FAQ's
Dr Brown's Baby Bottles - The Benefits »
Dr Brown's Baby Bottles - The Benefits
Q. Does the Dr Brown's baby bottle really
work?
A. Yes it does. When babies feed they suck milk or formula from the bottle
through the teat. As the liquid leaves the bottle, air enters in through
the vent to take the place of the milk or formula. Our patented internal
vent allows the air to enter and directs it to the area above the liquid,
keeping the air and the liquid separate. Because there is no vacuum to
inhibit the flow of liquid, babies can feed at their own pace. 
to see how Dr Brown's Feeding System works.
Q. Why is it good to prevent a vacuum from
developing in the bottle?
A. There are two major problems associated with most traditional baby
bottles: air and vacuum. Air ingested by babies can cause discomfort,
sleepless nights and symptoms associated with colic. A vacuum in the bottle
can transfer air to a baby's middle ear and can encourage fluid to be
drawn in. Traditional and restrictively vented bottles tend to develop
vacuums when babies feed from them because babies need to suck progressively
harder to get any liquid from them. Babies seal their lips to the teat
when they nurse, but as the vacuum increases they ingest air through a
weakened teat seal. Air enters the bottle through the vent in the teat
and aerates the formula; this air is ingested.
Q. Is that a straw in the Dr Brown's baby
bottle?
A. No it is not a straw, it is a reservoir tube and it's the part of the
vent that allows air to enter the bottles and be directed to the area
above the liquid, keeping the air and the liquid separate.
Q. Is it necessary to only use Dr Brown's
teats on my Dr Brown's bottles?
A. Because the Dr Brown's baby bottle is fully vented it requires a
unique teat. Other bottles have a vacuum inside that restricts the flow
of liquid, and because of the vacuum the teat on these bottles tend to
have a very large hole. Using one of these teats on a Dr Brown's baby
bottle could result in feeding you baby much too fast, possibly causing
the baby to choke.
Q. Can I use Dr Brown's teats on other
brands of bottles?
A. Dr Brown's teats are of the highest quality. However they are specifically
designed for the Dr Brown's baby bottles and should not be used on other
brands of bottles. The Dr Brown's teat does not have a vacuum operated
rim-vent like other brands of bottles. If a Dr Brown's teat is used on
an un-vented bottle the baby may experience feeding difficulties and could
experience the discomfort commonly described as colic.
Q. What can I do if I have lost a part of
the vent?
A. Replacement parts are available in stores and located in the same area
where you purchased your bottle. If you have difficulty finding the replacement
parts you need please call our customer service department for a stockist
nearest you.
Q. Can I use my Dr Brown's bottles without
the vent?
A. The vent is an essential part of the Dr Brown's system and is required
to prevent the vacuum found in other brands of bottles.
Q. Can the bottle be used to heat formula
in the microwave?
A. We do not recommend using a microwave oven to heat the bottle because
microwave ovens can create hotspots in milk or formula.
Q. Will the Dr Brown's bottle connect to
breast pumps?
A. Dr. Brown’s has a new breast pump that features a universal connector
that allows the pump to connect to our bottles.
Q. Are Dr Brown's bottles and components
dishwasher safe?
A. Yes, we recommend loading them in the top rack of your dishwasher.
Dr Brown's also now offer a Dishwasher Basket for convenient cleaning.
Q. Can I sterilize the Dr Brown's bottles?
A. Yes, you may put them in a sterilizer or boil them in water. Dr. Brown’s
offers a Microwave Steam Sterilizer designed specifically for our baby
bottles.
Q. Why does my bottle leak?
A. The patented vent provides an air passage way that allows air to
enter the bottle which allows the baby to nurse without fighting the negative
affects of the vacuum found in other baby bottles. Under certain conditions
the milk or formula can exit through the vent. For example if the liquid
is overheated the expanding air inside the bottle pushes the liquid through
the vent causing leakage. Or if the bottle is shaken to mix formula the
liquid may enter the vent and leak. Also if the bottle isn't held properly
and the end of the reservoir tube is submerged in the fluid leakage may
occur.
Q. What to do in the unlikely case of bottle
leakage.
A. When liquid gets into the venting system, it can sometimes leak out
around the teat collar. This can happen three ways:
(1) If you heat your bottle with the teat collar securely in place, the liquid will be forced up into the vent as it expands. To avoid this, either heat the bottle without the teat collar or loosen the teat collar one-half turn after heating to allow the pressure to equalize. Then, re-tighten it before feeding.
(2) If you use powdered formula and mix it by shaking the bottle, liquid can get into the vent. The solution for this is to mix the formula by stirring it with a spoon rather than by shaking.
(3) If you overheat the liquid in the bottle, the vapour will rise and condense in the vent. To prevent this, avoid warming the liquid beyond body temperature.
