What is the perfect bottle for a breastfed baby?

by Wendy Haldeman,  MN, RN, IBCLC & Co-Founder of The Pump Station & Nurtury®

It is general recommendation of many lactation consultants that breastfed babies begin receiving a bottle of breast milk at around 3 weeks of age. Offering a bottle too early may create problems with breast refusal. Waiting to long could result in a baby completely refusing to feed from any bottle. Once a bottle has been introduced the recommendation is to offer at least 2 bottles of expressed breast milk per week but not more than one per day until the mother returns to the work place.

What is the perfect bottle for a breastfed baby? Any new parent who has explored the wide selection of baby bottles is undoubtedly confused and overwhelmed. The choices appear endless.  Nipples come in many different sizes and shapes. Should the bottle be plastic or glass? Does the angle of the bottle make a difference? What flow rate is best for the baby? Are all bottles fundamentally the same?

From a lactation consultant’s point of view, the biggest challenge in helping the breastfed baby to transition easily between the breast and the bottle is the rate of milk flow through the nipple. All bottle manufactures produce “slow flow, or newborn, or level one” nipples. The problem is that the actual flow rate between all these nipples can be quite different. Why is a slow flow so important? According to the research conducted at the University of California Davis, while bottle-feeding; infants tend to overfeed by as much as 25%. A truly slow flowing nipple will allow the baby a more leisurely feed, giving the stomach time to communicate with the brain that the baby is becoming satiated.

A favorite bottle among the lactation consultants at The Pump Station & Nurtury® is the LATCH bottle by Munchkin. This newborn nipple is actually one of the slowest flow nipples we have found. We also appreciate the soft, wide nipple shape which can “feel” more like a breast in a baby’s mouth. The Munchkin Company designed a unique according-like base to the nipple which allows the nipple to move and stretch within an infant’s mouth. An anti-colic valve at the bottom of the bottle prevents air from traveling through the milk. Lastly, this bottle system is easy to clean, as there are only 3 parts to take apart and clean.

Munchkin sought out the expertise of lactation consultants and occupational therapist to aid in the development of this unique bottle. Babies are easily able to transition from breast to bottle and back. With its wide, soft nipple that is truly a slow flow; the LATCH bottle is an excellent choice for the breastfed baby. 

See how it works here...

Disclaimer: Munchkin is a paid sponsor for The Pump Station & Nurtury® September Campaign 2015. Always consult with your medical provider regarding any personal health questions or decisions (including nutrition, diet, and exercise).

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What every dad-to-be needs to know and no one ever talks about.

by Jill Campbell, Psy.D. Photo Credit: Jenny Quicksall Photography Why didn’t anybody tell us this before our baby was born? This is the most common complaint that we hear from new parents! When couples are expecting a baby, they spend plenty of time researching doctors, taking childbirth preparation and baby care classes, and getting their home ready for their new arrival. All those things are certainly important, but what is even more important is that both partners have realistic expectations about pregnancy, the day of baby’s birth, and what life is going to be like once baby arrives. Having a plan and preparing yourself for the challenges ahead can make a big difference in how you feel about and handle things later on. New dads are just as vulnerable as new moms when it comes to navigating the life changes that a baby will bring. In some ways, we believe that men in particular can be at a disadvantage, because women are more likely than men to reach out for support after baby arrives. There are so many things that will need to be renegotiated in your relationship with your partner after the arrival of a baby. For example, many couples of newborns find that as domestic duties double, so do fighting over them. Couples often start keeping score over who did what chore last, and who has been contributing more than the other. Most likely both partners are sleep deprived and feeling like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. Research shows that women tend to think that if they point out what needs to be taken care of, their partner will volunteer to do it. But men often respond much better to direct requests. This different way of communicating can increase dissatisfaction in one another and lead to distancing and arguing in the relationship. People rarely talk about the fact that couples’ satisfaction in their marriage drops after their first child is born and studies support the fact that the risk of depression rises in new fathers that do not feel close to their spouse during this time period. We wholehearted believe that if we can begin to discuss and explore ahead of time what your expectations and needs will be after your baby is born, we will help you make that big adjustment to parenthood go a lot smoother. "Just for Expectant Dads," is a new workshop designed by a licensed clinical psychologist and a certified doula and childbirth educator to do just that. It is also a great way to meet other dads-to-be and start building your community now. Pre-Natal Just for Expectant Dads Class - Now enrolling. 6-9pm in Santa Monica Click here to enroll! About Dr. Jill Campbell Dr. Jill Campbell is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience specializing in early child development, parenting and women’s issues. She received her B.S. from Boston University, her M.A. from New York University, and her Psy.D. from Ryokan College. As an intern at The Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, Jill worked in their therapeutic nursery school with special-needs preschoolers. Dr. Campbell completed her post-doctoral training at Cedars Sinai Early Childhood Center in Los Angeles where she worked with parents of infants and toddlers. Jill has worked in private practice and for a group pediatric practice in Encino. In addition, she has been a guest speaker on different parenting topics for preschools and parenting events in the Los Angeles area. Jill has worked on body image and self-esteem issues for girls in schools in Los Angeles, and spent many years as a group facilitator for New Directions Eating Disorder Center in Sherman Oaks. Currently Dr. Campbell is the staff psychologist at The Pump Station and Nurtury®. She provides a variety of services to mothers and their families including psychotherapy sessions, parenting consultations, and classes.