Are AVENT bottles really so bad?

[Holymoly321]

Hi all. I've been using AVENT bottles for my DS for weeks now (he's 10 weeks old). Have been getting on with them fine, but having seen some of the threads here, I'm beginning to wonder if I should be using Dr Brown's or BFree bottles. DS has been having a little cry (very brief) after some feeds recently and I'm wondering if wind is the problem. This is a very new thing - previously he would never cry after a feed. He brings up wind normally after every feed with not too much fuss. I had always thought that Avent bottles were supposed to be very good for preventing colic, but now I'm beginning to wonder. Also, the other thing is is that we have the avent microwave steriliser along with all the bottles, teats etc - could be expensive to replace the whole lot, but would do it if people thought it was worth it - after all, nothing is too much trouble when it comes to giving him the best as I can't breastfeed him.

it's OK, don't start second guessing yourself

If they are working for you, just stick with it. Very few babes avoid wind and colic altogether, however they are fed. We experiemented with about a billion bottles (dd didn't like moving off breast and I went back to work), I'd have been happy as larry to have as easy a situation as you've described.

I use the Avent bottles and steam steriliser. My daughter is five months now, but she did suffer from wind at the age you describe.

I think the Avent bottles aren't brilliant for cutting down on wind, but having said that, we bought the Tommee Tippee bottles when she was about 9 weeks old (same principle as Dr Brown's) and she wouldn't take them, because the teats were different. At £20 for four bottles, it was an expensive mistake.

The only thing that really helped was gripe water. It's about £2.50 a bottle so you've nothing to lose.

My main problem with Avent bottles is that they leak. However, I find unscrewing the cap and putting it back together usually solves this.

i used avent bottles and had no problems at all with wind.

I think it depends on the baby though.My dd had wind problems no matter what bottle,my ds used avent with no problems.

Sorry not much help really.

avent bottles are brilliant, they are easy to clean - help prevent colic and easy for babies to learn to hold themselves when they are a little older.

imho dr brown bottles are a total faff, really expensive and hit and miss on colic reduction.

don't worry!

How do AVENT bottles reduce colic?

None of my 3 ever had a problem with avent bottles at all. A friend had a very colicky baby and switched but I've always found Avent ones OK. If you are having no problems then just carry one - a bit of wind after a feed is perfectly normal I think!

Colic and bottles.... hmmmm... how do you explain colic in breastfed babies ?
Colic :
The cause of colic isn't known. In the past it was thought to be related to the digestive system. However, although painful abdominal gas may contribute to colic, there is little evidence to prove it's due to gastrointestinal problems.

Another possible cause of colic is a combination of the baby's temperament and an immature nervous system. The baby's temperament may make him or her highly sensitive to the environment, and he or she may react to normal stimulation or changes to the environment by crying. Because the baby's nervous system is immature, he or she is unable to regulate crying once it starts.

I LOVE Avent bottles and personally i wouldnt change them!

In fact id have every intention of using them (and only them) on my own!

I don't think any bottles can prevent colic or wind personally. However, I used Avent and thought they were fine. Don't do the bottles up too tightly; this can add to the wind factor.

the wide neck and teat is supposed to help to reduce "colic"/wind, apparently. however that's just what the manufacturers say. so i guess i shouldn't have repeated it. sorry - i was eager to reassure. those of my friends who had colicky babies didn't find the dr brown bottles made any difference. but it doesn't sound like your ds has colic anyway.

i have just switched from Avent and Boots bottles to Dr Browns/ B-Free's (Rebecca is almost 6 weeks) and the difference is amazing.

I would say though it doesnt sound as if your DS has too much of a problem as crying after a feed for a brief period doesnt send alarm bells ringing.... when we were getting crying sessions of up to an hour a time 3/4 times a day we knew we had a problem. Gripe water and Infacol did nothing so a friend lent me a few Dr Browns to try - the difference in 24 hrs was fantastic. She is feeding so much better and not retaining her wind half as much.... the wind she does have is coming up almost instantly.

HTH

Just a thought - does he need a bigger size teat?

thanks to you all - it sounds as though I shouldn't be worrying really - jessicaandrebeccasmummy, that crying sounds like it was a nightmare - so glad that you managed to sort it out. I've had a look at the Bfree webpage and the bottles do look like they could be a bit of a faff - think I'll stay with the AVent ones for the timebeing. As you all say, if DS had a real problem I would probably know it! We have tried Gripe water everynow and then and also have used infacol - but I don't really want to get baby hooked on having to have infacol before every feed. He seems to bring up a couple of big burps within five mins of finishing a feed, and if he doesn't, then takinghim for a walk with him bouncing in my arms always seems to do the trick. From what people are saying, this is pretty normal.

I'd agree, smiling... if they're working for you, forget about anything else ! If you're baby is fine on them, and you're not going mad with the crying / winding, RELAX !

BTW, you can have my Avent ones for free if you're ever in N. London, LOL.

Just to say aswell if there's no problem really, dont make one for yourself. I breastfed my ds for 5 months no bottles and he had colic cos he used to suckle so fast so its not just bottles and i used avent bottles after that, no probs. Sometimes i think all the fancy bottles etc are a marketing gimmick to play on us mums who only want to do the best for their baby. In my experience i sometimes found that cheaper is better!

dont listen to anyone who blames colic on bottle feeding, my nephew suffered terribly and hes breastfed. i used avent bottles and think theyre great, i think most babies suffer from wind at times, dont we? just try a bit of gripe water if too bad.

I tried bog standard bottles and DS (10wks) had terrible wind. Switched to Avent as they were a cheaper option than Dr browns and we haven't looked back, he has the occassional bad day but nothing compared to what he was like before. Agree gripe water is a god send.