There are a number of alternative soft bottles available on the internet or high street. Brands include Vital and Nuby bottles. However, these are not designed specifically for babies with a cleft, so parents should always consult with their Cleft Nurse Specialists before purchasing or using any of these. N.B: All NUK Soothers have an AIR SYSTEM. A vent allows air to escape from the baglet when it is pressed together by the palate. This means that the teat always fits a child´s mouth perfectly. During boiling, water can get into the baglet through the vent.

Using them for longer than this can lead to problems. Your baby may become used to the swollen size of the teats and find it difficult to use new teats, as they are not available in larger sizes. It can also be dangerous, as small tears will start to form in the delicate latex and make these teats harder to properly sterilise. The Dr. Brown’s Specialty Feeding System was designed together with health professionals to help babies with feeding issues like those that often occur with a cleft lip and/or palate. Generally speaking, all teats, whether they are made of silicone or latex, should be replaced every 1 to 2 months. Note: Bottles should not be handled/ scrubbed (outside surface) or wiped with a cloth until they have fully cooled down (if using steam or microwave to sterilize) as it will lead to the ink coming off the bottles. With excessive sterilization and/or rough scrubbing of the exterior of the bottle, the ink on some Dr Brown’s bottles may peel or fade over time.Source: Gemeinsame Elterninitiative Plötzlicher Säuglingstod (GEPS) Deutschland e.V. (German Joint Parent Cot Death Initiative)

A little tip: the American Academy of Pediatrics advises always giving soothers to babies until they are one year old, whenever they are going to sleep - day or night. 3MAM teats come in three varieties: Non-Vented All Ages, Vented Newborn, and Vented All Ages. These teats are all considered ‘medium flow’. All teats have a small ‘dimple’ in the side, and in Vented teats there is a small slit in this dimple to help with the elimination of extra air during feeding. If you’re using vented teats, make sure to keep the vent on the top as these teats will badly leak otherwise. The difference between newborn and all ages sizes can be seen above. Whether a natural product or a special synthetic material, all NUK Teats are soft and adapt to the inside of a child’s mouth. Of course you can also switch between teat materials. In case you are unsure of which material is better for your child, you can let your child decide too: many accept only the one but not the other.

As every material has its individual advantages and disadvantages, we offer a selection of robust baby drinking bottles made of glass as well as baby drinking bottles made of high-quality polypropylene (PP) and polyamide (PA), naturally free of BPA. The lightweight and unbreakable plastic material of the NUK baby drinking bottles is a good choice when on the go and promotes the learning effect when drinking, as the little ones can easily hold the weight of the bottle themselves without any danger. Baby bottles made of polyamide are highly transparent and come visually closer to the glass bottle. Baby bottles made of polypropylene, on the other hand, can be frozen and heated in the microwave. Note: If searching online or elsewhere for “Dr. Brown’s Bottles” be aware that Infant Paced Feeding Valves are only included with “Dr. Brown’s Specialty Feeding System” also known as “Dr. Brown’s Zero Resistance Feeding System” bottles and are not included with any other type of Dr. Brown’s bottle such as “Options” or “Anti-Colic” bottles. Soon the probably most exciting and beautiful challenge of your life will begin: Your baby will be born and you, as a mum or dad, couldn't be happier or more proud about your little one! Especially in the first few months of life, you give your little darling a lot of attention and want to be perfectly equipped for all eventualities. The popular soother, which soothes your baby in every situation and provides gentle moments of well-being is an integral part of yours baby's basic equipment. The soother: For your child's healthy oral development The orthodontic NUK teat was developed based on this knowledge. Even if you are not supposed to breastfeed (any more), the teat supports your baby as naturally as possible.

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Scientists from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2examined this hypothesis and assessed relevant international studies from the years 1966 to 2004. However, plastic is neither as heat-resistant as glass and nor as scratchproof. When the bottles are scratched inside, you should replace them, as germs can settle in the scratches more easily. Some parents prefer these to the MAM bottles as they may be softer and easier to squeeze. While this can be a relief to parents struggling to keep squeezing the MAM bottles, it can also be dangerous, as too much milk squeezed into the baby’s mouth can cause them to choke, or ‘aspirate’. This is why it’s vital that parents are properly trained and follow all advice from their Cleft Nurse Specialist. NUK Teats With this system, the baby is ‘feeding themselves’ as they control the flow of milk, so it teaches babies to self-regulate. In addition, they will fit milk storage bottles, for example Axifeed, ARDO Clinistore. They will also fit Hipp Organic Combiotic First Infant Milk 200ml size and most 70ml 'starter' bottles.