Formula feeding: When to change nipples and bottles?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Master, Doctor Vu Quoc Anh - Pediatrician - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.
Milk and milk-related problems are considered the top concern of all those who have young children. Choosing the right bottle and nipple for the baby is equally important because it is related to hygiene and safety as well as the nutritional quality of milk in the first year of a baby's life. Therefore, parents need to be aware of the following important rules when using bottles and nipples.

1. Signs need to change nipples

Any product, no matter how good, has a certain shelf life. Baby bottles and nipples are no exception. Therefore, to prevent external influences on the quality of milk for children, parents need to pay special attention to the use of bottles and nipples.
To detect abnormal signs, mothers should regularly check the nipples, at least every 2-3 months. In particular, they should be replaced if they have the following symptoms:
Milk flow: Drop the milk in the bottle out to check. If you see a massive flow of milk out, you should buy a replacement pacifier for your baby. This is a sign that the hole in the nipple is too large for the normal level, which can cause the baby to choke on milk. Discolored nipples indicate that the quality has "degraded" rapidly. Dilated nipple: To test the elasticity of the nipple, you can pull the tip of the nipple out strongly and then release it, then see if it can return to its original shape. If you can't, you should leave them. The nipple is stuck or bulged, the rubber part is soft, when the baby sucks, the nipple is flattened, preventing milk from coming out, which is also a sign that the baby's nipple is no longer of good quality. Cracked or scratched nipples: Cracked nipples can cause too much milk to flow and can cause your baby to suffocate. In addition, when the nipple is torn or cracked, it is likely that when the baby is nursing, the torn rubber part will carry the milk into the baby's mouth, causing unpredictable danger. When the nipple is no longer suitable for the baby's age: Each type of nipple will be designed for a different age. Therefore, you should pay attention to the age of your baby when buying a pacifier.

Note:
Nipples need to be changed to suit each child's age. On average, a normal pacifier should only be used for 2 to 3 months, depending on the frequency of use, product quality and the mother's hygiene and preservation. If you notice that the pacifier becomes softer than usual, discolored, then there is a problem with the nipple. Rubber nipples are heat resistant at 100 degrees Celsius, can be used within 3 months and should be changed every 2-3 months Silicone nipples have good elasticity and are more durable than rubber nipples , heat resistance is 120 degrees Celsius, an average of 3 months to change.

2. Signs need to change the milk bottle

Normally, a bottle of milk will have a shelf life depending on the quality of the product as well as the cleaning, maintenance and preservation. In general, a bottle of milk from the completion of the production process and not yet used has a shelf life of 3 years.
Like nipples, mothers also need to regularly check their baby's bottles, and should replace them if they see any of the following abnormal signs:
Cracked, chipped or broken bottles: During feeding, the baby may have may bite, chew, or squeeze the bottle, and chipped or broken pieces of the bottle will inadvertently injure the child. This is especially dangerous if you use a glass bottle for your baby. Scratched or worn plastic bottles: Germs, "stubborn" bacteria can hide in the scratches of the bottle. Therefore, no matter how hard the mother tries, she cannot clean the bottle completely. In addition, the continuous use of one bottle of milk will easily affect the quality of the bottle more than when using multiple bottles at the same time. Before making milk for babies, the bottles need to be sterilized with boiling water to ensure the quality of the milk. If you see the numbers indicated on the bottle are blurred, the bottle is deformed or has a darker color... these are all signs that it's time for the mother to change the new bottle for the baby.

In the process of feeding your baby with formula and breast milk, if you do not clean the nipples and bottles, the baby is very susceptible to respiratory problems, respiratory infections and infections. Digest.

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