When to increase teat size?

[Marleysgirl]

Hi there,

Not actually FFing - pumping & bottle-feeding EBM - but the question relates to bottles so I thought I'd get a good response here!

Andrew's been on Avent Size2 teats for about 8 weeks, and over the last couple of days, his "feed speed" has really got much slower. He's also beginning to turn his head slightly from side to side, moving the teat around his mouth.

Could this be a sign of him needing the next size teat?

I don't know when to progress up the size/speed stakes, as he started on Size2 when he moved off premmie teats supplied by NICU.

 

[Lisa1302]

I would say it could be, Izzy would stop drinking and seem just unsettled when she needed to go up a teat size, so that seems similar to what you said.

I dont really think the guides mean much - Izzy certainly went up them much faster than the age on the boxes!

 

[mummy_mi]

I would try the next size up, if it's too fast for him he'll soon let you know!

 

[faille]

Could it be teething and the sucking on the teat is irrating LOs gums? Or possibly a bit of wind that needs coming up before he'll carry on?

Other signs to watch out for regarding moving up a teat size are - teat collapsing, falling asleep during the feed and taking a lot longer / getting frustrated half way through.

 

[kelly2903]

yeah i would say a baby gets more frustrated as they cant get the milk out fast enough... lilly had standard teats and she was fine all the way till we took them away good luck hun xxx

 

[trinitydm]

We use the Playtex drop in bottles and last week I switched from the "slow" nipple to the "fast". It's great!!! The feeds take half the time, she is MUCH easier to burp, and I think she is happier since she is getting fuller quicker. The only downside is that she can make a mess! I know have to put a bib on her since she dribbles toward the end of the feed. I would definately recommend giving it a try....I bought only 2 nipples at first, and once I found out that they did work I went out and bought 4 more.