Bottles
The Avent Reusable Bottle (below) is designed to reduce the risk of colic in a baby. The teat is intended to mimic the form and function of the breast as closely as possible to permit the baby to suckle continuously and cut down the amount of air taken in. The feeding process produces a 'gentle whistling' sound to indicate that air is going into the bottle and not into the baby's stomach. The bottle has a wide neck to make cleaning easier and comes with a domed cap that seals the teat and makes it leak-proof. The bottle is available in two sizes - 125ml or 260ml - and is priced from 3.25. Twin packs are priced from 5.75.
Telephone 0800 289064 www.avent.com
Air Control Bottles and Teats by Tigex come in a choice of three designs: blue or yellow trim with plain bottle and Clover Cow or Giraffes; and two sizes: 120ml or 330ml, with or without 'arms'. The teats are available in latex or silicone and in two sizes: newborn or standard, with a ventilation valve and variable flow device to permit a slow, medium or fast flow. They are priced from 3. Available from Cheeky Rascals.
Telephone 0870 8732 600 www.cheeky rascals.co.uk
The latest addition to the Babies R Us feeding range is the bottle crate that comes with its own carry handle. The bottle crate comes complete with six standard, 250ml feeding bottles and medium flow, silicone teats and includes a set of teat tongs, priced at 9.99.
Telephone 0845 786 9778 www. babiesrus.co.uk
If you want to inject some humour into your nursery you might like to consider the new Cow Print Bottle from Urchin (which would co-ordinate with the Spotty Potty, see Nursery Equipment, Spring 2004, page 14). This bottle is white with black spots and has a pink 'udder shaped' cap. It comes with a silicone vari-flow teat, stands 17cm tall and is priced 6.95.
Telephone 0870 720 0709 www.urchin.co.uk
Training cups
Tomy's Cup System comes with two cups and two different lids, one with a spout and one with a 'rim'. The screw-on lids are interchangeable with the cups and the cups are translucent so that you can see how much liquid they contain. Each cup has soft moulded handles to facilitate an easy grip. They are available in aqua with pink and yellow trim and suitable for six-month-olds upwards, priced 6.99.
Telephone 020 8722 7300 www.tomy.co.uk
The Mothercare range of ''Growing up' cups includes four different styles.
The 'growing up' trainer cup has a transparent body, two 'easy grip'
handles, an 'easy drink' spout, is non-spill and holds 260ml. Suitable for three months and upwards the trainer cup is priced 2.79. The next stage is covered by the 'growing up' beaker which has a moulded shape to facilitate easy handling, is non-spill and holds 260ml. Suitable for six-month-olds and upwards, priced 2.79. The third stage in the range is the 'growing up' tumbler which has the same moulding, spout and non-spill features but holds 400ml, price as before. The final stage in the range is the 'growing up' flip-top straw beaker which has a non-spill flip-up soft, flexible straw, holds 440ml and is suitable for nine-month-olds and upwards, priced 2.99.
Telephone 08453 304030 www.mothercare.com
Avent's Magic Cup contains a patented valve, which flexes to permit air back into the cup so that there is a continuous flow of liquid, the risk of colic is reduced and the cup is spill proof. This cup comes in two sizes: the 200ml cup has a soft spout to help the transition from breast or bottle feeding and a snap-on lid; the 260ml cup has a 'toddler spout' and snap-on lid. Both cups are available with or without handles and extra handles are available separately. The spouts and valves also fit Avent's reusable bottles (see above) and convert them to being spill-proof as well.
Available in a wide range of colours, priced from 3.35. Telephone as before Babies R Us own-label cup in the 'soft-grip' range is leak-proof and spill-proof and comes with a sipper top and non-slip grip spots on the sides. The cup comes in yellow with green trim, has a screw-on lid, holds 180ml and is dishwasher safe, priced 2.69.
Telephone as before
Tommee Tippee's First Cup has two grip handles and a moulded lip for comfortable drinking. The cup is designed to be especially durable and is dishwasher safe. Priced 2.20 each or 11 for a set of six from Hope Education.
Telephone 08451 202055 www.hope-education.co.uk
Sterilisers
Mothercare's Electric steam steriliser comes with a stacking rack and tongs and holds six standard or four wide neck bottles. The process takes nine minutes and items remain sterile for up to three hours, providing the lid is not removed. The steriliser comes in white with a transparent blue lid, priced at 30. A Mothercare Microwave steriliser is also available and this holds four bottles and takes five minutes in a 1000W microwave, priced at Pounds 13.
Telephone as before
Avent's new Express iQ steam steriliser incorporates a digital display to show when the unit is ready for use, when the water has turned to steam, how much time is left to completion, when the cycle is complete, a three-hour countdown of sterile time and if there is too much or too little water left in the unit. The sterilising process takes six minutes for up to six bottles. The steriliser comes with an internal rack to accommodate small accessories and this can be clipped together to form a dishwasher basket to wash small items before they are sterlised. Priced at 50.
Telephone as before
Babies 'R' Us Rapid steam steriliser comes with an 'easy to remove' shelf and holds nine standard or six wide neck bottles. The unit includes a heat-sensitive safety handle and a water measure with filter. The sterilising process takes six minutes and items remain sterile for up to three hours, priced 29.99.
Telephone as before
AIR DRYING
'Air drying' is more hygienic and less time consuming than drying cups with a tea towel and Urchin's new Beaker and Bottle Dryer could help keep surfaces tidy. The dryer contains ten bright green, flexible spokes that are designed to save space and the unit measures 23 x 9 x 20cm, priced 7.95. Telephone as above
SAFETY HINTS
Always ensure you match the correct teat to the age of the baby: slow flow is suitable for one-month-olds and breast fed babies; medium flow is for three-month-olds and upwards; fast flow is for six-month-olds and upwards.
Variable flow teats are not normally recommended for babies under three months old.
Always stick to the recommended times when sterilising bottles, including the 'three hour maximum' for use after sterilisation.
Continue to sterilise bottles and feeding cups until the babies using them are at least nine months old.