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Are the Closer to Nature bottles recyclable?
Yes, the Closer to Nature bottles are made from polypropylene (PP) which can usually be recycled where facilities are available.
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What if milk flow is too fast or slow? When should I change teats?
Our teats are staged as slow flow 0mth+, medium flow 3mth+ and fast flow 6mth+. These age stages are however just for guidance. You can usually tell when baby is ready for the next stage and it may happen quicker than expected. If your baby is comfortable with their current flow rate then be rest assured that you do not have to change.
If you find the milk flow using the slow flow teat is too fast, you might want to consider variflow teats, which have an X cut at the end allowing your baby to dictate flow rate. Your baby may also be ready to move on to a sippy cup, such as our first sips cup.
No matter what flow rate your baby is comfortable with, you should replace all your teats regularly to ensure they are in good condition, we recommend every 8-weeks for variflow whilst every 12-weeks for easi-vent. The bottles themselves will last until baby is fully weaned off the bottle. -
Can I buy bottles with faster flow teats?
As most bottles are bought before birth, we always include slow flow teats (0mth+). Faster flow teats are however available and sold separately so you can pick them up if/when required. More information about our teats can be found via our product pages.
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Can I store milk in the bottles?
You can certainly store breast milk in your Closer to Nature bottle. We recommend storing the milk in the main section of your fridge (not in the fridge door as temperatures can vary) or your freezer. In both cases, be sure to use a sterilised air tight container (you will also need to use milk storage lids).
Check out our advice section for more information about storing breast milk as well as storage times and other best practice tips. -
Do Closer to Nature bottles contain BPA?
We're pleased to advise that our best-selling, award-winning Closer to Nature bottle range is in indeed BPA free, with all bottles in the range made in top quality polypropylene. This material is light to hold, easy to clean and gives great results – but contains no Bisphenol A.
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Can I use Easi-Vent teats on Advanced Comfort Bottles?
We're afraid not. The Closer to Nature Easi-Vent Teats have an air valve which will prevent the Advanced Comfort Bottle system from working the way it should. You should only use our compatible Closer to Nature Advanced Comfort or Vented Teats with Advanced Comfort Bottles.
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Can I use the microwave to heat up the bottle?
We strongly recommend that you do not heat milk in a microwave as this produces localised hot spots. You should also never boil breast milk as this destroys valuable nutrients in the milk. Try using our Closer to Nature Electric Bottle and Food warmer or our Travel Bottle Warmer instead.
More detailed information about heating breast milk can also be found in our advice section. -
Where should the Easi-Vent valve be when feeding my baby?
We recommend the valve to be at the top, near your baby's nose.
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Can I put bottles and teats in the dishwasher?
Absolutely, our bottles and teats are dishwasher safe when placed on the top shelf.
When using a dishwasher, be sure not to put baby bottles and teats in with strong coloured or oily food as the colour and residue from the food can transfer. We also advise that you sterilise the bottles and teats in Closer to Nature sterilisers after washing, before use. -
Why is the teat collapsing when my baby is feeding?
The Closer to Nature easi-vent teat is very sensitive as it is made of specially designed silicone material which can sometimes stick the slits together when not used for periods of time. This is perfectly natural. If this occurs, you can reopen the slit at the tip of the tent like valve by gently manipulating the valve between your finger and thumb until you see the slit open. This allows the air to flow into the bottle, preventing the teat from collapsing.
The Closer to Nature advanced comfort bottle's round dome valve, which fits onto the bottom of the venting tube is also very sensitive as it is made of specially designed silicone material. This can also stick together at times when not used for periods of time. To ensure the slit in the dome valve is open before use, flush through with water, gently manipulating the valve between your finger and thumb until you see the slit re-open.
Another point to note is that your little one may want more milk than they are able to get. Try either a variflow teat or the next flow stage teat.
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Why do my Advanced Comfort Bottles leak?
If you are finding that the bottles are leaking around the screw ring, this normally indicates that the round silicone valve at the base of the straw has become damaged, torn or that the water added to the bottle has been a little too hot. You should notice, on the domed valve, a small split running across it. This allows the air to flow up the straw and out of a small air hole. If the water has been a little too hot, or the valves are torn, this can cause liquid to enter the straw and travel up to the air hole on the screw ring.
If you find that the valves are damaged or torn; please contact our Careline by clicking here.
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Is it possible to order spare parts for my Advanced Comfort Bottles?
Certainly! You can contact our Careline for more information on 1800 096 938, or by submitting an enquiry via our'contact us' page.
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Why have my bottles warped?
We've identified this from boiling water being poured directly into a bottle, where the lid and teat have been placed straight back on, as a vacuum can build inside the bottle. This vacuum can potentially cause the bottle to suck inwards resulting in the bottle becoming misshapen. In addition to this, be cautious not to use a cold bottle from the fridge, pouring boiling water straight into it. WHO (World Health Organisation) guidelines advise to allow freshly boiled water to cool for around 30-minutes before making up a feed. This method would prevent a vacuum being caused when the lid and teat is placed back.
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How are the new Ultra bottles different?
Lots of bottles talk about latch-on, breast like or reducing air. The new Ultra bottle has it all. Its breast like shape makes for easy switching between breast and bottle. It has a contour zone for a secure seal that reduces the air intake and dribbles. It’s also angled, this makes for a much more comfortable feeding position for you and baby.
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How do I assemble my Ultra bottle?
Our Ultra bottles are a unique shape, to assemble them insert the teat into the screw ring aligning the two indicators on the underside of the teat and screw ring. Next pull the teat through to ensure it fully ‘clips’ into place, then screw this on to the bottle. Remember that you only need to remove the teat for cleaning, once the teat is clean you can place it back into the screw ring for sterilisation.
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Can I use Easi-Vent Teats or Advanced Comfort teats on Ultra bottles?
We're afraid not. You should only use our compatible Ultra teats with the Ultra Bottles, they still come in the same age range slow flow 0mth+, medium flow 3mth+ and fast flow 6mth+.
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Is the ULTRA bottle compatible with other elements of the Tommee Tippee range?
- Closer to Nature bottle. Unfortunately it is not compatible. The Closer to Nature bottle is primarily designed to ensure a smooth transition from breast to bottle whilst ULTRA is designed to deliver the prefect feeding experience. Both work well in their own right but are created for parents and babies with different needs. This is why they have been introduced as separate ranges
- Sterilisers. Yes, ULTRA bottles will fit in the Sterilisers. However it will require a bit of adjustment and, in the case of the electric steam steriliser, means you can only fit 5 bottles in versus 6 Closer to Nature bottles. Please note, we are shortly updating the Steriliser range to ensure a perfect fit
- Breast Pumps. No, but we are working on this. In the meantime, we suggest you express into the Closer to Nature bottle provided with your Tommee Tippee breast pump and, if you wish, decant this into the ULTRA bottle
- Perfect Prep machine. ULTRA will work with the Perfect Prep machine but, unfortunately, you cannot use the milk storage lids provided with the machine. We suggest you prepare your ULTRA bottle as you would Closer to Nature bottles but shake with the ULTRA cap placed firmly on top