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If breast feeding isn't an option (wasn't for us), use glass up until they're old enough that they want to start holding their own bottle. After that we've use

If breast feeding isn't an option (wasn't for us), use glass up until they're old enough that they want to start holding their own bottle. After that we've used the playtex liners. They're LDPE (polyethylene) and not known to leach any chemicals known or suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones. The nipples are 100% silicone, with the only cautions coming from cooking in silicone (primarily baking) far exceeding the temperatures you'll ever get warming a bottle. Make sure any glass bottles have silicone nipples too (some brands don't). The reason to use the disposable liners is basically: no concerns about BPA, less hassle, you can warm the milk faster, and you only have to sterilize the nipples (most important in the first few months to prevent thrush, which can stop them drinking). Using stainless steel is risky due to manganese, which means they're either coated with polycarbonate meaning BPA, or PET. So you've got a stainless steel coated polyethylene liner... kind of redundant. We used to float the liners in a Thermos full of hot tap water, it was usually at temp within 5 minutes (you can do the stir and shake in emergencies, and you get it warmed in about a minute). Good luck, don't panic! You need to conserve that vital energy for sleep. My son is almost 15 months. I've been so long without sleep, that the rare occasion I get 8 hours or more I think my body just assumes I'm dead and starts breaking down.

bollockitis 12y ago
> You need to conserve that vital energy for sleep. My son is almost 15 months. I've been so long without sleep, that the rare occasion I get 8 hours or more I think my body just assumes I'm dead and starts breaking down. I feel your pain. My daughter just turned 1. Up until a month ago, she was still waking up 3 or 4 times a night. Sometimes more. We had gone so long without regular sleep that my wife and I had gained over 30 pounds. We became irritable, tense, and we were getting ourselves noticed at work for poor performance and tardiness. And despite being happily married for nearly 15 years, our mariage was in jeopardy. We decided it was time to try sleep training. We first tried a gentle, "fewer tears" method[1]. It sort of worked, but my daughter quickly regressed and became worse than before. Our presence stimulated her rather than soothed her, so staying in the room just made things worse. So, in desperation, we tried Jodi Mindell's more old-fashioned method[2]. It worked. Beginning on night 3 of sleep training, we got 8 hours of unbroken, joyous sleep, and we have gotten regular sleep ever since. My daughter still wakes from time-to-time, but it's no big deal now. We can put her back to sleep in a matter of minutes rather than the hours it used to take before. The best part though is that my daughter is so much more rested as well. We didn't realize that her poor sleep habits were taking such a toll on her. After a few days of good sleep, she began to smile and laugh more often. She began babbling like never before. She was less cranky, more patient, and her daytime naps even improved. It was like a damn miracle. Anyway, long story short: take your own advice and prioritize your sleep. If you haven't tried sleep training yet, do it. [1]: http://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Lady%C2%AE%C2%92s-Good-Night-Tight/dp/1593155581 http://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Lady%C2%AE%C2%92s-Good-Night-Tig... [2]: http://www.amazon.com/Sleeping-Through-Night-Infants-Toddlers-ebook/dp/B000FC13TU http://www.amazon.com/Sleeping-Through-Night-Infants-Toddler...
- electromagnetic 12y ago
  My little guy after his acid reflux settled down at 3 months was actually a good sleeper. The issue is me and my wife are both in the midst of starting up our own businesses. So we get our little guy down at about 7:30 and then work begins again. It actually wasn't an issue when I was on a keto diet, but since Christmas when I went off its just taken its toll. I think its just telling me to go back on the diet.
icambron 12y ago
> After that we've used the playtex liners. Why did you wait until then? Is it that you prefer glass bottles but they're too heavy for the baby to hold? I have a 6-day-old (breastfed so far, but pumping means bottles get used too), so I'm trying to figure all this out. Maybe I'll order some glass bottles.
- electromagnetic 12y ago
  Honestly, as Dad I didn't give a shit. My wife and MIL were all about sterilising, and the liners aren't guaranteed sterile so for the first few months there's the risk of thrush. We stopped because glass is too heavy for baby, which means they drop the bottle and I don't care what company claims they've got an "unshatterable" glass bottle, it will and it will when you're home alone with the baby and have to step on broken glass to get out the chair. (Sod's Law) When my wife was breast feeding we were using iirc madella bottles, they're a pump manufacturer and use all polyethylene for their parts and silicone for their nipples. The advantage of the Playtex system is that its very light, especially compared to some of the other bottles. In a rush you only need to wash the nipple, which comes in handy. And since my son started walking, having a bottle that cannot shatter is very reassuring. He can walk about with his bottle and I don't have to worry about him smacking it against the metal leg of a chair and smashing it (boys, it happens).
  - icambron 12y ago
    Cool, thanks. We have a combination of Medela and Phillips Avent stuff, and it looks like they're all polypropeline, so we'll probably just stick with those. Glass seems like a hassle and I'm also not very worried about sterilization.

