic bottles have a flat teat. The flattened shape of the teat makes it easy for the baby to adapt to their mouth. With ridges to prevent the sides from sticking together, this Dodie teat allows for easy feeding, accepted by 95% of babies !
Round teats are teats with a natural shape that replicates that of the mother's breast, thus offering a sucking experience closer to that of breastfeeding.
The Dodie advantage: a pioneer in this type of teat, Dodie offers a round, 3-speed anti-colic teat for an adaptable head. The teat adjusts to the baby's sucking rhythm thanks to its three different speeds. It is ideal for babies with fluctuating appetites throughout the day.
The extra Dodie : Dodie has taken innovation even further by developing an EXTRA pacifier Designed specifically for babies. Recommended by midwives for its breast-like characteristics, the EXTRA anti-colic teat promotes a more natural latch. Its extra-soft teat replicates the movement of the nipple in the baby's mouth, and its soft, ribbed surface allows the baby to position themselves optimally, making feeding more comfortable. Featuring multiple perforations that mimic active ducts, this teat closely resembles breastfeeding.
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The flow rate should be adapted to the baby's age and nutritional needs:
A slow flow is ideal for newborns, allowing for a reduced flow and minimizing the risk of choking. A medium flow is suitable for older babies, generally from 0 to 6 months, allowing for faster feeding with less effort. Finally, a fast flow is designed for older babies, generally 6 months and older, or those with special needs, ensuring a more abundant flow to satisfy their growing appetite.
The Dodie advantage: Dodie has developed teats with a special flow rate: flow rate 4 on all Dodie teats and flow rate 5 on the flat teat, to allow the passage of thick liquids (thickened by cereals for example) with a rapid flow rate.
3. THE ANTI-COLIC SYSTEM
Anti-colic systems are designed to reduce air ingestion during feeding by ensuring a constant flow, which can help prevent colic and gas. All baby bottles come equipped with an anti-colic system; what varies is the system's design: sometimes it's integrated into the nipple, or it's located in an additional part of the bottle (such as a rod in the center of the body or a screw-on seal at the bottom).
The Dodie advantage : at Dodie, all our bottles are equipped with an effective anti-colic system integrated directly into the teat. This anti-colic system prevents air from being swallowed when the baby sucks and reduces the risk of colic and regurgitation.
4. EASE OF USE
- Easy cleaning : choose bottles with easy-to-clean parts. Wide-mouth bottles make filling and cleaning easier.
- Assembly and use : ensure the bottle and teat assemble easily and quickly to save time when your baby is hungry (regardless of the time or place).
The Dodie Extra Plus : Dodie has developed the EXTRA anti-colic bottle , designed with parents in mind. Extra practical, thanks to its unique one-piece teat, the bottle is ready in a single step. Quick to assemble and easy to clean, it's ideal for preparing your baby's meal in record time.
5. ERGONOMICS
- The shape of the bottle: important for a comfortable grip by parents and babies! Ergonomic bottles with curves or angles can be easier for small hands to hold. The Dodie advantage: at Dodie, all our anti-colic bottles have an ergonomic shape to allow for a good grip.
- Capacity : Baby bottles come in different sizes. Smaller bottles (120-150 ml) are perfect for newborns, while larger ones (240-330 ml) are better suited to older babies who consume more breast milk or formula.
In conclusion, choosing the right bottle for your baby depends on a combination of factors, from practicality to feeding comfort, which is determined by the choice of nipple. Take the time to explore the available options and understand your child's specific needs. Rest assured, ultimately, the best choice will always be the one that's right for your baby!
Why choose Dodie anti-colic baby bottles?
Dodie is first and foremost an essential brand in childcare, a French brand with anti-colic bottles manufactured and assembled in France.
By choosing Dodie anti-colic bottles, you are opting for an effective, simple, practical and local solution, offering your baby a unique feeding experience:
- a natural feeding experience thanks to the EXTRA teat ,
- Easy breastfeeding thanks to the flat teat ,
- an adaptable feeding experience thanks to the 3-speed round teat,
Biostime, Inostime and Dodie are brands of H&H Group, a certified B Corp™ company.
*In accordance with current regulations.
**All components of Dodie baby bottles are made from materials that do not contain BPA or BPS.
1. Public Health France: MEMO Introducing solid foods to your child up to 3 years old – mangerbouger.fr [accessed 18/09]
2. Test carried out by IDM Families in October 2014, over 5 days with 20 children aged 0 to 12 months.
3. IDM Families study conducted in 2022 with 60 midwives.
4. Only Dodie plastic baby bottles are made in France, in the Ain region.
