- 1: What factors should I consider when choosing glass or plastic nursing bottles?
- 1: Both glass and plastic bottles can be sterilized by boiling, steaming in the microwave, or soaking in a chemical sterilizing solution. Both bottle types have advantages. You might want to try using glass bottles at home and plastic bottles when you are away from home.
- 2: What precautions should I take when using glass bottles?
- 2: Always remember glass bottles are breakable. The glass used in nursing bottles is strong, but bottles may break when dropped or hit by a hard object, or when hot water is poured into a cold bottle. In addition, chips in the glass can cause it to break, so you should check for cracks and chips regularly. When preparing a bottle, use water that is about 50-60°C, the same for milk formula. Do not let babies hold glass bottles by themselves.
- 3: Why did the bottom of the glass bottle fall off when I was preparing formula?
- 3: Glass bottles do not withstand internal pressure very well. If you shake one when it is full of hot water, the increase in internal pressure can cause chips to crack open. This is especially true if the bottom of the bottle is chipped. Internal pressure may force the bottom to fall off. Be sure to check for cracks and chips each time you use a glass bottle. Furthermore, when preparing a bottle, use hot water that has been cooled to 50-60°C and mix the contents by stirring from the bottom before you attach the nipple.
- 4: Why does milk leak from between the bottle and the cap when I'm feeding my baby?
- 4: The cap may be loose, and this can cause leaks. The nipple of a nursing bottle allows the milk to flow smoothly, and it also serves as a seal between the bottle and the cap. If the cap is loose, the nipple can no longer function as an effective seal, so milk may leak from the space between the bottle and the cap. Make sure that the cap is tightly closed. In addition, milk may leak if the air intake holes (air valves) have become enlarged for some reason.
- 5: Are recommended nipple sizes marked on the bottles?
- 5: Nipple hole size differs depending on the material, capacity, and design of the bottle for which the nipples are intended.
- 6: Can I wash nursing bottles in an ordinary dishwasher?
- 6: All Pigeon glass and plastic nursing bottles, as well as their nipples, caps and hoods, are heat-resistant and can be sterilized in boiling water. However, it is sometimes difficult to clean bottles because of their long, cylindrical shape. Consult the instruction manual that comes with your dishwasher if you want to use it to wash bottles. We do not recommend washing nipples in the dishwasher, because prolonged exposure to high temperatures during the drying process may cause the rubber material to deteriorate.
- 7: Why do bubbles appear in the milk when my baby is drinking from the bottle?
- 7: Bubbles in the milk are a sign that your baby is drinking smoothly. The nipples of Pigeon nursing bottles have air intake holes (air valves). Taking in air allows the milk to flow smoothly, and the bubbles that form are a sign that air is coming in and that the baby is able to drink smoothly. If there are no bubbles at all, that means that the milk is not flowing well, so loosen the cap a little to let in some air.
- 8: Is it safe to use polycarbonate bottles even though they contain Bisphenol A?
- 8: Pigeon polycarbonate nursing bottles fully meet the standards established by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare in the Food Hygiene Law, so you do not have to be concerned about using them. To give our customers a choice, we also sell glass and PPSU (polyphenylsulphone)bottles. Pigeon has been conducting research on the safety of various chemical substances for many years, and will continue to produce safe products that meet the highest standards.
- 9: Why does milk spurt out when I turn the bottle upside down?
- 9: Expanding air forces the milk out. If a nipple has a round hole, tilting the bottle after preparing it causes the milk to spurt out. This is caused by air that has expanded due to the increase in temperature. The amount that comes out is at most 7 to 8 ml. Conditions soon stabilize so that only a couple of drops come out, and you can start feeding your baby.
- 10: Can I warm cooled, boiled water in the microwave oven?
- 10: Yes, remove the cap, hood and nipple from a bottle and fill it slightly more than half full with water before putting it in the microwave oven. You can use either a glass or a plastic bottle.
Caution: Do not use anything other than the Auto or Microwave function of your microwave oven to warm a bottle. Wipe any water droplets from the outside of the bottle before putting it in the microwave oven to prevent burns when you remove it. Also be sure not to heat the bottle for too long. Please follow the directions in the instruction manual that comes with your microwave oven.
- 11: What methods can be used to sterilize nursing bottles?
- 11: All Pigeon nursing bottles, whether made of glass or plastic, can be sterilized by boiling, steaming in the microwave, or soaking in chemical sterilizing solutions.
- 13: What should I do when the nipple collapses and my baby has trouble drinking?
- 13: If the air holes do not function normally, or if your baby sucks so vigorously that the air holes do not work, the nipple may collapse.
If milk or other materials are clogging the air holes, wash the holes and gently poke them open using a toothpick or similar instrument.
