Which Teat Does My Baby Need?
Most baby bottles offer a range of teat levels to help your baby to drink their breast milk or formula easier! Usually, they will be associated with an age range as a very rough guide. However, every baby will have their own latch, flow and preference that will dictate which is the correct teat size for them!
The majority of Dr. Brown’s bottles come complete with a level 1 teat, which is a slow-flow teat that most newborn babies and those under around 3 months of age would be suited to. However, you may have a baby that needs a faster flow, or equally a slower one! Just watch out for the signs outlined below and adjust as needed.
When do you change the teat size?
Every baby is different; some babies will be perfectly content using level one throughout their bottle feeding days, while others are faster drinkers and need to advance to the next level sooner than others. Pay attending to your baby and how they are feeding to help guide when it's time to change teat levels.
Can I change the teat back to a slower flow?
Of course you can. If you change the teat flow to a higher one before your baby is ready, there's no reason why you cannot change it back to the size they were previously more comfortable with. If there is excess dribbling or the baby appears to choke or cough on the milk it may be a sign that the flow is simply too fast for them to keep up with.
What are the signs to look for from your baby?
When you notice any of these signs, it usually means that the baby is not getting a fast enough flow and it is time to move up a level. Please remember, if these signs never occur then there is no need to change anything and it is always best to check with your Healthcare Professional.
Here are also some signs that the teat flow is too fast:
Guide for changing bottle teat level:
The Dr Brown’s range of teats available from Baby-Central offers a range of 6 teat sizes/flow speeds are available to grow with your baby’s needs:
