From bottles & breast pumps to bibs & blenders, here’s our baby feeding checklist…
Whether you decide to breastfeed or use formula, when it comes to feeding your baby, there are several basic supplies you might want to consider to get the job done.
Every parent and their little one will be slightly different though, and it’s important to choose the right equipment that will suit you and your baby, so read on for a guide to all things feeding.
Feeding bottles
Baby bottles come in all sorts of materials and sizes – think glass, silicone, wide-necked and more.
There are also specific anti-colic bottles available that draw air away from the milk, helping to ease wind and discomfort.
Here’s some of our favourite baby bottles:
Best for: A growing baby
Try: MAM Glass Baby Bottle Set
• 1 170ml bottle
• 2 260ml bottles
• 1 MAM Start 0-2M Soother
This Glass Bottle Starter Set from MAM offers parents a natural progression as baby grows and moves onto larger bottles. MAM glass bottles are durable and naturally BPA-free, and are made of temperature resistant glass so they can be heated in the microwave and sterilised in the dishwasher. Plus, the ergonomic shape means it’s easy for baby to hold them!
Best for: Easy cleaning
Try: MAM Colours of Nature Anti Colic Self Sterilising Bottle
• 2 260ml bottles
• 80% less colic
Thanks to the patented SkinSoft™ teat that provides a familiar feel for babies, these bottles are ideal for making an easy switch between breast and bottle. With an innovative vented base, babies can remain calm and relaxed without swallowing too much air. And the best part? The bottles self-sterilise in three easy steps, making bottle cleaning simple both at home or on the go!
Best for: A natural feeding experience
Try: Tommee Tippee Natural Start Anti-Colic Baby Bottle
• 6 260ml bottles
• With an anti-colic valve
Inspired by mums and designed by experts, these Tommee Tippee Natural Start bottles have an extra-wide neck and breast-like teat to help give babies the most natural feeding experience. The brand-new design also means the bottle is self-sterilising, making clean-ups a whole lot easier!
Best for: Bottle feeding around the clock
Try: Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Day & Night
• 1 150ml feeding bottle 0m+ with slow-flow teat
• 1 milk storage lid
• 1 anti-bacterial filter
Make evening feeds that little bit easier with this dream machine from Tommee Tippee. Not only does it prep the perfect bottle in just two minutes, it’s also sleep friendly with added features including a nighttime glow and volume control.
Breastfeeding accessories
You might decide to breastfeed instead of bottle feed, and while you don’t necessarily need any special equipment for breastfeeding, you may want to pick up a few accessories to make things a little more comfortable.
Breast pumps
If you need to express your milk, you can do so by hand or with the help of a breast pump. Pumps can be either manual or electric and it’s up to you which one you may prefer.
Here’s some of our top pump picks:
Best for: Painless pumping
Try: Momcozy M5 Wearable Double Electric Breast Pump
• 9 adjustable levels & 3 modes
• Comes in 5 different sizes
• With micro-vibration technology
With a precise 105-degree flange slope, this pump mimics your baby’s mouth, for a painless and comfortable experience. Wearable, lightweight and portable, you can go about your usual daily tasks while simultaneously pumping, and it even comes with three massage points to help relieve clogged milk ducts if needed.
Best for: Complete control
Try: Medela Harmony Light Manual Breast Pump
• With 2-phase expression technology
Putting you in complete control, this breast pump from Medela has a manual pump that’s designed with two-pump expression technology, which involves short, stimulating movements followed by longer more intensive ones to mimic the natural sucking rhythm of a baby.
Nipple shields
If you have flatter nipples or baby is struggling to latch, you might want to try a nipple shield.
Here’s a closer look at some nipple shield options:
Sterilising equipment
It’s really important to sterilise any baby feeding equipment to help kill bacteria and protect your baby against infection. There are a few different ways to sterilise, whether you use a sterilising solution in cold water, an electric or microwave steriliser or boiling water.
Here’s some super steriliser options:
Best for: A multi-bottle steam
Try: Tommee Tippee White Supersteam Electric Steam Steriliser for Bottles
• Fits 6 260ml bottles
• Uses 100% natural steam
Designed to fit up to six bottles at a time, this steriliser from Tommee Tippee sterilises your equipment in just five minutes.* Whether you’re steaming bottles, breast pump parts or soothers, contents stay sterile for up to 24 hours when left in with the lid closed.
Best for: A complete clean
Try: Tommee Tippee Complete Feeding Set
• 2 Natural Start Bottles & 2 Advanced Anti-Colic Bottles
• 1 Electric Steam Steriliser
• 1 Ultra-Light Soother & 1 Breast-Like Soother
• 1 Easiwarm Bottle Warmer
• 1 Insulated Bottle Bag
• 1 Bottle & Teat Brush
Take the hassle out of feeding prep with this handy all-in-one set. Complete with bottles, soothers, a bottle warmer, bottle bag, plus an electric steam steriliser and a bottle brush – you’ll have everything you need to feed baby and clean everything after!
