- 2: What should I do when the nipple collapses and my baby has trouble drinking?
- 2: 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.
- 3: Why does the nipple turn white after I put it in a chemical sterilizing solution, and is it safe to use?
- 3: 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.
- 4: Why do colors and odors remain on Silicone Rubber Nipples when my baby drinks fruit juice, and are they still safe to use?
- 4: Silicone Nipples absorb 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.
- 5: How often should I change nipples on a bottle?
- 5: 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.
- 6: Why does the Wide-neck Peristaltic Nipple collapse while my baby is drinking?
- 6: 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 can be 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.
- 7: 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?
- 7: 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.
- 8: Do I have to use a special nipple for juice?
- 8: 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.)
- 9: 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.
- 9: 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.
- 10: Both the Y-cut and the M-size nipple are supposed to be used from the age of 2 or 3 months. How are these nipples different?
- 10: The hole in the M-size nipple is round. The Y-cut nipple, as its name suggests, is not a hole but a Y-shaped slit. When a baby presses the nipple in his or her mouth, the cut opens and milk comes through. The maximum flow through a Y-cut nipple is about the same as that of an L-size nipple.
- 11: When I tilt a bottle with a Y-cut nipple, no milk comes out. How can I test the temperature?
- 11: 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.
- 12: I'm using an S-size Silicone Nipple, but there is still milk left in the bottle, even after my baby has been drinking for 20 minutes. Is this all right?
- 12: 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 bit. If that doesn't work, switch to an M-size or Y-cut nipple.
- 13: Should I wash the bottle and nipple in detergent?
- 13: 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.
- 14: Do you offer nipples made of natural rubber?
- 14: 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.
- 15: Can Pigeon nipples be used on bottles from other manufacturers?
- 15: 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.
- 16: How can I tell the different sizes of nipples apart?
- 16: 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.
