Bottle teat flow rates, and how to tell you have the wrong one
Most feeding problems people bring to the counter are not the bottle. They are the hole in the end of it.
What flow rate means
Flow rate describes how quickly milk leaves the teat under a baby's suck. Slow, medium and fast are manufacturer scales, not a standard, so a fast teat in one range can pour like a medium in another.
That is why switching brands sometimes solves a problem that changing sizes within a brand did not.
Signs the flow is too fast
Gulping, milk escaping at the corners of the mouth, pulling off the teat, coughing, and a feed that finishes suspiciously quickly.
A baby who seems to be fighting the bottle is often just trying to keep up with it.
Signs the flow is too slow
Long feeds, falling asleep partway, frustration and pulling at the teat, and a collapsed teat that has to be released.
Slow flow is the safer error, which is why starting slow and moving up is the usual advice.
Age guidance is a starting point
A teat marked 6+ months is a suggestion based on averages. Plenty of babies stay on a slower flow much longer, particularly if they also breastfeed.
There is no benefit in moving up on schedule if the current one is working.
Anti-colic vents
Vented teats let air into the bottle rather than into the baby. They help with wind for some babies and make no difference to others.
They do add parts to wash, which is a real consideration at three in the morning.
Why we cannot take an opened teat back
Anything a baby mouths cannot go back on the shelf once the seal is broken. That is why we would rather talk sizes with you before you buy.
Call the shop and describe the feed. It is usually a quick conversation.
When to replace them
Teats perish. Discolouration, stickiness, swelling or a hole that has widened all mean it is time, and that happens sooner than most people expect with frequent sterilising.
Check them in daylight every few weeks, and replace the whole set together so flow stays consistent.
Where this sits in the shop
Lullaby Baby groups its range into 6 sections, so it is usually quicker to start from the group than to scroll the whole shop. These are the ones with stock on the shelf right now:
- Bath and Skincare — 8 items
- Sippy and Straw Cups — 4 items
- Feeding and Weaning — 2 items
- Bottles and Nipples — 2 items
- Nursery and Safety — 2 items
- Hair and Grooming — 1 item
If none of those is obviously right, the full shop lists everything on one page.
What it costs
Across the 19 items currently listed, prices run from $4.97 to $149.99, with the middle of the range around $14.50. That spread is worth knowing before you start comparing, because the cheapest and dearest options here are usually not the same kind of product at all.
Shipping is a flat $5.99 per order and free once the order reaches $49.00, which is set out in full on the Shipping Policy page.
Questions that come up with this
Are you an actual shop or only a website?
An actual shop. The address is 488 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215 and the opening hours are Mon–Thu: 11:00 AM–6:00 PM · Fri: 10:00 AM–2:00 PM · Sat: Closed · Sun: 11:00 AM–5:00 PM. The website carries part of what is on the shelves.
When will my parcel arrive?
We pack within one to two business days, and delivery inside the United States usually takes another two to five.
How much is delivery?
$5.49 flat, or nothing once the basket passes $45.00.
The FAQ page covers the rest.
Coming in instead
Lullaby Baby is at 488 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215, open Mon–Thu: 11:00 AM–6:00 PM · Fri: 10:00 AM–2:00 PM · Sat: Closed · Sun: 11:00 AM–5:00 PM. If you would rather look at something before buying it, call +1 718-499-2742 and we will put it aside for you.
Anything already ordered can be followed on the order tracking page.
Four products that show the range
The least expensive way in: The Honest Company Multi-Use Baby Wipes, Geo Mood, 60 Count at $4.97. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.
A step up from the basics: Burt’s Bees Baby Dusting Powder, 7.5 Ounces | Talc-Free, Pediatrician Tested, Baby Skin Care Essential, Helps Keep Skin Soft and Dry, 100 Percent Natural Origin at $8.79. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.
A middle-of-the-range option: Re-Play Spill-Proof Sippy Cups for Toddlers – Kids Reusable 10 Oz Set of 4, Dishwasher & Microwave Safe, Made in USA, Aqua, Lime, Yellow, Teal at $22.99. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.
The most substantial option: LININYHAO 4 in 1 Height Adjustable Baby Playard, Foldable Nursery Center with Music Box Toy Rack, Side Storage, Changing Table, Large Portable Playpen for Newborns and Toddlers at $149.99. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.
Related reading
Other pieces in this journal that cover neighbouring ground:
- Moving from bottle to cup without a fight
- Fragrance-free baby wash: what the label is actually telling you
- Starting solids: the equipment that earns its place
- Anchoring furniture: the ten-minute job people keep postponing
The full journal index lists everything we have written so far.
In short
Most feeding problems people bring to the counter are not the bottle. They are the hole in the end of it. If you want to talk it through rather than read about it, +1 718-499-2742 reaches the shop during opening hours, and the contact page has everything else.