Yes—Avent Natural Response bottles suit nursing babies when you match a slow flow and use paced feeding.
Picking a bottle for a baby who mostly nurses can feel tricky. Flow, shape, and technique all affect how smoothly a baby goes from breast to bottle and back again. Philips Avent sells several lines with different nipples and vents. The right match can work well for mixed feeding, but you’ll still want to feed in a way that protects latch and pace.
Quick Take: How Avent Designs Help Mixed Feeding
Avent’s wide, soft nipple on the Natural Response line releases milk only when a baby sucks, which mirrors the start-and-pause rhythm at the breast. The Anti-colic line uses a different vent system and a narrower nipple. Either bottle can work for expressed milk, yet the natural-style nipple tends to feel most familiar to many nursing babies. Fit still varies—watch your baby’s cues and adjust the flow.
Compare Avent Options For Nursing Babies
The table below summarizes the common Avent choices and when each tends to shine for breast milk.
| Model | Design Notes | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Response | Wide, breast-shaped nipple; milk releases with active sucking; multiple flows (#1–#5) | Mixed feeding where you want a familiar latch and baby-led pace |
| Anti-colic (with or without AirFree vent) | Narrower nipple; venting system to reduce air intake | Babies who seem gassy on other bottles or who prefer a slimmer teat |
| Natural Glass | Glass version of Natural line; compatible with Natural or Natural Response nipples | Families who prefer glass and a natural-style nipple feel |
Avent Bottle Pros For Nursing Babies — What Matters
Baby-Led Flow
The Natural Response nipple pauses flow when a baby pauses, so they can suck, swallow, and breathe in a steady rhythm. That helps prevent chugging and keeps bottle sessions closer to nursing sessions.
Size And Shape
The wide, rounded teat can make it easier for some babies to open wide and take more of the nipple in, which supports a deeper latch pattern. Others prefer a slimmer shape. There isn’t one shape that wins for every infant—pick the one your baby latches to without fuss.
Multiple Flows
Flows range from #1 through #5 on Natural Response. Start with a slow flow and move up only if your baby shows clear signs of working too hard. If you already used the older “Natural” free-flow nipple, you may need to step up one number when switching to the new active-flow version.
Compatibility Notes
Natural glass bottles can take Natural and Natural Response nipples and rings. The AirFree vent works with plastic Avent bottles, not glass. Anti-colic nipples and rings don’t pair with Natural glass bodies.
How To Protect Breastfeeding While Using Avent
Use Paced Bottle Feeding
Paced feeding keeps the bottle more horizontal so your baby draws milk by sucking rather than gravity. Aim for a relaxed 15–20-minute feed where your baby takes breaks and controls the pace. A slow flow nipple makes this easier. Many lactation groups teach this method; it helps prevent over-feeding and reduces gas. Learn the steps with La Leche League’s paced bottle feeding guide.
Pick The Right Flow Number
Age guides on packaging are only a starting point. Match the flow to your baby’s cues:
- Flow likely too fast: gulping, coughing, milk leaking at the corners, finishing in minutes.
- Flow likely too slow: working hard with little milk transfer, frustration, long sessions with sleepy nibbling.
- Good match: steady suck-swallow-breathe pattern, content finish, minimal dribble.
Keep Breast-First Routines
When possible, offer the breast before the bottle, especially during growth spurts. If you need a bottle while away, plan expressed milk in small portions so caregivers can warm only what they need.
Real-World Setup For Expressed Milk
When To Introduce A Bottle
Many families add a small bottle once nursing is established and weight gain looks steady. Some babies accept a bottle around the time solids begin, while others prefer it earlier because of care schedules. There isn’t one date that fits every baby—watch feeding cues and growth, and pick a calm day to try.
How Much To Pour Per Bottle
Newborn intake starts small. Many babies take 1–2 oz per feed in the first days and then build to 2–3 oz every few hours in the first weeks. By 1–2 months, intake often lands around 3–4 oz per feed. Always follow hunger and fullness cues, not a fixed number.
Storage Basics You Should Follow
Store milk in 2–4 oz portions, label with the date, and keep containers toward the back of the fridge or freezer. If milk was frozen, use the oldest first. Thaw in the fridge or in a bowl of warm water. Skip the microwave. If a baby leaves milk in the bottle, fresh leftovers can be offered again within about two hours; beyond that window, discard. For safe handling rules and storage times, see the CDC guidance on breast milk storage.
