How Many Bottle Nipples Do You Need?

If you are building your baby registry and trying to figure out how many bottle nipples you actually need, my answer is pretty simple: I would have one bottle nipple for every bottle you regularly use.

I had six bottles in our regular rotation and six nipples. I never felt like I needed a huge stash of extra nipples sitting around. When it was time to move up to a faster flow, I bought a full set in the new size and eventually switched all of the bottles over.

After bottle feeding two babies, including one who started with an ultra preemie nipple, I think the bigger question is not how many nipples you need. It is which nipple flow you should start with and how you should handle the transition when your baby is ready for the next size.

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How Many Bottle Nipples Do I Need?

For six bottles, I had six bottle nipples. My bottles were Dr. Brown's narrow bottles, and they came with size 1 nipples, so I did not need to purchase a bunch of additional nipples just to have extras.

My recommendation is to start with one nipple per bottle you plan to regularly use. If you have six bottles, six nipples should generally be enough. If you have eight bottles, I would have eight nipples.

I never found myself wishing I had a drawer full of backup nipples. Since I was constantly rotating bottles through feedings and washing them, the nipples were being rotated too.

Do You Need Extra Bottle Nipples?

I personally did not need extra bottle nipples. There could certainly be situations where having one or two extras is convenient, but I would not stock up before your baby arrives.

Babies can have very different preferences when it comes to bottles and nipple flows, so I would rather buy more later if I actually needed them. I also never had to replace a nipple because it became worn out.

Since I had six nipples in rotation, none of them were being used for every single feeding. By the time we were done with one flow, we were usually moving on to the next anyway. Of course, you should always inspect your bottle nipples and follow the manufacturer's guidance for replacement, especially if you notice any damage or changes to the nipple.

Should You Register for Extra Bottle Nipples?

I do not think you necessarily need to register for extra bottle nipples. Most bottles already come with nipples, and in my case, my Dr. Brown's narrow bottles came with size 1 nipples.

If you want to add nipples to your registry as an inexpensive gift option, you absolutely can, but I would not register for multiple sets in every possible flow. The one exception for me would be slower flow nipples.

Before my first baby was born, my doula recommended that I purchase Dr. Brown's preemie nipples because I planned to breastfeed and also introduce a bottle. My breastfeeding journey ultimately did not go as planned, and after a short period of combo feeding, we switched to formula and bottle feeding.

I started with the preemie nipples instead of immediately using the size 1 nipples that came with the bottles. Both of my babies ended up taking Dr. Brown's bottles well. I cannot say whether starting with a slower flow was the reason, but I liked having the slower option available.

I would buy those ahead of time and put them in your hospital bag. You could certainly add them to your registry if you want another lower priced item for people to purchase.

What If Your Baby Needs an Ultra Preemie Nipple?

My second baby was born seven weeks early and spent time in the NICU, so her bottle feeding journey looked a little different. She started with Dr. Brown's ultra preemie nipples, then moved to preemie nipples, and eventually continued moving through the faster flows.

If you have a premature baby or a baby with specific feeding needs, this is an area where I would follow the guidance of your baby's NICU team, pediatrician, feeding therapist, or other healthcare professional rather than buying nipples based solely on age.

You also do not need to predict every flow your baby will eventually use. I bought what we needed as we needed it.

Do You Need to Change Every Bottle Nipple at the Same Time?

Not necessarily. When I thought my baby was ready for a faster flow, I would sometimes try the faster nipple during the day first and see how she handled it.

For a nighttime or middle of the night bottle, I might temporarily use the slower flow because I did not want her drinking too quickly and spitting up. Once I felt confident that she was comfortable with the faster flow, I transitioned all of our bottles to the new size.

At that point, I would buy a full set of the new nipples. Since bottle nipples are typically sold in multipacks rather than individually, I would buy enough of the new flow to cover the bottles in our regular rotation.

Should You Keep the Old Bottle Nipples After Sizing Up?

Yes, at least temporarily. I would not throw away your previous flow the second you introduce a faster nipple because you may decide your baby is not quite ready.

There was actually a point when I had moved my daughter up to size 2 nipples, but her daycare teachers felt that she did better with size 1. I ended up providing both options.

That experience reinforced my preference for keeping the previous size around during the transition. Once you know your baby is consistently comfortable with the new flow and you are not going back, you can get rid of the old ones.

How Many Bottle Nipples Should You Send to Daycare?

I sent one nipple with every bottle. If my baby needed three bottles during the time she was at daycare, I sent six bottles with three nipples.

I did not send a separate stash of nipples unless we were in the middle of transitioning between flows and I wanted daycare to have both options available. This kept things simple because every bottle had everything it needed.

Should You Buy Multiple Nipple Flows Before Your Baby Is Born?

I would not buy every nipple flow before your baby arrives. It is really hard to know how quickly your baby will move through flows before you actually start feeding them.

Some babies stay with a slower flow for a long time, while others are ready to move up sooner. I would have the nipples that come with your bottles plus a slower flow option if that makes sense for your feeding plan.

After that, buy the next size when your baby actually needs it. There is no reason to have every future flow sitting in your nursery before your baby is even born.

My Bottle Nipple Recommendation After Two Babies

My biggest recommendation is to keep it simple. If you have six bottles, start with six nipples. You do not need twice as many nipples as bottles, and you probably do not need a giant stash of backups.

I would spend more time figuring out which flow works for your baby than worrying about the total number of nipples you own. Start with what you need, move up when your baby shows you they are ready, and keep the previous flow around for a little while during the transition.

That was more than enough for us through two very different bottle feeding experiences.

FAQs

How many bottle nipples do I need for a newborn?

I would start with one nipple for every bottle you regularly use. I had six bottles and six nipples. You may also want to have a slower flow nipple available depending on your baby's feeding needs and the guidance of your pediatrician or feeding professional.

Do I need extra nipples for every bottle?

I did not. I used one nipple per bottle and never felt like I needed a large supply of extras. You can always purchase additional nipples later if you find that your washing routine or feeding schedule makes extras helpful.

How many bottle nipples should I register for?

You do not necessarily need to register for bottle nipples at all because bottles typically come with them. If you want to include them as a lower priced registry item, I would consider registering for a slower flow option rather than stocking up on several future sizes.

Should I buy different nipple sizes before my baby is born?

I would not buy every size ahead of time. Have the flow that comes with your bottles and consider purchasing a slower flow if appropriate. Then buy additional flows as your baby needs them.

Should I throw away old bottle nipples when I move up a flow?

I would keep the previous flow temporarily. During the transition, your baby may do better with the slower nipple for certain feedings, or you may realize they were not quite ready for the faster flow. Once you are confident the new flow is working consistently, you can get rid of the old nipples.

Do bottle nipples need to be replaced regularly?

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and inspect nipples for signs of wear, damage, or deterioration. Personally, I never had to replace mine because of wear. With six nipples rotating between bottles, we typically moved to the next flow before replacement became an issue.