Bottles and Nipples for Baby and Momma! Playtex Variety Pack Review

This post is part of the YummyMummyClub.ca and Playtex Mommyville sponsored program. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors.

Bottle feeding is definitely a combination of science and art and I for one am glad that we’ve been lucky enough to switch between breast and bottle easily with both kids. If you follow me on Instagram you’ve probably noticed that I enjoy craft  beers, fine wine and a good cocktail (I am a beverage alcohol writer after all!) and pumping has been my saving grace. “A bottle for me and a bottle for baby” is my motto and one way for me to enjoy a night out or a couple glasses of vino. Mamma needs her bottle too!

I have always thanked the divine powers for the lactation consultant I met when the Little Monkey was just four days old. That gentle woman introduced me to a bottle and we used it for the entire first year and we were using the same bottle and nipple with Baby Boy. So when Playtex asked me to test drive their new Nipple Variety Pack I was sceptical but totally up for the challenge.

The Playtex Nipple Variety Pack contains four nipples in a range of shapes, sizes and textures to fit each baby’s feeding style. Each nipple is designed to work with the Playtex VentAire and Nurser with Drop-Ins Liners so you can choose the bottle that works best for you. The Variety Pack is a great starter for new moms because you get to experiment with the different styles (Breastlike Shape, Fullsized NaturaLatch and Angled) to see which would work best.

We experimented with the Playtex VentAire on New Year’s Eve with the Breastlike Shape nipple and by “we” I mean my mom and the hubs. I was off duty that evening! They both loved everything about the Playtex VentAire bottle; the ability to feed without straining your hand, the grooves on the bottle which made it very easy to handle the bottle and moreover, the angle of the bottle  meant that they were able to seat Baby Boy in a variety of angles and feed him comfortably. He took to the nipple quite easily too. My mom even mentioned that she noticed that Baby Boy was less gassy after the feed (he burps A LOT!) which meant that he was very comfortable after the feed. This can be credited to the air venting holes in the bottom disk of the bottle which allows air to easily vent reducing excess air being gulped during the feed (excess air apparently leads to ear aches). I was even able to feed him in his sleep! We’ve never managed that before with our previous bottle.

Given the success of that combo we tried the same bottle with each of the other three nipples but with less luck. The NaturaLatch and Fullsized had Baby Boy dribbling out and making an unsightly mess. I was a bit surprised since the Fullsized nipple matched the nipple we were using very closely. The Angled was also liked by baby boy – just as much as the Breastlike Shape. Even the Little Monkey was able to feed Baby Boy one day with great ease! That’s a big win in my books!

In case you were wondering, I did try the nipples on the Nurser with Drop-Ins Liner and I liked that bottle too but not as much as the VentAire. The liner collapses as Baby Boy drains the milk, similar to contracting breast milk ducts, and it was neat seeing this happen but the challenge was that it was hard to say how much milk was still left in the bottle. A collapsible liner meant no air was entering during the feed and hence a less gassy baby (but again he was still burping more than with the VentAire). We had very similar experiences with the nipples as we did with the VentAire but had a few more leaks due to me not locking the caps properly. I found that I had to be very careful in assembling the parts, not something I could easily do in haste.

If you end up warming the milk by placing the bottles in a cup of hot water, be sure to wipe the bottle down because there are little ridges at the bottom of the VentAire that captures the water and it all flips out when you turn the bottle upside down to do a feed. I really wanted the Nurser with Drop-Ins to work because it would have been fabulous for travels as you could easily toss the pre-sanitized liner out once you were done and not have to carry numerous bottles for a day out. Each baby is different and I know many friends who actually love this Playtex Nurser with Drop-Ins and I do plan to continue experimenting once Baby Boy is a bit older. Did I mention that the nipples come in slow and medium flow? Whilst breastfeeding I have always used the slow flow but once I stop breastfeeding off I go to the medium flow!

So you know how when you bottle feeding the newborn the toddler NEEDS to NOW? Well I  tend to toss the bottle and quickly dash to the Little Monkey’s attention so that I can return to the feed promptly. Guess where the bottle lands? On my white couch! Luckily the VentAire bottle has a Twist ‘n click leak proof seal. No spills on my couch or my purse or the diaper bag… or… you get the drift!

Oh and everything goes in the dishwasher! YUP! ALL PARTS! Not only is each baby different but each baby goes through different phases and what works in the first couple of months may not in the next few, so my advice to any mom trying their hand at mixing bottle and breast is to keep at it. As always take the cues from your baby and if they say no once it doesn’t mean you can’t try again in a few months. Experiment with different bottles and nipples to find the right fit for you both and more than anything, try your best to relax and go with the flow (pun FULLY intended).

Every Baby is Different and No Two Babies Are Alike. Read more Playtex Nipple Variety Pack reviews on YummyMummyClub.ca.