How to choose a pacifier for baby

Before buying a nipple for a newborn or older child, you need to decide on the material and type of product, as well as the strength of the flow and the size of the nipple. In addition, you need to consider the manufacturer and the age of the child. How to do this, we will tell in our article.

Best Baby Nipple Manufacturers

Unlike bottles, nipples need to be changed often (every 1-3 months). But this does not mean that their quality can be saved. Nipples purchased from an unscrupulous manufacturer can:

1. Leak and hold on a bottle;

2. Quickly grow turbid and wear out;

3. Smell bad;

4. Losing shape quickly;

5. Irritating to the skin and mucous membrane of the baby.

If poor quality materials were used in the manufacture of nipples, the product may be hazardous to the health of the child. Therefore, before going on sale, the nipples should be checked for toxic-hygienic, organoleptic and sanitary-chemical indicators and obtain certificates confirming their safety.

The best manufacturers of nipples for babies are:

1. Philips Avent;

2. Pigeon;

3. Medela;

4. Dr. Browns;

5. Bebe Confort;

6. Tommee Tippee;

7. NUK.

What are the nipples

Latex

Latex teats can be used from the very birth of a baby. Latex nipples resemble the baby’s mother’s breasts. But they quickly wear out - they need to be changed every 2-4 weeks.

Silicone

Silicone nipples are strong and durable products. They can serve you about 3-6 months. But silicone is harder and harder than latex, so the baby has to make efforts when sucking. Silicone nipples are well suited for babies who have a well-developed sucking reflex.

What form of nipples to choose

Nipples for babies are:

1. Classic;

2. Orthodontic;

3. Antikolikovye.

Classic the models repeat the shape of the mother's nipple, so the baby sucks the nipple in the same way as the mother’s breast. But manufacturers have improved them by creating orthodontic products.Such models have a flat and oblique shape, which has a positive effect on the formation of baby bite. In addition, orthodontic nipples are great for babies when going from breast to artificial feeding.

Antikolikovye models have a valve that protects the nipple from sticking together, reduces the amount of air swallowed during sucking and ensures that the nipple is constantly filled with liquid. Due to this, the baby is less likely to suffer from colic.

What is the power of the flow should be nipples

All nipple models have a certain flow force. It is determined by the number and size of the holes in the product and the thickness of the food. The smaller the holes - the slower the food enters the child's mouth. The force of the flow is chosen according to the age of the baby:

1. Low flow nipples are used from the first days of life up to three months. They provide slow food intake, because have one or two small holes. Such products do not give the baby to wean from the mother's breast - he has to make the same effort when sucking, as when breastfeeding.

2. Medium-flow nipples are used to feed babies older than 3-4 months, but some models are suitable for two-month-old babies. They have three holes. These nipples can be used to feed the baby with liquid that is thicker than milk or milk formula.

3. In products with a strong flow made four holes. As a rule, these nipples are designed for children from 6 to 12 months, but some models can be used for three-month babies. A strong stream is also necessary for feeding the child with a dense diet, for example, porridge.

4. There are models with variable flow. Instead of holes, cuts are made on them. Thanks to them, you can adjust the flow of fluid, making it slower or faster. Such products are suitable for food, different in consistency (milk, cereal, juice). However, it is not recommended to use variable flow nipples for babies in the first months of life. The milk supply may be too strong and plentiful, which is why the baby risks choking.

How to choose a nipple size

To designate the size of the nipples, manufacturers use several methods:

1. Marking by month. For example, 0 m + (for newborns), 2 m + (from two months), 6 m + (from 6 months), etc.

2. A scale consisting of numbers from one to three, sometimes four. The unit means that the pacifier can be used for newborns or low-weight babies, two for children older than six months, three for children of one year old.

3. Marking spell. Standard letters S are used (from birth to 6 months), M (6–12 months), L (from 12 months).

 

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a guide to purchase.