If air is not flowing smoothly because the cap is closed too tightly, see if loosening the cap a little helps.
If the nipple collapses due too vigorous sucking, try using a larger nipple that is one size up.
- 14: Why does the nipple turn white after I put it in a chemical sterilizing solution, and is it safe to use?
- 14: The rubber used to make nipples absorbs moisture when soaked in water for a long time, and takes on a whitish color. This kind of rubber also turns white when soaked in sterilizing solutions, but it is still safe to use.
- 15: When my baby drinks fruit juice, why do colors and odors remain on the Silicone Nipple, and is it still safe to use?
- 15: Silicone Nipple absorbs colors and odors. Once a substance has been absorbed, it can't be removed. Nipples absorb the color of juice or the odors of detergent or other nearby items, but they are still safe to use.
- 16: How often should I change nipples on a bottle?
- 16: Two different types of materials are used to make nipples, isoprene rubber and silicone rubber. If you use 3 or 4 Isoprene Rubber Nipples interchangeably during the same period, they should last 3 to 4 weeks. Under the same conditions, Silicone Nipples should last about 2 months.
- 17: Why does the Wide-neck Peristaltic Nipple collapse while my baby is drinking?
- 17: If the air holes do not function properly, or if your baby sucks so vigorously that the air valves cannot keep pace, the nipple may collapse. Bubbles in the milk indicate that the baby is drinking smoothly, but if no bubbles are seen, remove the nipple from your baby's mouth and check the following:
If the openings in the air valves are stuck together, take a nipple pin and poke the air valve to make sure that the opening is clear.
If the nipple has collapsed because your baby is sucking too forcefully, try using a Y-cut nipple if you have been using an S-size nipple.
- 18: My baby takes a long time to finish a bottle when I use an S-size nipple, but with an M-size nipple, he takes only 5 or 6 minutes. Is this all right?
- 18: If babies are experiencing the same approximate conditions as when drinking from their mother's breast, they should take 10 to 15 minutes for each feeding. If you are using an S-size nipple, you don't have to change it as long as your baby finishes in 10-15 minutes. The next sizes up are M and Y-cut. If the milk flows too fast with an M-size or Y-cut nipple, try tightening the cap of the bottle.
- 19: Do I have to use a special nipple for juice?
- 19: Nipples designed for drinking juice have holes that allow your baby to drink even thick juices or those with a high quantity of fiber. (Note that you should avoid using Silicone Nipples for this purpose, since they can absorb the color of the juice).
- 20: Does Pigeon have a nipple especially for cooled boiled water? When I attach the S-size nipple to the bottle, my baby seems to have a little difficulty in drinking water.
- 20: Pigeon does not have any special nipples for drinking water. The smallest hole size available is S. If your baby has difficulty drinking from a bottle, try tightening the cap.
- 21: I'm using an S-size Silicone Nipple, but there is still milk left even after my baby has been drinking for 20 minutes. Is this all right?
- 21: The recommended time for each feeding is 10-15 minutes. If your baby is taking 20 minutes or longer, try loosening the cap of the bottle a little. If that doesn't work, switch to an M-size or Y-cut nipple.
- 22: Does Pigeon have nipples made of natural rubber?
- 22: No, we don't. Pigeon makes two types of nipples, silicone rubber and isoprene rubber, both of which are compound rubbers. Isoprene rubber most resembles natural rubber in color and elasticity.
- 23: Can Pigeon nipples be used on bottles from other manufacturers?
- 23: No, they cannot. Be sure to use Pigeon nipples with Pigeon nursing bottles. There are no common industry-wide specifications for nursing bottles, and each company follows its own specifications.
- 24: How can I tell the different sizes of nipples apart?
- 24: In the case of Silicone Nipples, the size is displayed on the base. Only the M-size of Isoprene Rubber Nipples displays the size. You can determine the size of the hole in a nipple by comparing it with an M-size nipple. If the hole is smaller, it's S-size; if it's larger, it's L-size. To check a Y-cut or Cross Cut nipple, pinch the tip with your fingers to ascertain the shape of the cut.
- 25: When I tilt a bottle with a Y-cut nipple, no milk comes out. How can I test the temperature?
- 25: Since the Y-cut nipple is designed to let milk flow when the baby presses it in his or her mouth, nothing comes out if you merely tilt the bottle. Some experts advise that you test the temperature on the inner surface of your arm, but if you're using a Y-cut nipple, check the temperature by touching the surface of the bottle.
- 26: Should I wash the bottle and nipple in detergent?
- 26: Yes. Milk contains fat and protein that cannot be washed away in plain water. Before sterilizing the bottles, be sure to wash them clean with detergent and rinse them thoroughly.
