When is your baby ready for a bigger bottle teat?
You switch to a bigger bottle teat when the milk flows too slowly for your baby, or when you start giving thicker feeds. You notice this because feeds take much longer, your baby has to suck hard, becomes restless or still seems hungry after feeding. The age on the packaging is a guideline: your baby's drinking behaviour and the type of feed decide the right moment.
Which bottle teat size suits your baby?
Difrax bottle teats come in the sizes Small, Medium and Large. Small is suitable for young babies and thin feeds, Medium for growing drinkers and Large for thicker feeds or a stronger sucking strength.
| Size | From | For |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 0 months | Thin feeds, such as milk feeds (breast milk or formula made with milk powder) |
| Medium | 3 months | Thin and thickened feeds, such as milk with flour or rice porridge |
| Large | 6 months | Thickened and thick feeds, such as milk with flour or rice porridge |
Does your child eat porridge with coarser grains? For that, there is the Porridge Bottle XL, with an extra wide teat opening.
The Difrax Natural bottle teat fits the narrow Natural S-bottle of 170 ml and 250 ml and comes in Small, Medium and Large. The special coating provides an extra soft grip. The teat is soft, round and nipple-shaped, and resembles the mother's breast. This makes it easy to combine breastfeeding and bottle feeding. For the Wide S-bottle, there is the Wide bottle teat.
These signs show the milk is flowing too slowly
- The feed takes much longer than 15 to 20 minutes.
- Your baby sucks hard, pulls at the teat or starts chewing on it.
- Your baby often lets go of the teat or keeps stopping.
- Your baby becomes restless at the start of the feed, just when they are hungriest.
- Your baby still seems hungry after the feed.
Do you notice one or more of these signs? Then the next size is often more comfortable for your baby.
What happens with a teat that is too small or too big?
With a teat that is too small, your baby has to work hard for every sip. Your baby gets tired faster, sometimes drinks too little and may swallow more air. With a teat that is too big, the milk flows too fast. Your baby then chokes more easily, has to stop often to swallow or spits up more.
Is the feed going too fast, even with size Small? Then read what size bottle teat to use to see what you can do, for example with a Dental bottle teat.
How to switch calmly to a bigger teat
- Choose a calm moment, when your baby is not too hungry.
- Hold your baby a little more upright, so swallowing is easier.
- Follow your baby's rhythm and take a break if the sips come too quickly.
- Watch out for choking. Does it happen often? Then go back to the previous size for a while.
- Feel free to alternate between the old and the new teat for the first few days.
What if your baby doesn't want the new teat?
A new milk flow takes some getting used to. Offer the new teat at a calm moment and alternate with the familiar teat for a while. Your baby is often used to it after a few feeds. Still struggling? Then try again in a week.
View all Difrax bottle teats or contact us if you are unsure.