This is a compensated post from BlogHer and Avent
Calling all MOMS:
What kind of bottles do you use?
I came home from the NICU with these little bottles they provided while I was pumping all the time and that is what I have used ever since (only I rarely pump because I rarely leave Harper) so we just don't use bottles.
But the time is coming soon when I may want to use bottles and I want a good kind because Harper does not like bottles and I want her to begin to like it.
I recently got an 11 oz Avent PES bottle and I really like it. I like the size, shape and the fact that it helps reduce colic and goes well with breast feeding. My friends who use Avent highly recommend it and I'm thinking we will be trying these bottles very soon as we transition into solids and adding formula. It also helps that it is BPA free.
What do you look for in a bottle and which kind do you like best? Have you tried Avent and what did you think?
You should also check out the BlogHer review page and check out other reviews AND A chance to win a $500 Visa Gift Card (who couldn't use that????)
You can also go HERE for more information.
68 comments:
I too am breastfeeding and I use dr. browns wide neck bottles which are bpa free. You can't get them many places (i order mine online at babies r us- if you have one then go there we just dont) and if you do make sure they are bpa free bc some are not. my lactation consultant recommended them. http://www.handi-craft.com/products/bottles.htm
cons of them are that they havev 6 pieces but I LOVE them and so does my 4 month old and he is in daycare so he uses them every day and I have never had any problems going from bottle to breast! But i have heard good things about advent too! to each his own right!!! :) good luck hope this helped!
When I was away from my baby, we used Dr. Brown's and loved them.
Hey Kelly, I read your blogs from time to time since you're on my google reader :)
Anyway, I used the Avent bottles with my first little guy. He loved them and they worked great. I was nursing him too but pumped alot so that he would be used to other people feeding him. Then 12months later we had our second boy... he was NOT a fan of bottles and would not take to the Avent bottle. I came across the Dr.Browns bottles and he finally took to it! He's still using them and they are also designed to reduce colic. (both our boys were quite gassy so I was big into the colic reducing bottles) Do note though that they are a bit more pricey than your average bottle, but well worth it! Hope that helps!
haha, I just read the other 2 comments and realize now that they referred to the Dr. Browns bottles too.
I used the narrow nipples since the Avent ones are larger which my son didn't like... but you'd probably want to try both to see which one works best for her.
I've used both the Dr. Browns and Avent, and I like them equally. I honestly didn't think Dr. Browns bottles were as fantastic at keeping air out of my baby's tummy as they claimed to be. But that's just me :) The Avent ones were easy to use and clean, had the different levels of nipples for as they got older, and I love that they're now BPA free.
Just a side note, both of your links in this post are not working :)
Just like the other commenters - my first born used Avent. She took to them easily with no problems.
However, my second born did not like them. After trying every other brand, I tried the Dr. Browns bottles and those are what she takes the best. I did have to buy the premie flow nipples because even the level 1 was too fast for her. She was born 5 weeks early, therefore on the small side and so she just doesn't eat much - whether nursing or from the bottle. The premie flow Dr Browns seems to be the perfect fit for her. I would certainly try the Avent first though to save $ and they have less parts to clean.
Not sure if it makes a difference but my first born was in daycare and the second born is with me all the time. I haven't left her often but am now giving one expressed milk bottle per day just to keep her used to using it.
I use the advent bottles. I tried several other kinds and Lauren just plain refused to take them.
The best bottle is the one your child will take :) Seriously. We tried Advent, Born Free, Ventair, but the only one my daughter would use with ease was Dr. Browns. It also helped reduce her gas.
Dr. Brown was the only one my child would take next to the breast!!!
We tried like 4 different kinds of bottles and my son had very bad acid reflux. The only one that worked for him was the playtex nursers that you put the liner in. We tried all the expensive ones and he liked the cheap one!
I did not breastfeed any of my daughters but did use Avent bottles w/my last child. They worked GREAT! The only complaint I has was how expensive they were. But when it comes to our children we will pay any price to avoid colic/gas, right? :)
My daughter was eclusively BF and she would rarely take a bottle but when she did I used the Avent. She would make up her mind and just wait until I got home which I hardly ever left her. About the only time I left was very short times in between feedings. She literally went from the breast to a sippy cup around 12 months when I forced her to ween and it took about 2 weeks for her to get comfortable with the cup.
I use Dr. Brown bottles and my daughter seems to really do well with them. I am a breast feeding mom as well, so we don't use bottle as much either, but when we do that what I use.
Christie
I breast fed, too; however, I used these when I pumped. I liked them. Ashleigh liked them. :) Overall, I say it is a good bottle.
Hey Kelly! I'm sure you will appreciate this because my favorite bottles are the $0.98 cent Parents Choices bottles from Wal-Mart.
We had registered for the Playtex Vent-Air and Evenflo Comfi and got several at baby showers. But on a diaper cake I got at a shower someone had put several of the "cheap" Wal-Mart bottles (which are BPA-free) and I thought I would never use them because my child had to have the best (= most expensive). But one day I was completely out of clean bottles and tried a Parents Choice as a last resort and I absolutely loved it!
She will eat from anything you give her and has never had gas or colic from any bottle so maybe I am just lucky but she never seems to dribble and lose as much formula with the Parents Choice. The Evenflo Comfi are my second favorite and the Playtex Vent-Airs are my least favorite because there are so many parts and they tend to leak.
Good luck with the transition and I look forward to seeing more precious Harper pictures :)
Like many of your other readers, I too am a breastfeeding mom, but when my daughter does get a bottle, which is not often, I use Dr. Browns and she has never had a problem with it! I never tried any other brands though, so I'm not sure how they are. Dr. Browns can be a bit expensive, but you only really need one or two bottles around. Hope this helps!
With my first son I bottle fed him. He took to the cheap walmart bottles just fine. My 2nd son I strictly breastfed so he never got a bottle. With my (now) 2 month old son I nurse during the day and use Avent bottles at night. He does just fine going back and forth between these bottles and the breast. I have found that both baby and mommy get great sleep with formula feeding in the middle of the night. He only gets up once, maybe twice. Then first thing in the morning I go right back to nursing. It just goes to show that every child is different as I did something different all 3 times (all boys).
the only bottle karoline would take was the breast flow bottle it is by the first years. two nipples fit into each other so it makes it seem closer to breastfeeing. LOVE LOVE IT! switched later to playtex drop ins natural. she transitioned to those pretty well.
Love Love Love Avent bottles!!!!! I have a ton of them!! We started off with them because I never got any milk so I couldn't breastfeed!! Also of course I had already bought the medela freestyle pump (like $375)!!! Which is in the closet not getting any use!!! But I highly recommend Avent to anyone!!! I also heard the Nuby no spill sippie cups are the best!!! I just bought a set of 2 but of course my little man is 4.5 months so it will be like 2 months before he gets to use those!!! Right after I bought them (at target) I was watching Tori (Spelling) and Dean Home Sweet Hollywood and her little boy had a Nuby sippie cup!!!
Dr. Browns. Love them. Don't get Evenflo, the nipples collapse. Hope this helps.
my son used Adiri...very expensive but worth it. It is just like the breast.
http://www.adiri.com/
Dr. Browns.. They work magic! Everyone of my cousins have used it and when I keep them they work great. The little straw in the nipple helps ease gas in the babies. We've had the best luck with Paisley's colic with Dr. Brown's!
I used my Avent bottles on both of my children and they loved them. While Dr. Brown's is great, there are some pieces that are really hard to clean. You can use a typical sponge to hand wash the Avent and they clean so well. You can also put hadles on them as your child gets older to help them learn to hold it and to prepare for using their sippy cup.
My daughter was exclusively BF and used platex nursers wide nipple bottles when I went back to work and had NO issues...I LOVED them! I like the fact that they have the liner so if you are out you can just throw out the liner and rinse the nipple and practically have a clean bottle when all is said and done. I would HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend them. We had a few avent bottles but they leaked and the nipples were not as much like the breast!
Our daughter is adopted so I did not breastfeed, but...we use the Platex nursers with drop-in liners as well. I have not tried the Avent, but...my friends all have and don't really like them. They said they leaked. Just their two cents I guess. I also like that you have liners and can toss them when you're done and rinse out the nipple. Another plus, they have three different flows for the nipples, slow, medium and fast. Our daughter spit A LOT to begin with so, we used the slow ones for a long time before switching to medium. We just switched her to the fast ones a few weeks ago and she's nine months. They also have cute girlie prints. :)
...April :)
I used Avent for both of my sons. My oldest only nursed for 3 months (he was a tough kid and still is!) my youngest nursed for 9 months (he weaned himself). I found Avent bottles easyt to clean and assemble and both of my boys loved them.
Susan
sschnitzler@nycap.rr.com
With my first baby I used Playtex nursers with the disposable liners. I LOVED THEM!! She was exclusively bottle fed because health issues we both had right after I delivered her. My 2nd little girl is almost 4 months old and I use the Avent Tempo. It is the same type bottle as the Playtex in that it has the disposable liners. I really really like the Avent ones better. I don't give her a bottle much since she is exclusively breastfed but she does get expressed breast milk some in the Avent Tempo bottles and they work great for us.
