Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Complete Feeding Kit

[CrabbyPatty]

My 'plan' (and I understand the expectation versus reality aspect to this) in an ideal world is to breast feed in the initial few weeks and then feed a combination of breast and expressed milk to bottle. I have read reviews and think the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature bottles would be best. Given money is tight is it best to get the Complete Feeding Kit or just individual bottles and a different brand of steriliser. I notice there 8 bottles in the kit in total - would I really need this many? It also comes with 6 milk powder dispensers - don't event know what they are for and presumably wont need them IF we manage with just breast milk. The complete feeding kit is currently on sale with Mothercare at £64.99 and I've also seen it on Amazon for less. Please let me know your thoughts and any other advice?

You say money is tight and you're not intending to bottle-feed from birth, so on that basis I wouldn't shell out for a set. Maybe just get a couple of bottles/teats (sometimes babies are tricky about what sort of bottles/teats they'll accept). Sterilising can be done in a big Tupperware with Milton tablets - no need to buy an actual steriliser.

Hi. I'm in a similar position and plan to breast then combi feed within a few weeks with mainly expressed milk. I bought the tommy tippee set you mentioned and also a Tommy tippee manual breast pump that came with yet another bottle! We got them both in the mothercare sale and at an expectant penning event so we also had a voucher for 10% off. Maybe see if you have an event coming up near you.

I haven't used them yet as baby not arrived yet! But the steriliser does look really easy to use, and I am hoping will just be hassle free!

Good luck with your new arrival!

Do not buy a set of bottles especially if money is tight and also if you plan on breast feeding.

I've got stuff off other people and 90% of the bottles given to me - all different brands - were never used as the babies were breast fed even though their mothers sometimes expressed. Also if you decide to go to a baby and toddler show (though only go if you can get free/very cheap tickets) you can get some bottles free. I mix feed including giving expressed milk and my baby only likes some of the bottles which has nothing to do with the price.

In regards to sterilisers if it you wish to use a microwave steriliser check the internal dimensions of your microwave. Some microwave sterilisers are still sized for the large microwaves that were sold over a decade ago and are too big for modern microwaves under 23 litres.

Don’t get it. If breastfeeding works out you’ve wasted your money, if you combi feed then you won’t need a complete set so you would have wasted some of your money. Even if you end up bottle feeding completely then your baby might not get on with those bottles, far better to get them 2 at a time and try them out first in case they’re no good.

But if you do want recommendations, I love Mam Anti-Colic, cost wise they’re brilliant too as you don’t need to buy a steriliser providing you already own a microwave as they self sterilise!

Thanks ladies. Very helpful. I won't be getting the set. I have some time to have a further think as I'm only 21 weeks, but just saw the offer and it made me wonder.

I planned on breastfeeding and got the tommee tippee manual breast pump, which was about £13. It came with a small bottle and teat, and a box that could be used as a microwave steriliser. I’d recommend that- no need to buy 8 bottles if you don’t end up needing them, plus some babies don’t get on with certain brands. However, I liked having a bottle and carton of formula in the house for the first few weeks- just in case!

Yeah I got the TT starter set and found it a complete waste of money. DD had no interest in taking the bottles. I'd also recommend the Mam anti colic ones if you're planning to mainly breastfeed, we had much more luck with them and no need for a separate steriliser as you just do them individually in the microwave.

Re: steriliser... if you are feeding only breast milk from bottles then they don't need to be sterilised - cleaning in hot soapy water (or top rack of dishwasher) is sufficient. Although they need sterilisation before first use, but boiling in a pan will do the job there. I wouldn't shell out for a steriliser / equipment unless you use formula milk.