Bottle Assembly And Air
Make sure the ring is snug and the vent parts sit as designed. Tilt only enough to keep milk in the nipple tip during paced feeds. If your baby takes in lots of air, check the vent, try brief burp breaks, and keep the bottle more level.
Choosing The Right Avent Nipple Flow
The chart below pairs flow numbers with typical baby cues. Move one step at a time and watch the next two feeds before changing again.
| Flow # | Common Cues You May See | Try This |
|---|---|---|
| #1–#2 | Calm sucking, steady rhythm; or mild effort with few swallows | Stay here if feeds take 10–20 minutes and baby finishes relaxed |
| #3 | Playing with the nipple, losing interest, long sessions without much intake | Step up from #2 if feeds drag and weight gain is on track |
| #4–#5 | Frustration on lower flows; taking thicker milk later on | Use when your baby handles faster transfer without gulping |
Troubleshooting Avent Bottles With A Nursing Baby
Bottle Refusal
Try a different time of day, a different caregiver, or a warmed nipple. Offer when your baby is calm, not ravenous. Some babies accept a narrow teat better; others relax with the Natural Response shape.
Gassy Feeds
Switch to paced technique, check the vent, and add more burp breaks. If gas keeps popping up, test the Anti-colic line or the AirFree vent with a plastic bottle body.
Fast Finishes
If feeds end in a few minutes with dribbles and hiccups, drop a flow size and hold the bottle more level. Short, forceful sessions can raise the risk of over-feeding.
Slow Transfers
Shorten the session by moving up one flow, but only if latch and breathing stay steady. If your baby still works hard, check for clogging, worn nipples, or assembly issues.
Care And Maintenance
Cleaning And Sterilizing
Silicone nipples handle boiling, steam bags, and the top rack of many dishwashers. Inspect the tip and base for thinning, cracks, or sticky residue. Replace worn parts to keep flow predictable.
When To Change The Nipple
Move up a number when you see strong sucking with little transfer, frequent dozing at the bottle, or growing frustration. Move down if you see leaking at the corners, coughing, or a feed that ends almost as soon as it starts.
Glass Or Plastic For Breast Milk
Glass stays clear and doesn’t hold odors. Plastic weighs less and works with the AirFree vent. Both can be safe when cleaned well. If you want fewer parts, pick a bottle body that matches the nipple you plan to use so you skip mix-and-match adapters.
Caregiver Cheat Sheet You Can Print
Your Feeding Notes
- Offer paced feeds with the bottle held more level.
- Start with the slowest flow that gives a calm, steady rhythm.
- Pause every few minutes for a burp or a short rest.
- Stop when baby turns away or slows down, even if milk remains.
- Reoffer fresh leftovers within two hours; then discard.
When A Cup Might Make Sense
Many babies can try a small open cup or straw cup around the time solids begin. Short, supervised sips can replace a bottle here and there. If a baby handles a cup well, you can keep bottles for expressed milk during care hours and use cups at home.
What To Buy First
Simple Starter List
You don’t need a huge stash. Start lean and adjust based on your baby’s feedback. A practical starter set looks like this:
- Two 4–5 oz bottles with Natural Response nipples (#1 or #2)
- Two 8–9 oz bottles for later weeks
- One spare pack of the next flow up
- Steam bags or a countertop rack for drying
Keep receipts so you can swap flows if needed. Many babies stay on a slow flow longer than packaging suggests, especially with paced feeds. If your baby moves milk well and stays calm, there’s no rush to climb numbers.
Signs Your Setup Works
Watch the feed, not the clock. You’re in a good place when your baby latches quickly, keeps a steady rhythm, and finishes content without large spit-ups. Diaper counts and growth guide you as well. If weight gain looks steady and your baby seems satisfied between feeds, your bottle plan is doing its job.
When To Ask For More Help
Reach out to a pediatrician or an IBCLC if your baby shows ongoing coughs during feeds, arching, fussing at every session, slow weight gain, or repeated bottle refusal. A quick fit check, a flow swap, or hands-on teaching for paced feeds often turns the corner fast.
Bottom Line: Where Avent Fits For Breast Milk
Avent can work very well for babies who nurse. The Natural Response nipple gives baby-led control, and the brand offers plenty of flow choices. Technique still matters. Keep feeds paced, start with a slow flow, and switch only when your baby shows you it’s time.