When Should Your Baby Move Up a Nipple Size?

There are so many different types of baby bottle on the market these days, sometimes it can be hard to know which bottles are the best and which type of nipple your baby should drink from.

First off, we do recommend that your baby drink from a more traditional type of bottle nipple, rather than any purporting to be “more breast-shaped”. A silicone nipple can not accurately represent a human breast, and your baby may latch onto it more shallowly and have difficulty properly sucking and swallowing. Therefore we recommend a more elongated traditionally shaped nipple such as Dr Browns or the yellow Gerber ones.

Which Number or “Level” Nipple Does My Baby Need?

Birth to 3 Months:

A “Level 1” or slow-flow nipple. A tiny baby is still figuring out how to coordinate sucking and swallowing, so it’s important to avoid milk flowing quickly into their mouths which can cause choking, dribbling, and vomiting. Use a slow flow nipple for these young babies. An additional benefit of a slow-flow nipple for a newborn, if you are hoping to breastfeed when possible, is that it will help your baby avoid becoming wholly dependent on the bottle and unable to switch back and forth from breast to bottle.

3-5 Months:

Medium flow or “Level 2” Nipple. Once your baby develops great head control, has an established feeding routine, and begins to seem frustrated at the slow flow of milk, it’s a great time to increase the milk flow speed of the nipple. Move up to the next size. Your baby should not be taking longer than 30 minutes to feed.

6+ Months:

Fast Flow or “Level 3” Nipple.

Once your baby is able to sit up, shows interest in solids, and wants to quickly drain a bottle so they can get back to playing, you can comfortably move them up to a fast flow nipple. Your baby should not be choking, dribbling, or spitting up excessively, so just keep an eye out.

Good to Know:

Please keep in mind that different bottle manufacturers may use different numbers or “levels” to describe their nipple sizes. Not every bottle manufacturer labels them the same way. When you have decided which type of bottle you want to use, be sure to read the manufacturer’s labeling and choose the slowest level for a newborn, a medium level for a 3 month old (approx) and a faster level for a 6 month old (approx).

Be sure to consult your baby’s pediatrician if you have any concerns with weight gain, excessive spitting up, choking, or any other concerns related to bottle feeding your baby!