bollockitis 12y ago

> You need to conserve that vital energy for sleep. My son is almost 15 months. I've been so long without sleep, that the rare occasion I get 8 hours or more I think my body just assumes I'm dead and starts breaking down. I feel your pain. My daughter just turned 1. Up until a month ago, she was still waking up 3 or 4 times a night. Sometimes more. We had gone so long without regular sleep that my wife and I had gained over 30 pounds. We became irritable, tense, and we were getting ourselves noticed at work for poor performance and tardiness. And despite being happily married for nearly 15 years, our mariage was in jeopardy. We decided it was time to try sleep training. We first tried a gentle, "fewer tears" method[1]. It sort of worked, but my daughter quickly regressed and became worse than before. Our presence stimulated her rather than soothed her, so staying in the room just made things worse. So, in desperation, we tried Jodi Mindell's more old-fashioned method[2]. It worked. Beginning on night 3 of sleep training, we got 8 hours of unbroken, joyous sleep, and we have gotten regular sleep ever since. My daughter still wakes from time-to-time, but it's no big deal now. We can put her back to sleep in a matter of minutes rather than the hours it used to take before. The best part though is that my daughter is so much more rested as well. We didn't realize that her poor sleep habits were taking such a toll on her. After a few days of good sleep, she began to smile and laugh more often. She began babbling like never before. She was less cranky, more patient, and her daytime naps even improved. It was like a damn miracle. Anyway, long story short: take your own advice and prioritize your sleep. If you haven't tried sleep training yet, do it. [1]: http://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Lady%C2%AE%C2%92s-Good-Night-Tight/dp/1593155581 http://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Lady%C2%AE%C2%92s-Good-Night-Tig... [2]: http://www.amazon.com/Sleeping-Through-Night-Infants-Toddlers-ebook/dp/B000FC13TU http://www.amazon.com/Sleeping-Through-Night-Infants-Toddler...

electromagnetic 12y ago
My little guy after his acid reflux settled down at 3 months was actually a good sleeper. The issue is me and my wife are both in the midst of starting up our own businesses. So we get our little guy down at about 7:30 and then work begins again. It actually wasn't an issue when I was on a keto diet, but since Christmas when I went off its just taken its toll. I think its just telling me to go back on the diet.

icambron 12y ago

> After that we've used the playtex liners. Why did you wait until then? Is it that you prefer glass bottles but they're too heavy for the baby to hold? I have a 6-day-old (breastfed so far, but pumping means bottles get used too), so I'm trying to figure all this out. Maybe I'll order some glass bottles.

electromagnetic 12y ago
Honestly, as Dad I didn't give a shit. My wife and MIL were all about sterilising, and the liners aren't guaranteed sterile so for the first few months there's the risk of thrush. We stopped because glass is too heavy for baby, which means they drop the bottle and I don't care what company claims they've got an "unshatterable" glass bottle, it will and it will when you're home alone with the baby and have to step on broken glass to get out the chair. (Sod's Law) When my wife was breast feeding we were using iirc madella bottles, they're a pump manufacturer and use all polyethylene for their parts and silicone for their nipples. The advantage of the Playtex system is that its very light, especially compared to some of the other bottles. In a rush you only need to wash the nipple, which comes in handy. And since my son started walking, having a bottle that cannot shatter is very reassuring. He can walk about with his bottle and I don't have to worry about him smacking it against the metal leg of a chair and smashing it (boys, it happens).
- icambron 12y ago
  Cool, thanks. We have a combination of Medela and Phillips Avent stuff, and it looks like they're all polypropeline, so we'll probably just stick with those. Glass seems like a hassle and I'm also not very worried about sterilization.