My SIL tried these and since Myla was very rarel fed with a bottle, she just would not have it, so this could be a problem for Harper. I am partial to the Playtex Nursers. Used with my 12-year-old son and now with Aidan. I have not used the Avent
LOVE these bottles! I used them with all of my children and they made it so easy to go from breast to bottle!
I did not try these bottles, but used Vent air and loved them. My son took to them really well and I liked that they had different nipple sizes as well as bottle sizes. They were easy to clean and did not have a lot of parts to them.
I have used Advent since weaning and they are great! We recieved Dr. Brown's as a gift and tried them too...but they were a pain to clean (I kept losing the little brush you need) and I didn't think they made any difference as far as gas is concerned. Cristian has been on Similac Sensitive since weaning and that seemed to make the biggest difference in his gas issues.
I have used avent for 10 years. We are expecting our 5th. When I am not nursing, I will use them with him as well. I have always love the wide mouth and easy cleaning. I have never had a problem with them.
Being in a similar situation as you, I used the hospital "pumping bottles" for a long time!! Eventually I got tired of heating 2-3 up for one feeding. I purchased the Soothie and Avent bottles. My child did not like the Soothie. We used the Avent and loved them. They never leaked and it was easy to get new nipples as he grew older (that are faster) and switch them out.
It was also an easy transition to the cup. Not sure if that has anything to do with changing the nipples along the way, maybe he got adjusted to increased flow.
I breast fed for six months but when I was a work the sitter fed my baby pumped breast milk in these bottles and we loved them. I had friends that told me that these bottle leaked but I did not have that problem. My son never suffered from colic and I attributed it to these bottles.
Hi Kelly! I am a Lactation Consultant who has been recommending Avent bottles for years. I actually talk about them in my Prenatal Breastfeeding Classes. I used them with my youngest son as well. It took him awhile to get the hang of feeding from a bottle. The cool thing about breast babies is that they l-o-v-e being breast babies and will sometimes do without until their mama returns. With that said, there are other babies, like my oldest son, who would feed from any type of bottle and then gladly go back to the breast. Another bottle you can try is Medela's breastmilk bottles. They are great because you can pump directly into them. The most important thing to remember is that you are feeding your baby at the breast for the majority of feedings and there is no air in the breast. A few bottles here and there won't give her colic, as long as you keep breastfeeding. Sorry I'm so long winded... breastfeeding just happens to be my passion! ;>Lastly, a couple of quick points. Avent nipples are laser cut as opposed to puncture cut. Therefore each nipple will have the appropriate flow rate. Avent nipples also have a wide base, so it will rest on Harper's mouth more like the breast. Good luck and feel free to email me with any questions you have. I have followed your blog since we were praying for you and Harper those first few weeks. God's blessings, Sarah :D
Hi Kelly! I LOVE the Avent bottles!! Both of my boys, ages 15 months and 7 years old used them and took to them very well. We never had problems with leaks, cracking of the bottle or any other manufacturing issues. With our oldest we started out using Dr Brown's and he was extremely colic, after being urged to try another bottle we went with the Avent bottles and the rest is history!!! Our second sweet boy never had any problems with colic at all- I tend to think because we went straight to the Avent bottles. The only thing is that our second sweet baby boy would NOT use a Avent passie???? Who knows why but he just would not have it! I will always HIGHLY recommend Avent products!!
I didn't read all the comments, so I don't know if anyone else mentioned having trouble with the Avent bottles leaking. Every single one I had leaked. I had to stand on my head and do tricks to get them to stop leaking. My friend Shelley said she had the same problem.
We used Dr. Brown's mostly...but they began to leak, too, after about 9 months of use. I didn't nurse for very long, so my bottles got a lot of use.
I am a breastfeeding mom too! When I am out or my husband gives a bottle we use the Avent. I have used them for all four of my children and have never had any problems. They are easy to clean and easy to store. They are my top pick!
Andrea
Good Luck! Bottles do not go well in our house. Miss Evie prefers it straight from the tap. She refuses bottles. My pediatrican suggested to go ahead and try a sippy since she is almost 6 months old. We are using the Avent Magic Trainer - it's going okay. I really hope Harper will take a bottle from you or Scott. It will make your life so much easier. I have not been gone for long since she was born because she's on no schedule and refuses bottles. My MIL just called to say that I left my pump at her house. Not sure that I even need it. Keep us posted. I am rooting for Harper to LOVE her bottle so Mama can get a break. Jennifer
Two kiddos with reflux, I used Dr. Browns...couldn't be more pleased....haven't tried Avent.
