What type of nipple should be used for bottle feedings?
Actually, there is no single “best” type of bottle nipple, except the one the baby will take. The orthodontic nipple is said to be similar to the shape of the mother’s breast in the infant’s mouth. It has a small hole on the top side, rather than a large hole in the tip. The small hole keeps the flow from becoming too fast for the breastfed infant to control. A soft silicone nipple works well. The baby’s mouth should be open wide around the base of the nipple, not closed around the narrower neck of the nipple. Short, stubby nipples that do not allow the baby to open his or her mouth wide can interfere with proper latch-on by encouraging the baby to feed at the tip. Standard bottle nipples should not have a large hole.
