Bottle Comparison: Glass, Plastic, or Silicone?

There are a gazillion different baby bottles out there--different brands, different sizes, different styles, and different materials. Bottle materials can easily be categorized into three groups: plastic, silicone, and glass. To help you figure out which type is right for your baby, we've come up with a quick rundown of what these different types are good for, who might use them, and pros and cons to using each material.

First, let's start with glass bottles:

Avent Natural 9 oz Bottle

You can find more information on our web, so please take a look.

Years and years ago, glass was about the only option when it came to bottles. Once plastic came along, glass bottles became less and less popular, until a few years ago when a BPA issue (that has since been resolved) reduced plastic bottle’s popularity.

Cons:

Glass bottles are commonly the most expensive choice. They are heavier than plastic or silicone, they tend to be harder for babies to hold on their own, and the obvious downside--when dropped, they’ll break!

Pros:

But on a more positive note, glass bottles are all-natural and free of chemicals, they're hard to scratch, easy to clean, and certainly have a long lifespan. You can buy silicone sleeves that slide over glass bottles to make them easier to grip and to lessen the chance of them shattering if dropped. Since glass is the most natural choice, they tend to be the favorite of our environmentally-conscious mothers!

Next up are silicone bottles:

Cons:

There aren’t many downsides to silicone bottles except that they’re often hard to come across; luckily we sell some ComoTomo bottles at The Baby Cubby! If you’d like to find out more about ComoTomo, read here! 

Pros:

Silicone bottles are rare but adored. I would classify these as medium-priced. They are soft, easy for babes to hold, dishwasher safe, BPA free, and very lightweight. Silicone bottles are like a happy medium between glass and plastic. They're not as sterile or heavy as glass, but they are not as porous and prone to stains as plastic. They are perfect for the mom looking for something at a lower price point than glass but with the safety features involved. 

Last, and most popular, are plastic bottles:

Cons:

Plastic bottles have the shortest lifespan, mostly from wear and scratches, but they can still last a fairly long time. Plastic bottles can also get stains or cloudy after a lot of use since they are more porous.

Pros:

Plastic bottles are certainly the cheapest and the most common option. They have the largest variety, they travel well, and they should all be BPA free – a safe choice for your babe! Due to their versatility, they offer a lot of different options for parents, from nipples to venting to bottles that make formula feeding incredibly easy for parents who need to go that route! Because of all these things they will most likely continue to be the most popular bottles in the market.

In the end, it’s all up to how and where you want to spend your money. They each serve the same purpose and are safe options for baby. Bottles are simply one choice among many that we must make as parents, and if you ask me, you can’t go wrong no matter which one you choose!

Regardless of how you choose to feed your baby, at some point, you will need to buy a few bottles and teats. Though the task may sound simple, it is actually very difficult because the options can be overwhelming. There are countless models to choose from.

Let us help you make the best choice. Will you use silicone or latex teats? At first glance, it may be difficult to know the difference. Let’s review the telltale sign of a latex nipple and understand the differences between these two common teats.

Latex Teats

The very first teats were composed of latex. These teats were an incredible development because they allowed for the diffusion of baby bottles. These latex teats also allowed for sterilization. This was a big deal because the most similar material, ‘black Indian rubber’ released a very pungent smell after heating.

Vulcanized rubber was invented sometime during the 1840s. In 1845, Elijah Pratt, from New York, patented the first rubber nipple. However, this nipple would not be produced in bulk until the early 1900s.

Characteristics of Latex

Latex nipples are very soft, malleable, and feature a bold amber color. This yellow coloring allows moms to easily distinguish which teats are latex. Another common characteristic of latex teats is their ability to retain flavors and scents. This scent retention can be incredibly comforting or terribly disturbing for babies.

The telltale sign that a latex teat is worn out is the development of a sticky coating on its surface. Latex teats will develop a sticky coating when they start to break down, this typically occurs after two months. Regardless of the material you choose, always check the teats for signs of wear and tear. Nipples need to be replaced regularly to guarantee the baby's safety.

Advantages

Latex teats have been around for over one-hundred years. They offer many advantages and benefits. Let’s take a look at the top advantages offered by latex teats.

● The material is relatively inexpensive.

● Latex is often softer than silicone and features a natural, skin-like texture.

● This material is resistant to tearing and piercing.

Disadvantages

Latex does have a few disadvantages as well. Let’s review the disadvantages of using latex teats.

● Though rare, your infant could have an allergic reaction to latex. Allergies can be also a problem for the mother or the father when they have to clean and handle the nipple.

● The material retains odors, which could be displeasing to some infants and mothers.

● Edible fats and direct sunlight cause latex teats to deteriorate more quickly.

Silicone Teats

HEORSHE Product Page

Silicone teats took the world by storm in the 1990s. These teats have quickly become the most commonly used nipples for baby bottles across the world. The popularity of silicone teats is because silicone is a man-made, highly durable material that does not retain scents or flavors and it’s 100% non-allergic. This last feature has been probably the most powerful drive for the success of silicone nipples. Many mothers also prefer silicone teats, due to their easy appearance.

Characteristics of Silicone

Silicone is a man-made material that is clear in color. This material is much stiffer than latex teats. But, the material offers much more heat resistance, which allows the teat to receive efficient sterilization. Silicone teats are currently the gold standard in the baby bottle industry.

Advantages

Silicone teats are the most commonly used nipples today. Listed below are the incredible advantages of using silicone teats.

● The clear appearance of silicone teats is preferred to amber latex teats.

● Silicone retains no odor or flavor.

● There have been no reports to date of a baby being allergic to silicone.

● This material is durable and capable of withstanding higher temperatures.

Disadvantages

Like every other product, there are some disadvantages to silicone. Mothers may prefer latex teats to silicone teats due to these disadvantages.

● These teats are more expensive than latex teats.

● The material is harder than latex and more likely to cause nipple confusion.

● Silicone is less resistant to tearing and piercing than latex.

Which Teat is Best for Baby?

Whether you decide to breastfeed or not, you will eventually need to purchase a bottle and teats. But, which teat is the best for your baby? That is the question every mom must ask herself. Silicone teats are by far the most common option for baby bottles worldwide. They are more durable and most importantly proven safe for babies. But, silicone teats are much more firm than latex and this causes nipple confusion and discomfort for your little one. This could cause your infant to refuse their bottle even if they are starving.

Our Solution: The Teatle

As we have seen, the material building the nipple can have an impact on the functioning of the baby bottle but there is a lot more to that. What about the shape and consistency of it? Could these factors be important as well? Here at the Teatle, we think that another kind of bottle is possible and that’s why we designed this new product with one idea in mind: getting as close as possible to breastfeeding so babies won’t experience anymore the issues of nipple confusion and baby bottle refusal.

The revolutionary REALATCH™ technology in our teats takes some of the guesswork out of bottle feeding. These teats are composed of premium silicone but offer a natural skin-like texture and color. This may comfort your baby and encourage them to take a bottle when necessary because they are the closest thing to breastfeeding ever made to date!

Are you interested in learning more about silicone feeding bottles? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!