Best Bottles For The Best Latch

Best Bottles for the Best Latch: We Did the Research for You

Finding the best bottle for your baby can be stressful.  There is so much information out there.  What do you look for?  Look no further! One of the key factors in ensuring a successful feeding session is achieving a proper latch, and selecting the best bottle can play a significant role. Let's explore the world of nipples specifically designed to promote an optimal latch, giving you all the knowledge you need to make an informed decision for your little one.

Understanding the Importance of Bottle Selection

The nipple on a baby bottle is more than just a simple piece of silicone or rubber; it holds immense significance in replicating the natural human feeding experience. A strong latch is crucial for efficient feeding, preventing discomfort for both baby and parent. To support the transition between nursing and bottle feeding, it is important to choose a nipple that closely resembles the breast. When selecting a nipple, look for certain key features. The shape and texture of the nipple should mimic the shape of the areola and nipple, with a broad base and gradual slope. Opt for a soft, pliable texture that feels familiar to your baby's mouth. It is also beneficial to choose a nipple that offers different flow rates to accommodate your baby's developmental stage. Newborns require a slower flow, while older babies may benefit from a faster flow to regulate feeding. Lastly, consider selecting nipples that allow your baby to control the flow by applying gentle pressure with their mouth, as this mimics the natural suckling motion during a nursing session.

Nipple Design

Finding a nipple that has a gradual flare to the base is the closest to the positioning of the nipple and areola into the baby's mouth. This allows the infant to use the same muscles and sucking motion more closely as on the areola. This nipple shape provides for a deep latch, which will lessen the amount of air the baby swallows.

Why does the nipple shape matter?

The shape of the nipple will dictate the position of the tongue and mouth to get a latch on the bottle.

Mimicking Nursing: 

For nursing babies, a bottle nipple that closely resembles the shape and feel of nursing can help reduce nipple confusion due to differing tongue positioning and sucking motion to make it easier for the baby to transition between breast and bottle. This is especially important for families who are combining nursing with bottle-feeding.

Latching and Sucking: 

The shape of the nipple can influence how a baby latches onto it. A nipple that gradually flares out from top to bottom encourages a baby to take a deeper latch, which can help prevent issues like nipple collapse, inefficient feeding, excess air intake, and discomfort. 

Oral Development: 

Babies' mouths and jaw structures are designed to work with a particular nipple shape. A nipple that supports proper oral development can help strengthen the baby's oral muscles and promote healthy jaw and palate development.

Flow Control: 

The shape of the nipple can affect the flow of milk or formula. Different nipples are designed for different flow rates (slow, medium, fast), and depending on the nipple's shape allows the baby to control the flow rate of the nipple, similar to nursing. This ensures that the baby doesn't get overwhelmed by a too-fast flow or become frustrated by a too-slow flow.

Why is a deep latch needed?

Minimizes Air Intake:

A deep latch ensures the baby takes in less air while feeding. When babies latch shallowly, they are more likely to suck in air along with the milk, which can lead to discomfort, gas, and reflux.

Prevents Nipple Collapse:

A deep latch can help prevent the bottle nipple from collapsing while the baby feeds. When a baby latches shallowly, they may not have a firm seal around the bottle nipple, causing it to collapse and disrupt the milk flow.

Promotes Efficient Feeding:

A deep latch allows the baby to create a better seal around the bottle nipple, making it easier for them to control the milk flow. This, along with paced bottle feeding, helps the baby feed more efficiently and minimizes the risk of overfeeding or underfeeding. 

Reduces Discomfort: 

A shallow latch causes the baby to use a different sucking motion. This can cause the nipple to rub against the baby's hard palate or cause discomfort from improper placement of the nipple in the baby's mouth. A deep latch can reduce these issues and allow the baby to suck in a more natural pattern. 

Don't have that best bottle for a deep latch?

Don't worry! We have you covered! We have some ideal nipple shapes that are interchangeable with many popular bottle systems to make your baby the best bottle.

Some advantages to replacing just nipples on your existing bottle system to make the best bottle system:

Cost-Saving:
Instead of purchasing new bottles, you can swap the nipple to meet your baby's needs.

Environmentally-Friendly:
By reusing bottles and only replacing the nipple, you're actively contributing to a decrease in plastic waste.

Customization:
Swapping out nipples with different flow rates allows you to personalize the feeding experience for your baby's age and preferences.

Compatibility:
These nipples are designed to fit popular bottle brands, allowing you to choose without sacrificing quality.

When finding the best bottle for a deep latch, options that cater to your baby's needs and environmental concerns are available. Swappable nipples provide an innovative solution that meets all requirements - a comfortable latch, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness. By selecting a nipple that closely mimics nursing and considering factors such as shape, texture, and flow rate, you can ensure that feeding time is a pleasant bonding experience for you and your baby.

BONUS: Pacifiers

Nipple shape determines what muscles a baby uses to suckle. Wider bases and a narrow top more closely replicate an areola in the baby's mouth. The positioning of the tongue and broad base for a deeper latch encourages a more natural suck pattern.

While babies can latch to other shapes, they position the tongue differently and do not as closely replicate the feel or size of an areola in the baby's mouth. This pacifier will cause a different suck pattern than nursing.  Want to learn more? See our BLOG section for more topics. You can purchase a more in-depth Guide to Bottle Feeding HERE.