Feeding is a little bit more complicated for preemies. Some of them get gassy or develop stomach aches and other digestion problems. Using the right preemie bottle will reduce the chances of your baby having any of these issues.
The right bottles ensure that they get the right amount of milk that will help them grow and gain weight quickly.
Below are some of the best preemie bottles in the market.
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Our Best Picks
- Dr. Brown’s Anti-colic Options+ Preemie Nipple– Overall Best Preemie Bottle
- Tommee Tippee Closer To Nature Preemie Bottle – Best whendingTransitioning To Breastfeeding
- Philip Avent Natural Baby Bottle – Best For Nipple
- Philip Avent Natural Glass Baby Bottle – Best Glass Bottle For Preemie
- Nuk Simply Natural Bottle – Best For Gassy
- Comotomo Natural Feel Silicone Bottle – Best Easy To Clean Bottle
Why Bottle Feed Your Preemie?
Unlike mature babies, preemies do not have all the required skills for feeding. Mature babies can suck, breathe and swallow when they are born, but most preemies have to learn these skills later.
That is why some preemies can’t even feed with their mouths when they are born. Others may not be strong enough to consume as much milk as they need to grow. Hence, they receive their nutrition through IV or nasogastric (NG) tubes.
Also, these babies may not be able to latch onto the breast like a mature baby, not to talk of sucking. That is why you need a slow flow nipple to feed your baby.
Tips For Choosing The Right Bottle For Your Preemie
- Go for slow flow nipples
Preemies cannot take in much food at a time and can choke if they get too much. That is why you need a slow flow nipple to regulate the amount of milk that they get.
Some slow flow nipples for newborns work, while others may still flow too fast. To be on the safe side, go for nipples specially designed for preemies. We recommend the nipple that comes with the Philip Avent Natural Glass Bottle.
- Choose anti-colic bottles
There are different variations of anti-colic technology used for preemies. Some bottles use ventilated discs like Playtex at the bottom of the bottle, while others use air vents.
Dr. Browns and Philip Avent are known for producing the best anti-colic bottles. That is why they work well for preemies.
- Use small bottle sizes
A premature baby feeds on a small amount of milk at a time but feeds more frequently. Hence, a bottle size of 2 to 5 ounces will do.
How To Feed A Preemie
It can be quite tricky to feed a preemie. They are always sleepy and may doze off when feeding. Your nurse will tell you the basics for feeding a preemie, but also consider these tips.
- Give your baby short regular breaks when feeding
Preemies find it difficult to breathe when feeding. This can cause bradycardia or apnea for them. That is why you should give them short breaks every few (about two to three) minutes
Stop feeding your baby if you no longer feel their breath or they gag or become limp. Also, watch them for low oxygen saturation or heart rate, and stop feeding immediately.
- Exercise the child to help them feed better
Using your fingers to circle your baby’s lips or caress their chin can make them feed better. Also, push their cheeks together periodically to help them take more from the bottle if they need.
- Make your baby sit upright to keep them alert
Unlike a mature baby which cradles in your arms while you feed, you will sit up your preemie upright in the NICU. So, make them sit upright on your laps and use your non-dominant hand to support their head and shoulders.
This will give them a healthy alignment and help them to stay alert throughout the feeding period.
- Hold the bottle parallel to the floor to give your baby control over the flow
Your baby’s hip, shoulder, and ear must all align when feeding. Use your non-dominant hand to support their head and your dominant hand to hold the bottle.
Keep the bottle parallel to the floor so that you do not give your baby milk than they need. Your baby has better control of the milk at this position and will only swallow the amount that is comfortable for them.
- Support their cheek and chin to promote latching
Nurses and NICU personnel will train you on how to support your baby’s cheek and chin while they feed. It is quite tactical since you will be using your dominant hand to hold the bottle, and your non-dominant hand to hold the baby.
However, doing this the right way can help your baby to latch and feed more.
- Use NG tubes if your baby can’t feed enough through their mouths
Your preemie may need nasogastric (NG) tubes if they cannot feed or get enough milk from a bottle or breast. Talk to the NICU personnel if your baby needs this tube, and how you can use them.
6 Best Preemie Bottles
- Dr. Brown’s Anti-colic Options+ Preemie Nipple – Overall Best Preemie Bottle
This bottle is everything you need to reduce burping, spit-up, colic, and other feeding problems for your baby. It removes air bubbles as your child feeds and improves digestion.
This bottle has a special design that can preserve nutrients in your baby’s milk.
It comes with a slow flow nipple, but the nipple may not be suitable for your preemie. Nevertheless, your baby can still use this bottle with Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Options+ Preemie nipple.
This preemie nipple will help you transition your baby to breastfeeding when they are ready to breastfeed.
