How Air-Vented Bottles Can Help A Fussy Feeder

When you have a fussy eater or even a colicky baby, making sure they are well fed can be quite the challenge. Whether it’s nipple confusion when switching between breastfeeding to bottle, or fussiness and gas after feeding. It can be heartbreaking to see your little one struggling, and sometimes the culprit can be a simple flaw in the bottle design, such as too much air bubbles.

Air bubbles in bottles can be a common cause of feeding discomfort. Baby comfort is key, especially when it comes to feeding. Using a bottle that has an air venting system is one way parents can help their little ones cut down on excessive gas and keep baby happy and healthy. 

Understanding air in bottles

Babies are especially prone to gas (air bubbles in the stomach and intestine) for a variety of reasons like their developing gut microbiome and food sensitivities. When too much air gets into their system, it can lead to excessive gas, spit-up, and even colic. 

Traditional baby bottles have been notorious for air bubbles, leading to more air swallowed by your baby and the potential for gas and colic, not to mention a fussy baby on your hands. Bottle design can play a big role in baby comfort, so if you suspect your little one is inhaling too much air, you might want to switch to a bottle with an air venting system. 

What is air venting systems in baby bottles?

When too much air gets into your baby’s system it can be extremely uncomfortable for them. All that air turns into uncomfortable gas or even colic. Vented bottles help alleviate the situation by using a system that allows the air to leave the bottle, rather than be sucked in by your baby.  

Our SoftTouch bottles and teats feature an innovative air venting system. This clever design mimics natural breastfeeding by regulating air pressure inside the bottle. This ensures a consistent flow of milk and minimises air intake, which can be a major cause of colic in babies. Less air means less fussiness and a more comfortable feeding experience for your little one.

What are the benefits of air venting systems?

Reduced gas and fussiness

Babies are naturally gassy because they swallow air frequently. Feeding, crying, sucking on a pacifier, and even those adorable gurgles and giggles can all trap air in their bellies. Uncomfortable gas pains can make your baby fussy, so anything you can do to reduce air intake during feeding might lead to a calmer experience for both of you.

Less spit-up

All that air can cause your baby’s tummy to fill up quickly, leaving the milk nowhere to go, so it travels backwards and comes out. Although spit-up is normal, air vented bottles reduce the amount of air intake during feeding, thereby reducing the amount of spit-up. 

Improved digestion

Bottles and teats designed with an air ventilation system can also help improve digestion. The less air that gets into the tummy, the less chance of excessive gas and spit-up, leading to a calmer feeding experience and a more settled baby. 

Mimicking breastfeeding

Whether you’re switching from breast to bottle or exclusively bottle feeding, air vented bottles can help create a natural feeding experience similar to breastfeeding. In fact, our bottles were created to support breastfeeding since the design of our teats mimic the natural drinking pattern of a baby drinking from their mother’s breast. The Pigeon baby bottles and teats promote the same three feeding movements - latching, sucking, and swallowing, encouraging a smoother transition from breast to bottle.   

Here's what one of our happy customers had to say:

"My newborn has ties and whilst waiting for the surgery has had trouble breast feeding! These bottles have been a life saver allowing me to express and breast feed without causing nipple confusion! We tried 4 other brands of bottles with lots of problems like reflux, gas and vomiting! They are also super easy to clean" - Brooke

Finding the right air vented bottle (actionable tips):

There are a variety of vented bottles to choose from and finding the right bottle for you and your bub can be a challenge. Here's a few action points on how to find the perfect air venting system for your baby: 

Choosing the right bottle and teat can make feeding a more comfortable experience for babies and parents alike. 

When you have a fussy eater, feeding time can be more of a challenge than a bonding experience between you and bub. While gas is a common and necessary part of life for babies, air vented bottles can help ease the troubles too much air can cause. If you're not sure which baby bottle will be best for your little one, try our baby bottle selector.