We had no problems with my first born taking a bottle. I was prepared for the worst and we tried Playtex Drop Ins and he took right to it the first time. The second was a whole different story! I have bought every bottle on the market, wide/narrow all of them! I have a small fortune in bottles and found one problem. Who has anatomy the length of those bottle nipples! Finally we tried Adiri bottles. A shorter nipple and he wasn't gagging. It was still work, but he finally takes to the blue (medium flow) ones now just fine. He is 4.5 months. It has been a lot of work but for the past couple weeks we have been successful and he actually reaches for it. It can be very hard when they just want mommy.
I used Avent bottles with both of my babies, who were breastfed. They've worked great with both!
I used the Dr. Brown's bottles when I first stopped breast feeding. My little girl didn't really take to them. She was very colicky and these bottles seemed to make her gassy. We switched to Avent Airflex and it worked! She took to them instantly and has done great using them. I highly recommend them!
We have used Avent exclusively with our daughter Marlie, who will be 1 on Thursday. I like these bottles because of their shape and the many choices of nipple sizes. Most bottles only have a couple different sizes, the Avent have many, even some to accomodate cereal that has been added. The only downside I have noticed is if I fill it with Nursery water, then put them in the diaper bag, if they dont stay standing up they leak. And I mean eventually all the water comes out! But as far as just being dropped and picked up, they don't. Hope this jumbled message makes sense! HA!
I only used Avent with my oldest. She loved them and I thought they were wonderful. With Claire, we are using Medela bottles. I.Love.These.Bottles. They go so well with my Medela pump and they are interchangeable with my pump parts. Claire won't use anything else.
Not sure why you would be adding formula Kelly - and I would advise against it - so long as you are not having any supply issues, you can go right on giving Harper yummy Mommy milk and skip that nasty formula altogether.
I use Born Free bottles for my son while he is at daycare (I pump for him and he is only on Momma's milk with solids now). The reason I went with the Born Free was primarily them being BPA free and having less parts to wash that the Dr. Brown's bottles. The valve system is great - no air/burping issues and the nipple has never torn, unlike the Playtex bottles I had used for my first son.
I have a little girl who just turned 5 months old, so she is just a few weeks behind Harper. Unfortunately, I had to go back to work and had to get bottles for my sitter to give to her. At first the Avent bottles worked great, but then after about 3 weeks my sitter started to complain about them leaking, every day it was a different bottle. I did some research and found other people had this problem, I wish I had done my research before hand! There were tips on getting the bottles not to leak, but I didn't have time for that on top of working, cooking, cleaning, taking care of baby, oh and sleeping!
I ended up buying Born Free. I have really liked them and I understand they don't have as many parts as Dr. Browns. She also seems to not drink as fast, as she did with the Avent bottles. She is breastfed and didn't seem to have an issue with the nipples.
i tried the avent w/ my first child when i couldn't nurse and hated them. :( they just didn't work for us. they leaked (not sure why, i know how to put a lid on) and my child seemed extremely fussy after his bottle. with my second child i used the playtex drop-in bottles and they worked great!
Love the Avent bottles! Used them with my formula fed son who is now 5.5 years and never had a single issue, he was a great eater. Our second son is 6 weeks old and is even using his brother's bottles. The are durable and foolproof, easy to clean and no gas in the little tummy! I like the wide mouths (easy to clean) and consistent flow from the various sizes of nipples.
Jennifer
I use the Avent bottles and my only complaint is that they leak. I have friends that have had the same problem. One of them actually contacted the company and they told her that you shouldn't tighten the ring too tight, so we tried that and it didn't work...they still leak. I have noticed that the BPA free ones tend to leak more.
I used Avent with our first child. He started out breastfed but had to be bottle fed when I returned to work. When he was tiny the only problem we had was that he would practically drown from the milk flow... I guess it was too big of a difference from the breast. Later he did fine, then I found out about the BPA issues (this was before they offered a BPA free version) and so I packed them away and went to the Playtex Nurser (I still have a cabinet full of the old Avent bottles). What I liked about Avent was that they grow with your baby (ie- adding the handles, switching to the trainer, etc.). I felt like it was a wise purchase since many of the pieces could be used with each different phase. And for whatever reason we never had issues with them leaking, although I know that has always been a complaint. Good luck!
I have always LOVED Avent bottles. They have the same benefits as Dr. Browns without all the little parts to have to clean after each use. I love the size as well. The handheld pump that Avent has is FANTASTIC as well. I still use the one I got 5 years ago. It's a great travel pump.
I used Avent bottles with my little girl ). She has had no problem with them.
