
You've set up your feed, you're settled and ready to go, but suddenly you've found that your bottle is leaking a little! Whilst this can be an issue for some parents, there are a few simple steps to take to ensure that bottle leakage is a thing of the past! If the below tips and tricks don't help, please send us an email or give us a call and our UK customer service team would be more than happy to help. You can find all of our contact details here.
Why does my baby bottle leak?
The Dr Brown’s bottle is fully-vented, and allows positive-pressure flow, similar to breastfeeding. This is essential for the baby to feed without having to suck against a vacuum. Under certain conditions, the liquid 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 (which we do not recommend), the liquid may enter the vent. When liquid gets into the venting system, it can sometimes leak out around the teat collar.
How do I stop my Dr. Brown's bottle leaking?
- 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, remove the internal parts (reservoir insert and vent tube) prior to warming. Do not over-tighten the collar.
- 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.
- If you overheat the liquid in the bottle, the vapor will rise and condense in the vent. To prevent this, avoid warming the liquid beyond body temperature.
- Over-tightening of the collar will also create a pressure build-up. You should twist the collar enough to close.
- Hold the bottle at a 45-degree angle when feeding your baby. The end of the reservoir tube should be out of the liquid.
- Please ensure that you have the appropriate level teat for the age of your baby. Don't forget to take a look at our Teat Level guide to find out when to change the level of your teat to suit your baby!
We hope this helps to ease the woes of bottle leakage for you and your little one. If you're still running into difficulty, then please reach out. We are more than happy to help.