Mom's Editorial

I started my baby on top feed from her first month itself. The reasons being varied – from making sure that she gets used to a bottle in case I have to be somewhere without her, to problems with a proper latch. When I started top feed with her, the very first problem I encountered was which brand and size of bottle I should use for her. I tried every brand from Chicco to Pigeon to Philips Avent. So based on my experience of these feeding bottles nipples, here is what you need to know about a Pigeon Peristaltic Nipples.

First things first – Peristaltic nipples allow for a very natural “wave-like” tongue movement of the baby that squeezes the nipple to extract milk out of it.

Pigeon peristaltic nipples come in different sizes –

• Super Small (SS) – 0m+
• Small (S) – 1m+
• Medium (M) – 3m+
• Large (L) – 6m+

These sizes are perfect for babies in different age groups.

I remember initially when I wasn’t quite familiar with feeding bottles, their shapes and sizes, I bought a brand of bottle without having any idea about them. Since my baby was around 2-3 weeks at the time and very hungry, she gulped the entire feeding of 30 ml in less than a minute. The result? Some of the milk was poured out of her mouth and choked on the rest she took in.

It happened not once but every time I used it. Then someone told me about the peristaltic nipple and I never turned away from it once I started using.

Now that my baby is over 4 months, I’m on the Medium size of the nipple that allows for more consistent flow.

Reasons to like it:

• You’ll know that Pigeon’s Peristaltic Nipples are superior quality by just looking at them.
• The nipple comes with an AVS – Air Ventilation System that helps adjust the air pressure inside the bottle. Consequently, less air bubbles are formed and your baby will be less gassy after a bottle feed.
• The horizontal lines inside the nipple help make it flexible enough for the baby to move it easily in her mouth.
• Your baby will be better able to latch on to the nipple.
• Although the surface of the nipple is very soft, it does not collapse.

Reasons to dislike it:

• Since a peristaltic feeding nipple allows for natural sucking pattern and slow flow, it does get a little frustrating for the baby if your baby is used to a faster flow of the nipple.
• When my baby is very hungry, she wants milk to flow faster in bottle, and if she doesn’t get it, she gets very cranky.
• In case you want a microwave safe bottle, you have the option of buying a Pigeon glass bottle. But when you heat water or milk in the bottle, make sure you have taken the nipple and the lid of.

Given the choice, I’d prefer a peristaltic nipple for any baby younger than 6 months.