Bottle recommendations

[Clemmie83]

Looking for bottle recommendations - I was leaning towards MAM bottles so I could sterilise in microwave and not need a steriliser however having watched a video on this I'm not sure if it's more of a faff? Also from having a look all of the MAM bottles appear to have pictures on them and seem a bit twee? 🤷🏻‍♀️ Do they not do plain ones?

I'm now wondering if Tommee Tippee bottles with a steriliser might be a better option?

Any thoughts/experiences/recommendations appreciated! x

[MaryShelley1818]

Another vote for Mam bottles!!! You will find how they look a lot less important than your baby's comfort when they have colic/reflux.

[Clemmie83]

Thanks all, this has been really useful!

How many bottles do you think is good to buy to start off with if exclusively bottle feeding?

[Caspianberg]

We have the nuk glass ones for the odd formula bottle given here. They are nice. Glass, clear with no pictures on. The seem a much higher quality than plastic. We sterilise simply in boiling water on the stove.

[whatswithtodaytoday]

We used MAM bottles because of colic and reflux. I wouldn't buy the pink/blue ones either, so annoying! But the grey ones didn't bother me, in fact I became quite fond of the picture 😁 The microwave sterilising is really handy, no need to take anything with you to a friend's house (if we're allowed while you're still giving bottles!) and I really hate the smell of Milton so I was happy not to have that hanging around. (We did cold water sterilising at first because I wasn't expecting to bottle feed so used what the hospital gave us.) We can fit four bottles in our microwave, so 6 minutes.

You can also sterilise MAM dummies in the microwave, and babies often prefer to have the same teat so if you use dummies they might have to be the same brand as your bottles. Again they have pictures but I just looked for unisex ones.

We still use the PP for his one bottle a day, it's so, so handy. Do make sure you clean and sterilise it regularly though as there have been some issues with them going mouldy, but it seems to have been due to people not using the branded filters or not cleaning.

[TinySleepThief]

Im sure in the literature it was officially 48 hours. However if you ensure the top stays on then I wouldn't be adverse the using them after that. Although with a newborn you'll probably get through them all in less than 24 hours no matter how many you steralise

[Clemmie83]

Sorry, another silly question I've just thought of...once they're sterilised are they then good until to use them or do they only remain ok for so long? 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Clemmie83]

@TinySleepThief that's good to know, thanks!

[TinySleepThief]

*8 minutes

[Clemmie83]

@excitednerves Completely the same, would only consider the grey or white ones as passable! 🤣
Good to know you can sterilise more than one at a time.

[TinySleepThief]

Yes you can steralise up to 6 bottles at a time. An indvidual bottle should be steralised for 3 minutes and then the guidelines say add 1 extra minute for esxh additional bottle. So 2 bottles is 4 minutes and to steralise 6 at once you set the timer for minutes.

[excitednerves]

I use MAM and I was really picky about which colours/pictures were acceptable ha ha! I use only grey or white ones. My baby loved them and I found them fine to wash and sterilise but I do save them up and do one batch at the end of the day. My baby was combi fed so only had 3 or 4 bottles in a day and now we’re down to 2.

@Clemmie83 I do 3 or 4 at a time in the microwave. I do an extra 10 seconds when I’m doing more than one, just to be sure.

[Clemmie83]

Does anyone know if you can sterilise more than one MAM bottle a time in the microwave?

[Indigogirl88]

My sil swears by Dr Browns but I've bought Mams on reading reviews mainly for the similarity to breastfeeding rather than the sterilising aspect

[BarbieandKenBruce]

Can I just add NUK. My baby was a bottle refuser so tried about 8 different brands so can compare! Including TT and Mam. He took 10mls from the NUK bottle which is the most he ever did (he was stubborn). But I liked the soft teat and they do plain bottles, mine was glass actually. Mam was probably second favourite. Cold water steriliser I found more useful than a (separate) microwave one as you just throw stuff in and after 15 mins it's ok for 24 hours then you can use it for all pumping and weaning stuff in too. Microwave one once you microwave it and leave it to stand and open it the stuff doesn't stay sterile.
It means you can have a few bottles in rotation throughout the day then just refresh it every 24 hours.

[EssElsiee]

I’ve bought TT, and interestingly I’d say 75% of parents at the nursery I work at use them for their children I guess that’s why I will use TT! I got a good deal on sterilizer, bottles, bottle bags etc altogether. When I visit family I’ll always just make sure I have sterilizing bags with me, so I can use their microwave. They aren’t expensive xx

[FizzingWhizzbee123]

MAM are great. We’ll be using them again Anthony DS2.

My friend used Dr Brown and they just leaked constantly.

[LunaLoveFood]

We used Dr Brown's bottles which were fab along with the microwave steriliser. We bought the starter pack from John Lewis which was actually the cheapest place you could get it at the time. The bottles were great as long as you remembered to stir and nor shake.

[glasshalfsomething]

As many above posters have said, MAM are really easy to use, very often preferred by the babies and are I’ve never had them leak.

If you’re really put off by the pictures (which will seem less important at the 4am feed) you could possibly scratch it off?

[YouBoggleMyMind]

Started off with TT and quickly moved to MAM for the anti colic side of things but not having to take the TT steriliser everywhere was extremely useful.

[PippinStar]

I used Dr. Brown's til DS was 1, because he had reflux. They were great for reflux / wind but a total pain to wash. And they leaked quite often.

Switched to MAM when he was 1 (had bought them before he was born, not anticipating reflux) and they're so, so much easier to clean. Also, no leaks. Although I don't bother to sterilize as he's older now. I'll hopefully also be using them for DC2 who is on the way.

I've heard TT are really bad for wind / reflux / colic so that's something to consider if you are buying them before baby arrives.

[Pygmyseahorse]

We used mam and found when visiting family they were helpful rather than lugging a steriliser and also when our tommee tippee steriliser broke at least we had an immediate back up plan though used them as dd got on with them best.

If you are happy to get a steriliser then I'd suggest looking in pound land or equivalent.. The have the older fashioned long plastic bottles which are very plain, no logos or pictures I think. My granny used them for her lambs! I know several mums who said their babies only liked those type

Plainer options would also be Dr browns, advent or something like born free the glass ones

It may be upto baby which they get on best with!
One last thing if you use dummies they are to be sterilised and it's useful to do that too with teethers now and then, also if using a breast pump at all that needs to be sterilised so you may find you end up needing one anyway

[New2020]

I've gone for Dr Browns bottles as my sister used them and so did my SIL with her twins. Got them with a steriliser as a newborn baby set.

Decided against the tommee tippee prep machine for now as I want to try breastfeeding first. If I need to use formula and have a use for it regularly I'll get the prep machine. Otherwise good old boiling and cooling water until then!

I am going to get a bottle warmer though for expressed bottle milk

[Clemmie83]

@DressingGown87 Yeah the pictures are random but then the appeal is not needing a steriliser. Just wish they did plain versions! 🤷🏻‍♀️

[DressingGown87]

I’m the same as you OP. I’ve decided to get TT bottles and Sterilizer. I’ve also got a prep machine.

I’ve just literally looked at the MAM bottles when collecting a prescription in boots, and thought why have them pictures! I’m going to get a couple of MAM bottles for out and about, so if I need extra bottle it can easily be done.

They can all be used with the prep machine from what I have read, and discussed with store assistants.

[Clemmie83]

@fool11 Oh ok, so still with a steriliser, that makes sense. The appeal of the MAM ones is one less bit of equipment!