Expert: ruth kraft - 5/3/2011

Question
What Bottle is good and safe to use while breast and bottle-feeding? I would like to know if the Playtex Vent Air bottles are good and safe to use while my husband and I are wanting to bottle and breast feed when our daughter is born. We don't want to use drop in bottles we would rather use normal bottles that help prevent gas, spit-up, and helps reduce colic.

Answer
I have had good results with the dr. Browns bottles. they are thin and have a plastic thing that reduces air. Although the bottom line is, until the baby is born, there is no way to tell what will work with the baby, SO, don't go out and rush to get a bunch of bottles. People often do this and buy a kind the baby will not take.

Also with breastfeeding you want to give no bottles or artificial nipples until breastfeeding is well established. At least 3-4 weeks of a well breastfed baby, but preferably 6 weeks. This will reduce issues with supply and latching. It will prevent many latching issues that arise. Baby must master breastfeeding before it can master bottles. It is also beneficial for babies to be latched on to the breast for the first 6 weeks and your body reads via saliva what the baby needs on a daily basis. So the more the baby is latched on , the better its immune system will be built.

I hope that was helpful and your breastfeeding experience is fabulous :)