We did have trouble with the Avent bottles leaking, but found online the secret of putting the nipple onto the ring & then sealing with water. Just align 2 valves on the nipple with 2 of the notches on the ring while wet. Run finger under water & around top of bottle then attach ring--forms a seal. After doing this, we haven't had any leakers!
These bottles were an absolute lifesaver to us when our 9 year old son was a baby. He had the worse case of colic and reflux than I have ever seen. These bottles did absolutely help with this issue. I also like the fact that they grew with him, the initial investment was high but then we used them for ever bit of 3 to 4 years. We never had an issue with them leaking
We used Avent bottles with our oldest child. She liked them fine, but we found that they leaked easily. Several other friends had this same problem (this was 5 yrs ago and they may be better now.) We used Playtex with my second child and thought they worked great, but were hard to get clean. This time we are using the Playtex bottles with disposible liners and LOVE them. They never leak, are super easy to clean and are great for breastfeeding moms.
I tried the Avent bottles with my kids and I found that they were good. The cost was a bit much and they often leaked though.
I have a little girl that just turned a year old and is now off bottles. I only used formula fed and used avent bottles the entire time. I love them. They never leaked and they were easy for her to learn to hold on to. You said that you were using the 11 oz bottle and if I were you (don't you love it when people give you advice LOL) I would switch to the the 9 oz because it is smaller and you will never feed Harper 11 oz of anything. Just a thought.
I'm in your shoes exactly, in that, I am also breastfeeding my daughter, and hardly ever leave her and so she is about 90-95% a breast baby. But when I must leave her, I have only ever used Avent. It's the bottle I used to begin with and since it worked so well for us and she and I both liked it (her obviously more than I do- ha!), we never tried anything else. I love it! Glad you agree! :)
Hey there! I know we're a little late posting this comment but I figured every little bit helps right? I had initially registered for only the AVENT bottle but under the recommendation of my sister-in-law added the Dr. Brown's bottles too. I wasn't planning on using them much but I knew Marley would have to start taking a bottle once I went back to work. Anyhow, the nursing didn't work out as well as we had hoped and we ended up using bottles more and more frequently. We tried both to see which she took to better and without a doubt she preferred the AVENT. She is now strictly bottle and formula fed due to allergies but I've got AVENT bottles in all sizes including the TEMPO with the disposable liners that we use when traveling...it's so much easier than bringing along every bottle we own. Marley also LOVES the AVENT pacifiers. They are my brand for Little Miss! Hope that helps...
I loved the Avent bottles. We used them with both of our children. My oldest daughter was not so thrilled - she ONLY wanted the real thing and would accept nothing other.
After she was weaned from breastfeeding at 16 months we used the Avent bottles and sippies with her.
My son he could care less if he had Avent or the real thing. As long as there was fluid coming out...Therefore, our stash of bottles was used much more than w/our daughter.
After trying 7 different kinds and all the different kinds of nipples (my son had colic and reflux until 6 months of age)....he preferred the NUK. I really like them because they also match the NUK pacifiers. As a speech therapist I liked the fact that they seemed to fit in the mouth well and naturally and do not look like they will affect his dentition. I am hoping the natural progression off the bottle with equal no paci as well!
I like a bottle that is the right shape & size.
Don't need to struggle to hold onto it.
I had used Johnson & Johnson.
Now with all of the positive things I'm hearing about avent, wish I would have used them.
I used Avent with my first born and he was fine with them, I was not. It didn't matter how I adjusted the nipple inside the ring, they leaked like crazy. (He would not BF.) My 2nd nursed until he was 10 months, but when I pumped, I used the Playtex nursers. Loved them! Easy to keep clean and no hassle!
Hey girl! We use Dr. Browns. Ive never tried Avent though. However, when Lauren was a baby baby, I had to supplement her feedings with formula and Dr. Browns was highly recommend. She is now on formula only and these bottles are still great.
I hate avent bottles and the company!!!! I have purchased 8 bottles they all leak, I called and they gave me several suggestions and tips which seemed to work for about a week. it shouldn't be rocket science to pop in a nipple and screw on the ring to the bottle...Sounds Simple...should be simple...especially for the money you pay. So I've had to go out and get all new bottles and avent won't even refund not to mention the bitch of a customer sevice representative did her company no justice for the way I was treated.
I went from breastfeeding to bottles and the only ones that my son did well with were dr browns. They are bpa free and they have this venting system in them to make it where the baby gets NO AIR they are wonderful and I will def use them with my next one.
http://allthehardins.blogspot.com/2009/12/more.html
heres my blog post
http://twitter.com/ehardin
Twitter too!
Post a Comment