A feeder bottle is one of the most reliable baby feeding accessories that serve as an alternative to breastfeeding. Most new parents who cannot breastfeed their babies due to some reasons use baby feeder bottles.
Feeder bottles are of different types ranging from glass, plastic to disposable baby bottles. The different feeder bottle types have varying prices. Depending on the amount of money you have, you can choose the kind that will match your baby’s requirements. In this article, we are going to discuss the three types of feeder bottles, their advantages and disadvantages, and the benefits of bottle feeding.
Parts of a Feeder Bottle
Generally, a feeder bottle consists of a few parts namely a teat (nipple), bottle, collar, and a bottle cap. The teat is a rubber-like part that a baby puts in the mouth to suck milk in the bottle. Milk flows to a baby’s mouth through a small opening present in the teat.
The collar has a screw-like lining that tightens the teat against the bottle to prevent milk or formula spills. However, there are some special feeder bottles that are vented. With that feature, your baby can suck milk from the container without breaks like in other bottles.
Types of Feeder Bottles
Depending on the material of the container, there are three kinds of baby bottles. Such feeder bottles include;
- Glass feeder bottles
- Plastic feeder bottles
- Disposable feeder bottles
Now, we are going to look at each of the feeder bottles in detail. Note that each type has its advantages and disadvantages.
Glass Feeder Bottles
As the name suggests, this type of bottle consists of glass. Glass baby bottles are one of the best feeder bottles because they are durable. In many cases, new parents prefer glass baby bottles to other types due to their advantages. Here are some of the advantages of glass feeder bottles that will make you enjoy feeding your baby.
Pros of Glass Feeder Bottles
- No Chemicals: Unlike in some plastic feeder bottles, glass bottles have no harmful chemicals that may put your baby’s health in danger.
- Thermo-Stable: Glass feeder bottles are highly stable at high temperatures. They can be sterilized in boiling water without any damage.
- Long-lasting: Compared to other feeder bottles, glass feeder bottles can be more durable when you take good care of them.
- Environmentally Friendly: Plastic bottles wear out quickly and are disposed of in the environment, therefore, causing pollution. Glass feeder bottles, however, are durable and there is no need to buy new ones and throw old ones frequently.
- No Stains: Glass feeder bottles do not stain easily like plastic feeder bottles. You will not spend a lot of time removing the remains of milk fat from the container.
Cons of Glass Feeder Bottles
- Highly Fragile: Glass feeder bottles are very fragile and can easily break into pieces when dropped on the floor.
- Heavy Weight: Glass feeder bottles are typically more substantial than their counterparts making it hard for babies to carry them for long.
- Costly: Generally, feeder bottles made of glass are more expensive than plastic feeder bottles.
Plastic Feeder Bottles
Plastic feeder bottles have been in use for a long time. Due to the chemicals that are added to them during manufacturing, there have been many health concerns regarding their use.
Latest reports showed that some plastic feeder bottles contain bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that is said to cause cancer in babies. However, most modern plastic feeder bottles lack these harmful chemicals.
Pros of Plastic Feeder Bottles
- Lightweight: Plastic feeder bottles are generally lighter than glass bottles. Due to their lightweight, babies can hold them for long without getting tired.
- Unbreakable: Unlike in glass bottles, plastic feeder bottles cannot easily break when they fall on a hard floor.
- Strong: Plastic feeder bottles are sturdy. They are not fragile like glass feeder bottles.
- Affordable: Most parents can afford plastic feeder bottles because they are cheaper than glass bottles.
Cons of Plastic Feeder Bottles
- Wears Out Quickly: Plastic feeder bottles cannot last for long as glass bottles because they wear out quickly when washed and scrubbed regularly.
- May Have Harmful Chemicals: Plastic feeder bottles, especially the old ones, may have traces of harmful chemicals like BPA.
- Cannot Sterilize through Boiling: Plastic feeder bottles cannot be sterilized in hot boiling water like glass bottles.
Disposable Feeder Bottles
The disposable feeder bottles are plastic but have a sterilized liner that can be replaced during each feeding.
Pros of Disposable Feeder Bottles
- No Chemicals: Modern disposable feeder bottles are free of chemicals such as BPA. They are safe for your baby’s health because the FDA approves them.
- Can Be Cleaned Easily: Unlike in plastic feeder bottles, cleaning disposable feeder bottles is entirely more comfortable.
- Lightweight: Disposable feeder bottles are lighter than glass feeder bottles, and you can carry them easily in your baby’s pack bag.
Cons of Disposable Feeder Bottles
- Very Expensive: Disposable feeder bottles are more costly than other types of feeder bottles. The replaceable liners are also expensive.
- Not Environment-Friendly: The disposable liners may pose a danger to the environment without proper disposal
- Regular Purchase of Liners: The disposable feeder bottles require a frequent purchase of replaceable liners.
Five Benefits of Bottle Feeding
- Good for Feeding in Public
Most mothers find it difficult to breastfeed their babies in public. To minimize public embarrassment, most women bottle-feed their babies.
- Less Feeding Times
Bottle-feeding requires fewer feeding times. With formula, you can feed your baby after every three to four hours. With breastfeeding, you may have to feed the baby after every two to three hours.
- Accurate Feeding
Through bottle feeding, you can estimate the amount of milk or formula that your baby consumes. With breastfeeding, it is not easy to know the volume of milk your baby would have consumed at the end of the day.
- Reduced Breast Pain
Breastfeeding may come along with pain resulting from cracked nipples and baby bites. But with bottle feeding, a mother does not have to suffer from such pains.
- You can Get Help From Family Members
With bottle feeding, you don’t have to do it alone. Instead, you can ask your family members or husband to assist you in feeding the baby.
Final Word
A feeder bottle can help you sustain your baby’s nutritional requirements, especially when you have limited breast milk. Bottle feeding is a convenient way of getting your baby fed up. To maintain your baby’s health, you should clean the bottles after every feeding.
Related Links:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haberman_Feeder /By Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_bottle /By Wikipedia
- https://www.wikihow.com/Bottle-Feed-a-Newborn /By Wikihow
- https://www.wikihow.com/Bottle-Feed-Calves /By Wikihow