Slow Nipples VS Fast Nipples

Stevie - posted on 04/04/2009

i use the dr browns bottles which i love but it has three steps in the size of the nipple that are stage one 0-3 stage two 3-6 and stage three 6+ i believe i dont think it has a stage four but anyways my son is 5 months on the 12th and we are trying to change him to the size three and he caughs and "chokes" but he did that also on size two when we started him on it its just giving him more formula than they are use to and they will get use to it my son is also starting to drink out of the sippy cup but the soft lid one so if you can find a nipple that isnt "fast" one or a "slow' one then go with that and they will get use to it and i would reconmind spoon feeding the cereal

Kelly - posted on 04/04/2009

I had problems with fast nipples with my first baby so I gave up and never used them. She started solids at 6 months and had no problems. The amount of food you give them isn't alot at first so they learn to get it down. In fact, we had no problems at all! However, like your little ones, mine would get more gassy from the fast flow. I never used anything more then slow for the 18 months she had a bottle. She transitioned to sippy cup fine and now we're just starting to give her a regular cup.

Amanda - posted on 04/04/2009

Thanks everyone! We tried cereal tonight and they did just fine!

Kylie - posted on 04/03/2009

my daughter eats jar foods no problem at all. and she still uses slow newborn nipples! do what works for them!

Susan - posted on 04/03/2009

It really does depend on the brand of nipple too. I had 3 different kind of bottles with 3 different nipples (actually 4 because one was faster flowing)  My little guy could collapse every nipple except for the Nuk ones that we ended up sticking with.  There are times when he can collapse those, but that's usually at the nightime feeding where I do have a little cereal in it. Other than that you do have to try different ones out. 

Like people say, what works for one baby might not work for the next.

Karen - posted on 04/03/2009

My son is still on the natural latch slow nipples and is eating off a spoon with no problems at all.  I've never heard of switching from slow to fast nipples and I thought the fast nipples were for when you put cereal in the bottle and it's too thick for the slow nipples.   If you haven't  tried gas drops, they are all natural and wonderful.  Good luck!!! 

Karly - posted on 04/03/2009

I moved Mia to medium flow at 3 months and it took a few weeks of her getting used to them so I only used them duringthe day when she was really hungry. She is now using them all the time and eating cereal on a daily basis. I would not worry about switching them before cereal, just take it slow when you feed them and make it extra watery to start, I bet they do fine.

Vanessa - posted on 04/02/2009

I think it should be based on what they tell you they need.  With Ella, who's nearly 5 months old, we've changed her teats as she's gotten older.  This is because she collapses the teats when they start to flow too slow for her liking.

If your babies are happy using the slower nipples & aren't getting frustrated with the time or the effort it takes for them to finish their bottles then I believe you shouldn't worry about it.

You are their mum - at the end of the day you know what is best for them.  People would tell me that Ella would prefer the bottle over the breast as the bottle would be too easy for her - but we still successfully combine breast & bottle!!

As for solids - that's another thing you will know when's best.  Have offered infant cereal, but Ella's not too keen; whereas another baby from our antenatal class is happily having solids once a day now.  What works for one baby isn't necessarily going to work for another.

Good luck and I hope you decide what you want to do, not what someone else tells you to do.

Amanda - posted on 04/02/2009

Thanks everyone! I think I am going to keep them on the slow nipples and maybe try cereal next week. Forget those fast nipples for now, they give them belly aches :(

Danielle - posted on 04/02/2009

I did not use the fast flow nipples before putting the boys on cereal. They are doing fine on cereal. No problems. I say go with your gut on this one.

Linda - posted on 04/02/2009

wow i never thought of that my baby is 4 months now im not putting him on solids til 6 months but i too have tryed the next size teats and he did not like it, it all just ran down the side of his face so i still have him on the newborn ones, im interested to hear the replys on this so i am prepared for when i put him on solids.

Susan - posted on 04/02/2009

I am using medium flow nipples with cereal... he didn;t like using the slow one because he couldn't get the milk out fast enough.

I but the Nuk brand and the have the med flow for up to 6 months.. then 6 months plus med anf fast flow.

not sure what other brands have.