5 bottle-feeding myths we want to clear up

1. Myth: Babies are fine taking any bottle

Not all bottles are created equally. Many parents experience anxiety when it seems their infant rejects all bottles, which is especially nerve wracking if a breastfeeding mom is preparing to return to work. However, it’s often a matter of giving the baby some time to warm up to the new feeding method, says Katie Ferraro , a registered dietician, infant feeding specialist and associate professor of nutrition at the University of California San Francisco graduate School of Nursing.

“For mothers returning to work, if you’re breastfeeding but trying to transition to bottle[s] , try to give yourself a two- to four-week trial window to experiment with bottle feeding,” says Ferraro.

2. Myth: You either use breast milk or formula

So often, the question of whether a parent is using formula or breastfeeding is presented exclusively as one or the other. In reality, many babies are combo-fed—meaning they have formula sometimes, breast milk other times.

The advantage with mixed feeding is the babies still get the benefits of breast milk while parents can ensure the overall nutritional and caloric needs are met through formula, says Ferraro.

3. Myth: Cleaning bottles is a lot of work

For parents looking for simplification in their lives (meaning, all of us), cleaning bottles day after day can sound daunting. But, really, it doesn’t require much more effort than you are already used to doing with the dishes each night: With bottles that are safe for the top rack of the dishwasher , cleaning them is as easy as letting the machine work for you.

For added confidence in the sanitization, Dr. Brown’s offers an incredibly helpful microwavable steam sterilizer that effectively kills all household bacteria on up to four bottles at a time. (Not to mention it can also be used on pacifiers, sippy cups and more.)

4. Myth: Bottle-feeding causes colic

One of the leading theories on what causes colic is indigestion, which can be caused by baby getting air bubbles while bottle feeding. However, Dr. Brown’s bottles are the only bottles in the market that are actually clinically proven to reduce colic thanks to an ingenious internal vent system that eliminates negative pressure and air bubbles.

5. Myth: Bottles are all you can use for the first year

By the time your baby is six months old (way to go!), they may be ready to begin using a sippy cup . Explains Ferraro, “Even though they don’t need water or additional liquids at this point, it is a feeding milestone that helps promote independent eating and even speech development.”

With a complete line of products to see you from newborn feeding to solo sippy cups, Dr. Brown’s does its part to make these new transitions less daunting. And, for new parents, that truly is priceless.

This article was sponsored by Dr. Brown’s . Thank you for supporting the brands that support Motherly and mamas.