Frequently Asked Questions about Bottles and Teats
What is the difference between latex and silicone?
Latex is a high quality, natural material, harvested from plantation trees. It is durable, with excellent resistance to pulling, prevents tears from splitting further and is extremely elastic. It is a natural product, so fats in the milk can cause it to age, and direct sunlight causes it to age. Latex is softer than silicone. You will need to replace latex teats every 4-6 weeks, especially once it becomes sticky.
Silicone is a temperature resistant, high quality plastic, widely used in medical apparatus. Direct sunlight and fats do not cause it to age, however, it is more easily scratched than latex. As with any baby product, you will need to replace the teat at the first sign of teeth marks or damage. Silicone is easier to clean than latex, but is not as bite resistant and not as soft or flexible.
Should I use a silicone or latex teat?
Which teat you will use depends on your baby, and on your preferences. Do remember that all babies are different, and they all have their own likes and dislikes! It may be worth purchasing different types of teats at first to see which your baby prefers. Some babies don't like the new taste of a latex teat, so to take away this taste, just boil the teat for 3 minutes in milk to neutralise the taste.
Can I put bottles in the microwave to heat up food or drink?
The manufacturer does not advise heating or sterilising bottles in the microwave. This includes teats and collars of bottles. With plastic there is a danger that the material may become affected or misshapen. The material ages more quickly and cracks appear, subsequently causing the material to break.
Microwaves heat food unevenly, resulting in hot patches and lukewarm patches which can cause serious burns and scalding of the oesophagus. Contents of the bottles can also boil only when taken out of the microwave, causing the liquid or food to bubble after they have been taken out.
How do I sterilise the bottles?
You can sterilise your bottles as normal: with a sterilising solution, or in a standard steam steriliser. The glass bottles can also be sterilised by boiling.
Can I put bottles in the dishwasher?
Glass bottles are dishwasher safe. Be aware, though, that dishwasher cleaning agents are very aggressive and can damage and scratch the material, causing premature wear of the material and even breaking.
All the Baby Nova bottles can be sterilised in standard sterilisers, and the glass bottles can also be sterilised by boiling.
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