Hello everyone!
I've been using an artificial feeding system for my baby for almost two weeks now, and I've got to admit, I didn't think it through when I first bought some bottles - I just grabbed the first ones that met the basic requirements.
But lately, I've noticed my baby tends to choke during feeding, often coughs, and I have to turn him over. At first, I thought it was because he's a bit greedy, as he's been feeding aggressively from the breast, and sucking on the bottle just as fiercely.
Even considering he's still toothless, he's already managed to 'chew' through his pacifier with his gums. Anyway, I did some research on forums with more experienced moms and realized the issue is with the bottle itself, as the flow rate is too strong, making it hard for my baby to breathe.
I had no idea about this, so I went online and discovered that choosing the right bottle is a whole process.
In the end, I settled on this brand on Ozon, which isn't cheap, but I didn't want to buy something that would just collect dust on the shelf. I bought the 1m+ bottle, as my baby would be turning a month old soon.
It comes in a pretty sturdy box with loads of information, and I paid 1,139 rubles for it at the time of purchase.
Philips Avent Natural Response Bottle Box Information Inside the box, you'll find not only the bottle itself, but also a pretty comprehensive instruction manual, similar to what you'd get with medication. And there's a small insert, like a passport, that goes into great detail about the product and how to choose the right one for your needs.
Instruction Manual I'm really impressed with the quality of the plastic, especially where the nipple is attached - it's sturdy and heavy. The bottle itself is minimalist, with a clear and easy-to-read scale marked in a dark color and a logo. I also like the shape of the bottle, it feels comfortable in my hand. One thing to note is that it takes a while to cool down after sterilization, so that's something to keep in mind.
The silicone feels different from the cheap bottles I've used before, it's more like a smooth, slightly rough texture that reminds me of skin. Although the nipple is designed to mimic the shape of a mother's breast, that's the main idea behind the brand's design.
The bottle itself Measurement scaleI love the design of the bottle's internal mechanism. The silicone has a digital display of the model number, a valve, and a spiral-shaped outlet. It's not just a random hole – it's a thoughtful system. Even when the bottle's upside down, the formula doesn't leak out. It only comes out when the baby's actively sucking, and they have to put in some effort.
With my previous cheap bottle, my son would inhale 100mg in 5 minutes, coughing and choking. But with this one, 100mg takes 15-20 minutes, and he's almost asleep by the time he finishes. I often leave him to sleep with this bottle, so he doesn't wake up.
Nipple hole It doesn't leakBut I did things a bit differently, since we're not yet a month old, and this bottle is designed for 1 month and up, I also bought separate nipples for this model, designed for 0+. Those have a slower flow and many people complained that their babies couldn't suck out the milk or formula. We didn't have any issues, the baby started eating just fine, sucking away happily.
And, as a bonus, he stopped choking and the formula stopped leaking out of his mouth onto his bib - it turns out that's also an issue this solves.
Inside the nipple NumberI'm really happy with this purchase because it's not just for 1 month, and since you can only replace the nipples separately - it'll last us the entire time we're using the bottle. The price is completely justified, by the way.
As for gas - I'm not sure if it really works, but the fact that the baby swallows less air during meals is a fact. And, as a result, he doesn't burp as much after meals, although it still happens. I think this was a smart purchase, it turns out that not skimping on things like this can really make a difference.
And, yes, the lid is included in the package.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Other stuff that's not essential:
I tried the Kanefron solution for cystitis, and I spent almost 800 rubles to get some relief from the pain and more.
The Akvalor baby drops saved me from my nerves and my baby's congested nose - I learned how to clean the nose properly during the winter.
I found the Votonya diapers for newborns to be decent and affordable - they're great for hot weather and come with small defects.
The Huggies 3-5 kg diapers were perfect for my small newborn.
I have a huge review about pregnancy - I'll share my experience about finding a private obstetrician for my partner.
I visited the Women's Consultation N18 in St. Petersburg, and I was impressed by the competent doctors and clean hospital.
I gave birth at the Maternity Hospital 13 in St. Petersburg, which was great for people with heart problems and not just.
I used the mechanical Roxy Kids breast pump, and I'll share my experience about dealing with starting lactostasis.