Wondering if it’s time to change your baby’s bottle teat size?
If you’re unsure if they’re ready, rest assured there’s no exact science to when it’s time to change up the flow rate on your baby’s bottle.
With my two babies I sometimes changed at just the right moment before they even showed any signs of needing to and it was seamless.
However in other instances I was stumped as to why their feeding had suddenly gone haywire and they were more agitated.
So if you’re noticing a sudden change in your baby’s behaviour then you should cycle through the usual possibilities – growth spurt, developmental leap, sleep regression, teething – and add bottle flow rate to the list!
This article is going to set out the differences in flow rate and at what age to change teats.
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When to change your baby’s teat flow
You are likely to change your baby’s teat size every two to three months. But that’s just a rough guide, and some babies may want a faster flow earlier than others.
Most manufacturers produce between three and four different speeds of flow in their teat ranges.
As a general guide baby bottle teats come in three different speeds – slow, medium and fast.
Some brands have more levels – as many as six different types of teat – providing a little more choice for parents looking to find a teat that’s just right.
There are even variable teats – that you can twist and adjust to alter the flow rate.
If you’re wondering whether you should change the teat flow, this gives you a rough guide of flow speed by age:
| Flow rate | Age |
|---|---|
| Slow flow | 0-3 months |
| Medium flow | 3-6 months |
| Fast flow | 6months+ |
Confusingly for parents there is no industry-wide standard for the different flow rates and so every bottle range is a little different.
This study on teat flow rates highlights how different the flow of milk can be between different brands of teat, and it calls for more help for parents to understand that they may need to switch brands to find the right flow.
When should I change from slow flow teats?
As a general rule you should change from slow flow when your baby is between two and three months.
This will vary depending on the manufacturer – as there is no industry standard for teat sizes.
When should I change from medium to fast flow teats?
Your baby will be ready to change to fast flow teats from around six months.
This is when they will be ready for weaning and so will be sitting up and learning to swallow solid foods.
A guide to teat flow rates by manufacturer
Just to showcase how much flow rate varies by manufacturer, here is a guide to some of the bigger brands teat flows.
You can see rough similarities in the banding between them – but remember that one brand’s slow flow rate won’t necessarily be identical to another’s.
If your baby is not doing well on a particular flow rate, and you’ve tried changing it, it may be time to switch to another brand.
Dr Brown’s
The Dr Brown’s range of bottle teats come in six different flow rates – including a variable option.
- Preemie teat – 0 months
- Level 1 teat – 0 months+
- Level 2 teat – 3 months+
- Level 3 teat – 6 months+
- Level 4 teat – 9 months+
- Y-Cut teat – 9 months+
Tommee Tippee
The Tommee Tippee range of teats has three different speeds, plus a Veriflow version.
- Slow flow – 0 months+
- Medium flow – 3 months+
- Fast flow – 6 months+
- Veriflow – 0 months+ – allows baby to control flow
Philips Avent
The Philips Avent teats come in six different sizes. The smallest of which is ideal for preemie babies, and the range goes up to a fast flow.
There’s also a variable teat.
Do remember that you are advised to change teats every couple of months or so, so a variable teat won’t necessarily last longer, it will just make it more convenient if your baby is between flow rates.
- Natural First Flow – 0 months+ (ideal for newborns and preemies)
- Number 1 (newborn) – 0 months+
- Number 2 (slow) – 1 month+
- Number 3 (medium) – 3 months+
- Number 4 (fast) – 6 months+
- Variable – features an adjustable flow rate that can be change between 1 and 3 by turning the bottle.
NUK
NUK is a little different from some other manufacturers. It features two different teat sizes and each size comes with S, M and L hole sizes for you to choose from.
As a guide to sizes are for the following age groups.
- Size 1 – 0-6 months
- Size 2 – 6-18 months
MAM Baby
The MAM Baby range features four different flow sizes for teats. Confusingly their final size is called Size x, not size 4, and is an extra fast flow according to the manufacturer.
- Size 1 – 0 months+
- Size 2 – 2 months+
- Size 3 – 4 months+
- Size x – 6 months+
Signs your baby is ready to change teat flow rate
If your baby is struggling with their feeds – spluttering, choking coughing – or on the other side of the spectrum becoming agitated and fussy while eating, it could be time to change teats.
I remember well how my first baby was furiously sucking away on a bottle and seemed incredibly frustrated, having previously been happy with her feeds.
After scratching my head and pondering what the issue could be, I realised I had stuck with the newborn teats for too long.
She was ready for faster flow and getting upset that the milk wasn’t being delivered quickly enough.
So from my experience, when it’s time to change teats you will get a good idea from your baby.
If you’re considering changing the flow of teats before your baby shows signs of being ready, there’s no harm in giving it a go.
If your baby doesn’t cope with the faster flow, then resort back to the original teat and change it up in a few weeks.
| Signs flow is too fast | Signs flow is too slow |
|---|---|
| Milk dripping from baby’s mouth | Taking longer to finish feeding |
| Gulping | Fast sucking with not many swallows |
| Coughing | Becoming fussy and grunting during feeding |
| Choking | Falling asleep when feeding |
| Refusing bottle | Going less time between feeds |
| Crying |
How often should you replace teats?
It’s best to replace teats at regular intervals – at least every two to three months – as washing and sterilising will wear on the material.
I noticed with both teats and breast pump parts, such as filters, how the plastic seems to just degrade over time.
You almost don’t notice how much a teat can have become worn until you switch to a brand new one and feel the difference.
Final thoughts on changing flow speeds
When it comes to deciding on changing baby’s teat you can assess both the signs they’re ready as well as their age before taking the leap.
Remember that if you decide you changed the teat flow too soon then you can always revert to the slower flow and try again later.