Another downside to consider about this bottle is that it has many parts to clean. however, most parents do not mind cleaning the parts since the bottle is suitable for their babies.
Pros
- It has a commendable venting system that reduces colic
- The bottle can preserve nutrients in baby milk
- It is available in smaller sizes which are suitable for preemies
- You can use it with a preemie nipple
Cons
- It is quite challenging to clean because of its many parts
- This bottle’s nipple may be too fast for your preemie, hence, you must buy a preemie nipple
Amy Vincent recounts her experience with this preemie bottle
Amy A. Vincent is a mother of three beautiful children and an author of Amy Baby Review. She said:
Dr.Brown’s Anti-Colic bottle with preemie nipple worked for our preemie. We lovethat it is narrow and specifically designed for preemies, as well as the fact that it has a preemie flow nipple. We did not have any issues with colic using this bottle.
The Dr. Brown’s Anti-Colic Options+ Narrow Baby Bottles work well for preemies.They have a preemie flow nipple that helps reduce colic, spit-up, burping and gas. The bottle also has an anti-colic internal vent system that is clinically proven to reduce colic. The bottles are dishwasher (top rack only) and sterilizer safe, making them easy to clean.
I used a freemie breast pump. The Dr. Brown’s bottle worked with it just fine. I am very thankful I found this product.
I Would definitely recommend Dr. Brown’s Anti-Colic Options+ Narrow Baby Bottles To other parents of preemies.
There are many parts that come with this bottle, and it’s a bit challenging to wash them all. However, it is worth it as this bottle has helped our preemie grow and he is now able to nurse without aspirating.”
- Tommee Tippee Closer To Nature Preemie Bottle – Best For Transitioning To Breastfeeding
Besides the fact that this baby bottle was created to closely mimic the natural breast, it also comes in an all-inclusive set to ease the stress of feeding your preemie.
You will need this set if you are a first-time parent and don’t know all you need for easy preemie feeding. Each set comes with four bottles with slow flow nipples and extra slow flow nipples. Your preemie will appreciate the extra slow flow nipple more.
This bottle and nipple will grow with your baby since it has slow flow nipples and an extra fast flow nipple. Your baby will need them as they grow. There is also a guide to help you know when you should upgrade to a faster flow nipple.
This bottle set also comes with a cleaning brush, removable handles, and a newborn pacifier. That saves you the cost of buying them separately.
This bottle nipple feels like a natural nipple and also comes with an anti-colic valve. This valve will ensure that your baby takes in more milk than air when feeding.
The bottles use baby-friendly materials, which are BPA-free and easy to clean. you will appreciate this ease of cleaning more because preemies feed more frequently than mature babies. You can get ready for the next feeding session without stress.
This set contains different bottle sizes with nipples to fit each.
Pros
- The nipples feel like the natural breast and provide soothed feeding for babies
- The anti-colic property of the nipple ensures reduces the amount of air that gets into your baby’s stomach
- It is comfortable to hold this bottle because of its compact shape
- The bottles and nipples use BPA and phthalate-free materials.
- The bottle is easy to clean, and you can put it in the top rack of a dishwasher
- The bottle is microwave safe
Cons
- Some parents complain that the slow flow nipple of this bottle still flows a bit too much for preemies.
- Philip Avent Natural Baby Bottle – Best For Nipple
Philip Avent is one of the best producers of newborn and preemie bottles. This Natural Baby Bottle is the best for your preemie if they are still struggling with latching.
It has a naturally shaped nipple with a wide base, just like a mother’s breast. This nipple promotes latching and is also soft.
The texture of this bottle nipple also feels like a natural nipple. This will help you combine bottle and breastfeeding for your baby.
This nipple will not collapse while your baby is feeding. It has a spiral design that makes it bend without closing when your baby is feeding. It allows them to suck naturally like they would the mother’s breast.
Though Dr. Brown’s anti-colic bottle tops the chat for anti-colic technology, this Philip Avent bottle also has an AirFlex technology that prevents air from getting into your baby’s stomach. This makes them less prone to colic and tummy discomfort.
The bottle size is just right. It is only 4 ounces and has an ergonomic shape that allows you to hold it well from any direction.
Pros
- The naturally shaped nipple promotes latching
- It has an ergonomic shape and small size for preemies
- It reduces colic because of its Airflex technology
- The nipple does not collapse when your baby is feeding
- The nipple construction helps your baby learn how to suck
Cons
- It may leak if you do not assemble it properly
- Philip Avent Natural Glass Baby Bottle – Best Glass Bottle For Preemie
Parents who want to avoid the possible heartaches of plastic bottles for their preemies will love these glass bottles for their preemies. It is available in 4 and 8 ounces. The 4 ounces bottle is more suitable for preemies.
