Dr Brown’s® bottles and slow flow teats, to help preterm and medically fragile infants learn to feed orally, are available from Central Medical Supplies (CMS). Providing a slower teat flow rate is the first strategy to safely bottle feeding a premature infant. A teat that flows too fast results in physiologic instability during oral feeding and creates a negative feeding experience. Creating a positive and safe oral feeding experience for premature and medically fragile infants is integral to the success of oral feeding and discharge home from hospital.
Dr Browns® teats consistently demonstrate lower milk flow rates and low coefficient of variation (CV). CV is the standard practice process to measure the consistency of teat flow rates, with the higher the number the more variability. Low variability allows an infant to expect the same flow rate consistency with each feeding, which can help promote the development of skills. The milk flow rates and CV rates for Dr Brown’s® teats are shown in the following table:
| Teats | Milk Flow Rate (mL/min) | Coefficient of Variation (CV) |
| Dr Brown’s® Ultra-Preemie™ | 4.92 | 0.10 |
| Dr Brown’s® Preemie-Flow™ | 7.22 | 0.14 |
| Dr Brown’s® Level T | 9.93 | 0.06 |
| Dr Brown’s® Level 1 | 13.31 | 0.08 |
Besides improved feeding outcomes, there are also cost and environmental benefits of using a reusable bottle and teat versus a single-use disposable bottle and single use teat. Findings from an investigation, carried out by CMS, show that over a one month period maternity units could save £237 per bottle fed infant each month, by using a reusable Dr Brown’s® bottle and teat. Switching to the reusable option would also reduce the amount of plastic being disposed of by 7kg per month.1
For more information on Dr Brown’s® bottles and teats, contact Tracey Pavier-Grant, Sales & Marketing Director at Central Medical Supplies, on 01538 392 596, email tracey@centralmedical.co.uk or visit www.centralmedical.co.uk.
References
- The investigation was carried out by Central Medical Supplies in 2021 and the figures are based on 2021 prices. The calculations used in the investigation were based on an average of six oral feeds per bottle fed infant in a 24 hour period and a 31 day calendar month. The cost of sterilisation bags is included in the calculation, based on three bags being required for one week and ten bags needed per month. It is acknowledged that some assumptions have been made and there are variables that should be considered, which will affect the estimated costs:
- Not every baby stays on a unit for an extended period of time
- As babies transition onto oral feeds, they may rely on a nasogastric feeding tube for some feeds and won’t take all feeds in a 24 hours period orally
- Not every infant is bottle fed
- Some infants are both breast and bottle fed
- Other reusable bottles are available
