It wouldn’t be a mistake to say the best baby bottles for gas are not easy to find. Unless you know what causes gas in babies and what can actually be a solution to this problem.
But you’re in luck. In this article, you will find the necessary information regarding gas issues, baby bottles, and how to choose the best option for your particular case.
Gas or Colic?
Before we dive into how to choose a decent bottle for your child, let’s get a better understanding of what it means when your kid has gas and when they are colic.
Gas is common in babies in the first months of their lives. This is due to their intestines still maturing. Gas is usually caused by breathing in too much air. There are also foods that can cause gas. Some of them are:
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- Beans
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts (really, who would dare feed brussels sprouts to a baby)
- Bran
- Oatmeal
There are other foods that can make your child gassy. Visit parents.com for a complete list of these foods.
Colic is an entirely different and stressful matter. A colicky baby:
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- Cries for no reason (no matter what you try, nothing works)
- Will cry for hours
- Cries at the same time each day
- Will have their eating and sleeping schedule interrupted by their crying
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You should also know, that both gas and colic can be caused by food allergies. Another cause can be that the digestive system of your child has not matured yet.
Now that you have a better understanding of gas and colic, let’s look at the best bottles that will make feeding time more enjoyable for your child and less stressful for you.
What You Should Know About Baby Bottles for Gas
To help you make the best selection for your gassy or colicky kid, we will look at glass and plastic products. We will also look at the best bottles for breastfed babies as well as the best ones for newborns.
Glass Bottles
Pros: Glass, unlike plastic is easy to clean because it is less likely to get scratches. It is also a lot sturdier and doesn’t contain chemicals. If you are breastfeeding, glass works best for breastfed babies. You may also safely use those made of silicone and stainless steel.
Cons: Let’s state the obvious first. If you drop one on the floor, it’s goodbye baby bottle. If it’s filled with formula at the time, you will make quite a mess. However, you can purchase silicone sleeves to put over the glass for safety.
Plastic Bottles
Pros: Plastic bottles are lightweight and less expensive than those made of glass. This is a plus if you have to pack for traveling. Also, plastic is safe as long as it is BPA free.
Cons: Plastic does not last as long as glass. It is easily scratched and wears out quickly.
New moms looking for the best bottles for their bundle of joy, may want to just go with plastic because. While glass is rather safe, having glass around your kid can make you nervous due to the risk of breakage.
Nipples
Now that you have decided on the bottle material you want for your child, it’s time to choose which nipples to use. (Oh my decisions, decisions!)
Slow Flowing
If your kid gets gassy or colicky, slow flowing nipples are the best way to go. The shape of the nipple is also important because you want to select one that does not allow taking in more air. Many nipples are designed with a built-in valve system. This allows air back out to create bubbles in the baby formula. In addition, these nipples work great with colic free bottles because of the particular valve system that removes air from the bottom.
Silicone
As far as silicone nipples go, women who need to use a small breast pump find silicone breast nipple shields are more comfortable than others. Silicon nipples are resistant to heat and strong enough to stand up to everyday use.
Latex
If you’re going with latex nipples, keep in mind they wear out easily. They get hard and crack when exposed to heat.
Does the shape and design matter? Let’s look at the different items below to help make the right choice.
Straight-Neck
These are the most frequently used. They have also been referred to as standard. They fit in a variety of accessories such as sterilizers and warmers due to their straight-neck design. Their plain design makes them less expensive.
Angled-Neck
If you’re looking for bottles that reduce gas during feeding, the angled-neck shape is for you. It is great for infants who tend to have gas or are colicky. They also help prevent ear infections because you are feeding your baby in an almost upright position. This keeps the formula from getting in their ears. Plus, this design is highly recommended by pediatri cians.
Wide-Neck
If you are breastfeeding and are ready to introduce your little one to bottle feeding, then you want to use a natural nipple. Wide-neck bottles are made with a wider neck to imitate a mother’s natural breast. This helps to avoid confusion with breastfed children. Bottle wands and brushes work best for cleaning.
Now we will take a look at the nipples’ designs to see which is best for an infant suffering from gas or colic.
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- Dome-shaped nipples are the most common. Their dome shape does a great job in feeding your child.
- Orthodontic nipples are made to imitate natural sucking. They’re angled to fit the shape of the baby’s gums and palate. This leaves room for normal tongue movement during feeding. This brand of nipple also has an anti-colic air system to assist in reducing gas, colic, and even spitting up during feeding.
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Vent or Valve System
You want to choose an anti-colic product that has a vent or valve system to prevent air mixing with your baby’s formula. Let’s look at what the maret has t offer.
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- Vent
The vent system has a straw running down from the nipple to the bottom
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- Valve
Bottles with this system have valves at the base. These are the best for preventing gas and colic and also work great for formula feeding. This is because they make sure no air gets trapped inside the bottle.Well, there you have it. Everything you wanted to know about gas, colic, and baby bottles but were afraid to ask. It may seem like a lot of information (well it really is), but you want to do what’s best for your child, especially if they tend to have digestion problems. Having colic is no fun, that’s why it’s important to be armed with the best baby bottles to address this issue properly.
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