The nipple is made from silicone material which makes it suitable for moms that want to breastfeed their babies when they are mature. The nipples have petals that make them soft. These petals also prevent the nipples from collapsing as your baby feeds.
The bottle had a wide neck which provides a wide base for the nipple. This makes it mimic the natural breast more and promotes latching.
It is also easy to clean these bottles because of their wide neck. It also has just four parts to clean. That’s a breeze to assemble.
This bottle has anti-colic properties to reduce the amount of air that enters your baby’s stomach. The ergonomic design of the bottle also makes it easy to hold.
This bottle will grow with your baby. You only have to change the nipples as they grow.
Pros
- The nipple is soft and won’t collapse while your baby feeds
- It has an anti-colic system that prevents colic and tummy disturbance
- It is easy for preemies to latch on because of the wide bottleneck and natural feeling nipple
- It is easy to clean this bottle
- It is made from glass, the safest baby bottle material
- It has an ergonomic design which makes it easy to hold.
Cons
- The bottle is a bit heavy since it is made from glass
- The bottle may break from extreme changes in temperature
- Nuk Simply Natural Bottle – Best For Gassy Preemies
This baby bottle from NUK tries to mimic natural feeding as much as possible. Though many moms complain that feeding is longer with this bottle, that makes it even better for preemies. Your preemie will take in a little amount of milk at a time, just like it is recommended.
The holes of this silicone nipple are positioned where milk can easily mix with their saliva It also makes digestion easy for preemies. You will need the slow flow nipple for your preemie, and this nipple has three holes.
This nipple is flexible and has the same shape as the mother’s breast and allows the baby to latch throughout the feeding period.
This bottle and nipple also have anti-colic properties that prevent gas from entering your baby’s stomach.
Pros
- The bottle reduces colic for gassy preemies
- The well-placed delivery holes improve digestion because it allows milk to quickly mix with your baby’s saliva
- Mature babies with tongue tie issues can feed well with this bottle
- It has a unique shape and is suitable for first-time feeding
- The soft and flexible nipple promotes latching
- It is affordable
Cons
- The flow rate may be too slow for mature babies
Sarah recommends this preemie bottle
Sarah Joseph from Parentalqueries.com says:
“One brand of bottle that I recommend for preemies is the NUK Infant Flow Slow Flow nipples. These nipples have a unique design that helps to control the flow of milk, making them ideal for premature babies who can’t handle a lot of milk at once. I’ve found that they work well with both breastmilk and formula, and they’re easy to clean.
In addition to this, the NUK company also makes a preemie-specific bottle, the NUK Preemie Perfection Bottle. This bottle is designed to help with latch issues, and it has a slow-flow nipple that is ideal for preemies.”
- Comotomo Natural Feel Silicone Bottle – Best Easy To Clean Bottle
Comotomo Baby Natural Feel Silicone Bottle has a wide neck which makes it very easy to clean. You can even put your whole hand into the bottle to clean every part. You can even put it into a dishwasher or boil it to sterilize.
This makes it very suitable for preemie feeding since the baby will feed more frequently and you will need to clean more often.
Besides, the bottle is also designed to mimic breastfeeding as closely as possible. This feature makes it easy to transition your preemie to breastfeeding without nipple confusion problems.
It has a soft feel since it is made from silicone, and your baby will think they are touching your skin because of its soft skin-feel properties.
It is easy for preemies to latch onto this bottle’s nipple. The nipple is also slow flow and your preemie will enjoy the feeding pace.
Babies that have colic problems will feed comfortably with this bottle because of its two anti-colic vents. These vents provide consistent airflow in the bottle while your baby sucks, without the air getting into their stomach.
Again, this bottle has a perfectly fitting lid. This lid will prevent milk from spilling when you tighten it properly.
Pros
- It is easy to clean because of its wide neck
- It has a natural feel and makes it easy to transition your baby from bottle feeding to breastfeeding
- It is easy for preemies to latch on to this nipple
- The dual anti-colic vent prevents colic and stomach ache
- The materials are safe for cleaning in a dishwasher.
Cons
- The bottle may leak if you don’t tighten the lid
FAQ
How long should a baby stay on preemie formula?
The duration depends on your baby’s needs. But you should feed your preemie with their special preemie formula until at least their due date. The NICU personnel will tell you if you should continue with this formula and for how long.
Final Thoughts
Preemies are far more delicate than mature babies. Hence, you must be mindful of their feeding. Follow the hospital’s instructions on how to feed your preemie. Try any bottle they recommend first and watch how your baby responds.
If your baby is not okay with the recommended bottle, consider trying any of the above-listed bottles.
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