Feeding accessories
From bibs to blenders, there’s plenty of other feeding accessories that might make mealtimes a little easier for both you and baby.
Bibs
Whether you’re after a muslin cloth to catch those milk dribbles or a waterproof bib to easily wipe clean, our selection of bibs and cloths will help save baby from all sorts of mess.
Best for: Delicate skin
Try: Nuby 4 Pack Snug & Dry Organic Bibs
• 4 pack
Keep baby’s outfits a little more protected at feeding time with these super-soft organic cotton bibs. Extra absorbent to catch dribbles and splashes, these bibs are perfect for milk-feeding babies. Not to mention the designs are absolutely adorable – and reversible too!
Baby food blenders
Whenever your little one is ready to move from milk to solids, you can prepare healthy homemade meals with the help of a baby food blender.
Here’s a few of the best blenders:
Best for: All stages of weaning
Try: Tommee Tippee Quick-Chop Mini Baby Food Blender and Chopper
• 500ml capacity bowl
• Naturally BPA free
Quickly chop, blend, puree, mince or mix a whole variety of different foods (think meat, fish, fruit and vegetables) with this baby food blender from Tommee Tippee. The simple one-touch button allows you to adjust the texture of the food according to baby’s stage of weaning, and when you’re finished, the detachable glass bowl, steel blades and silicone base are easy to clean and dishwasher friendly.
Best for: The whole family
Try: Babymoov Nutribaby (+) 5 In 1 Food Prep Machine
• 5-in-1 cooking functions
• 2.2 litre capacity
• 3 blending speeds
The ultimate multi-function food prep machine for both baby and the whole family, you can steam, blend, reheat and defrost foods, as well as sterilise baby bottles too! With two steam baskets and one large blender, prepare a variety of meals for the whole family at once.
Travel feeding accessories
Busy babies are often out and about, and they need travel-friendly accessories to keep up with them! From portable sterilisers to on-the-go bottle warmers, we’ve taken a closer look at what you might need for feeding when you’re on the move.
Portable sterilisers
As we’ve mentioned, it’s really important that all your baby feeding accessories are sterilised, and sometimes you’ll need to sterilise your bottles and equipment when you’re away from home – whether for a night or a few days.
Here’s our top portable steriliser picks:
Best for: Super-speedy sterilisation
Try: Nuby UV Steriliser Bag (Portable)
This portable steriliser bag uses ultraviolet light to sterilise your bottles (and other feeding accessories) in just three minutes with no water, microwave, chemicals or cooling time needed! Simply pop your items in the bag, zip it up, press the button and you’re good to go.
Best for: Simple sterilisation
Try: Boots Baby Disposable Sterilising Bags
• Reusable up to 20 times
Our microwave steriliser bags are easy to use and sterilise in as quick as three minutes. Ideal for travel, all you need to do is add your items and a little water, put the bag in the microwave and allow a little time for cooling.
Travel-friendly feeding
Sometimes you’ll be out and about with no microwave nearby to heat up your baby’s milk. Enter, portable bottle warmers.
Here’s some of our favourite options:
Best for: Away-from-home warming
Try: Tommee Tippee LetsGo Portable Baby Bottle Warmer
• USB rechargeable
• Compatible with Tommee Tippee bottles & other leading brands
Great for on-the-go feeding, this portable baby bottle warmer heats a bottle to body temperature in just 10 minutes. Lightweight and compact, it fits neatly in your bag, and it’s also USB rechargeable too!
Best for: Days out
Try: Tommee Tippee Portable Travel Baby Bottle, Food Warmer & Leak-Proof Flask
• Leak-proof lid
• Fits most baby bottles or food jars
Designed with travel in mind, this thermal flask keeps water hot** so you can warm a bottle of milk or a jar of baby food on the move. The compact design is ideal for slotting into your changing bag and the leak-proof lid is great for preventing spills.
While every parent and baby will have different preferences when it comes to feeding, use this checklist to help get prepped before your little bundle of joy arrives! And if you have any questions or concerns regarding feeding, don’t forget your midwife or healthcare professional is always on hand to offer guidance and support.
Frequently asked questions
How many bottles should I have?
This will depend on how much you plan on using bottles to feed your baby. If you’re only feeding your baby with a bottle, whether with formula or expressed breast milk, you may want between four to six bottles to start. If you’re only planning on using bottles occasionally, one bottle might be all you need.
Should I buy bottles if I plan to breastfeed?
This will be completely down to you. If you plan on only breastfeeding, it isn’t necessary to buy a ‘just in case’ bottle, however you might like to if you think you may use a bottle occasionally.
Why wait 30 minutes before making formula?
According to the NHS, when making formula, you’ll need to boil the kettle and then leave it to cool for no longer than 30 minutes, so it stays at a temperature of at least 70C.
Once you’ve made up the bottle, it’s important to cool the formula so it’s not too hot to drink. You can do this by holding the bottle under cold running water. Make sure to test the temperature on the inside of your wrist before giving it to your baby – it should be body temperature.
