Caroline writes…
As a mummy of a baby boy who has gone off the idea of having a bottle, and definitely prefers boobies, I have tried all kinds of different bottles. So, I was really pleased to find another one that I hadn’t heard of before, Babisil’s Silbottle.
Concept: One of the key things Babisil talk about is that their bottles are free of certain baddies (Bisphenol-A, estrogens and Phthalate) making them an ideal alternative when there are concerns about the level of chemical content in traditional plastic bottles.
Alongside its ethics, it’s designed to combat colic by mimicing breastfeeding helping to make the transition from breast to bottle easier. Again, not something I’ve experience personally, but a big concern for many.
Appearance:
It’s a chunky number. It feels shorter and squatter than other bottles, with a nipped in waist for baby to hold on to. It has a separate container inside (a softer plastic chamber which ‘mimics the natural breast lobules’ apparently, though I’m sure mine aren’t that big!). The lid is very big and has a flat top (or bottom) so it’s handy to use as a bowl for starter-weaners.
In Use: Having the inner chamber is dead handy because you can buy extra inners separately, and you just sterilise the inner, not the outer plastic bottle. The really cool thing is that you can turn it inside out to clean, so if you don’t use a brush then you don’t need to worry about nasty bits of old milk lurking around.
Though my baby doesn’t suffer from colic, I know lots that do. Their mums liked the idea that because the inner chamber collapses and expands as baby sucks, that there’s no air mixing in with the milk…and therefore no colic. I couldn’t tell you if it works, but it certainly makes sense (and seems a smarter idea than the designs of other anti-colic bottles I’ve bought).
Another thing I really liked was that you get a handy ‘thingumy’ to pop into the teat and make the hole bigger. So your starter slow flow teat can get bigger, without having to buy a new one.
My baby, as he does with most bottles, happily held it and nibbled on the teat, but not one drop of my preciously expressed milk passed his lips. No fault of the bottle though!
Any Negatives: It holds a lot of condensation after sterilising – I don’t know if this is a problem, but I wouldn’t have thought it’s very good for keeping the plastic in good condition. Though Babisil say that it’s good for 6 months. The supporting information about the chemicals has left me pretty scared about previous bottles I’ve used….
Price: £7.50 for one small 180ml bottle or £7.99 for a large 250ml version. The inner chamber extras cost £3.99. As you have to buy it online (e.g. direct from Babisil, or from Ethical Superstore) you have to pay a postage cost too, so it’s more expensive than the average bottle in Mothercare to try just the one.
Summary: A smart chemical free bottle that helps to minimise colic, it’s an innovative design that makes bottle washing easier and saves a little money by having an expandable teat. Bit too scary on the informing front though and it could do with less condensation after sterilising.
Rating: 4/5
Oh, and another thing, Babisil’s site has some really gorgeous baby photography!
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