When I first started looking into bottles for my exclusively breast-fed baby, I had a lot of reservations about possible problems I might encounter, from nipple confusion to nursing strikes. We didn't introduce a bottle to our little guy, who is now about 4.5 months old, until he was a little over 2 months old -- and he only gets a bottle when absolutely necessary (which is maybe a couple of ounces once or twice a day at the babysitter's, as I'm able to come nurse him every day at lunch).
I had read lots of info about techniques for introducing a bottle to a breast-fed baby, and on things you want to look for in a bottle (slow-flow nipples are one major criterion), I can now report that we've been very pleased with the Comotomo bottle, 4-ounce size. I love the hand-feel of it -- which is pliable, similar to an actual breast (though not flimsy) -- and the wide mouth, both for my son to flange his lips as he would on the breast AND for ease of pouring in milk that I've pumped.
I purchased two of these, along with two of the 4-oz LifeFactory bottles with slow-flow nipples, so we could have two different brands to try and see which my son would prefer. I really wanted BOTH brands to work, because I liked innovative shape and texture of the Comotomo, which more closely replicates the feel of baby's hands on the breast when he has to take the bottle. But I also liked the idea of a fully inert substance like glass, and we have LifeFactory water bottles for ourselves.
The Comotomo has been much more successful, however, in part because the slow-flow nipple actually flows MUCH more slowly than the LifeFactory's. I had read about differences in what "slow-flow" could really mean -- but I was very surprised by just how *fast* milk comes out of the LifeFactory bottles' slow-flow nipples. My husband and I did a side-by-side comparison with water in the bottles, and the Lifefactory bottles are like a fast-dripping leaky sink faucet, with liquid coming out at least twice as fast as in the Comotomo. I think that, combined with the narrower base of the Lifefactory bottle, conspired to cause my little guy to choke and gag when we tried to feed him from the LifeFactory bottle.
The Comotomo bottle, by contrast, worked from the first try -- though warning to other mothers out there who are trying to exclusively breastfeed, and use bottles as little as possible: The very first time my son got the bottle, he took it and drank from it without a problem for about 5+ minutes -- but then he started really crying, and I had to nurse him. I think it was because he realized something about that special ritual of nursing was different. However, that was the only time it happened ... He'll take a bottle, though he doesn't prefer it, and he usually drinks just enough to tide him over until I'm back to nurse him again.
But for all the reasons I mentioned -- the unique shape and feel of the Comotomo, which makes the experience a bit closer to being at the breast; the slow-flow nipples that actually ARE slow-flow; the wide base and opening -- I've been very happy with the Comotomo, and it's the only bottle I've been using.
The cap also clicks on easily (and stays on well, but is also easy to get off -- another peccadillo with the LifeFactory, which I feel I have to press down really hard to click on). We do plan to keep the LifeFactory bottles, though, and use them once my son has started drinking other liquids, as you can swap out the nipple top for a sippee-style top. I don't think Comotomo has such an option (though I'm not sure).
| Product Dimensions | 6.3 x 2.56 x 2.56 inches |
|---|---|
| Item model number | 250ml Green |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Target gender | Unisex |
| Material Type | 100% safe hygienic silicone |
| Material Composition | 100% Silicone |
| Material free | BPS Free, Phthalates Free, BPA Free, Nitrosamines Free, Lead Free |
| Care instructions | Safe in microwave, boiling water, dishwashers and sterilizers. |
| Additional product features | Prevent Nipple Confusion, Mimics Breastfeeding, Wide-neck, Anti-colic, Dishwasher Safe |
| Number Of Items | 1 |
| Style | 2 Count |
| Batteries required | No |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Bottle nipple type | Vented |
| Bottle type | Anti-Colic Bottle |
| Is portable | No |
| Item Weight | 10.6 ounces |
| Country/Region of origin | Korea, Republic of |
