The Bottle That Finally Bridged the Gap Between Breast and Bottle

I had always planned to breastfeed. I'd read everything, attended the antenatal classes, bought the nursing pillow, downloaded the feeding tracker app. And when Finn arrived and latched almost immediately, I felt a wave of relief so profound it nearly knocked me over. We had this. We were doing it.

For eight weeks, we did. And then reality arrived in the form of a phone call from my manager asking when I was planning to come back, and the realisation that I needed to introduce a bottle. Not to stop breastfeeding — I wasn't ready for that, and neither was Finn — but to make combination feeding work so that my husband could take over some feeds while I was at work.

What followed was three weeks of the most demoralising feeding experience of my parenting life so far.

The Problem: Finn Refused Every Bottle We Tried

We tried four different bottles. Four. Finn rejected every single one with a consistency and conviction that, in other circumstances, I might have admired. He'd take the teat in his mouth, realise it wasn't what he was expecting, and pull away with an expression of profound betrayal. Then he'd cry. Then I'd cry. Then my husband would suggest trying again later, and we'd all sit in exhausted silence.

The problem, I eventually understood, was the teats. Standard bottle teats are nothing like a breast. The shape is different, the flex is different, the way milk flows is different. For a baby who had been exclusively breastfed for eight weeks, the switch was simply too jarring. His latch, so carefully established, didn't transfer.

I went back to researching. I needed a bottle specifically designed for combination feeding — one where the teat actually mimicked the breast closely enough that Finn's latch would work on both.

Why I Chose the Tommee Tippee Natural Start Bottle

I found the Tommee Tippee Natural Start Baby Bottle Pack of 3 on ALTOE and read the description carefully. The soft silicone teat is specifically designed to mimic the natural flex, stretch, and movement of a mum's breast — not just in shape, but in the way it responds to a baby's latch. The easy latch shape and breast-like teat design are built to support the natural feeding action that breastfed babies already know.

The Easi-Vent™ valve was the other feature that caught my attention. Finn had been gassy and uncomfortable after the bottles we'd tried — swallowing air with every frustrated attempt. The super-sensitive valve is designed to reduce air intake and support a more comfortable, relaxed feeding experience. For a baby who was already stressed about the bottle, reducing that discomfort felt important.

The slow flow teat — designed to match the natural feeding pace of newborns — meant Finn wouldn't be overwhelmed by milk flowing faster than he was used to from breastfeeding. That pacing matters enormously for combination feeding; if the bottle is easier than the breast, babies often start to prefer it, which can undermine breastfeeding. The slow flow helps keep the balance.

Pack of 3, BPA free, dishwasher and microwave safe, steriliser compatible. Everything practical ticked. I ordered that evening.

The First Feed

The bottles arrived the next morning. I sterilised them, made up a small feed, and handed Finn to my husband while I went into the other room. (Every combination feeding guide I'd read said the same thing: let someone else offer the bottle, out of sight of the breastfeeding parent. Babies are clever. They know you're there.)

I sat in the hallway and listened.

There was a pause. Then silence. Then — nothing. No crying. No betrayed wailing. Just… quiet.

My husband appeared in the doorway thirty seconds later with an expression of pure disbelief. "He's taking it," he whispered, as if speaking too loudly might break the spell. "He's actually taking it."

I burst into tears. The good kind.

Two Months On

Finn is now four months old. I went back to work part-time six weeks ago and combination feeding has been, genuinely, seamless. He breastfeeds in the morning, takes a bottle from my husband or my mum during the day, and breastfeeds again in the evening. He moves between the two without confusion or preference. My breastfeeding supply has been maintained. The transition I had dreaded for weeks turned out to be, in the end, entirely manageable.

The bottles themselves have held up beautifully through daily use, sterilising, and dishwasher cycles. The wide neck design makes them easy to fill and clean. The measurement markings are clear and accurate. The Easi-Vent valve has done its job — Finn is noticeably less gassy after bottle feeds than he was with the bottles we tried before.

What I Love Most About Them

• The breast-like teat: The single feature that made the difference. Finn's latch transferred because the teat actually behaves like a breast — flexible, soft, and responsive.
• The slow flow: Keeps the feeding pace consistent with breastfeeding, protecting the breastfeeding relationship and preventing bottle preference.
• The Easi-Vent™ valve: Noticeably reduced Finn's wind and discomfort after bottle feeds. A small detail with a real impact.
• The pack of 3: Having three means there's always a clean one ready. Essential when you're sterilising daily.
• The practicality: Dishwasher safe, microwave safe, steriliser compatible. Everything a tired parent needs.

Who Is This For?

Any breastfeeding parent who needs to introduce a bottle — whether for returning to work, sharing feeds with a partner, or simply wanting more flexibility. Any parent whose baby has refused other bottles. Any parent navigating the genuinely difficult territory of combination feeding and looking for a bottle that's been designed with that specific challenge in mind.

It also makes a brilliant gift for a new parent who is planning to breastfeed — the kind of practical, well-designed thing that makes a real difference when you need it most.

Get Yours

If you're navigating the transition from breast to bottle, or looking to make combination feeding work, the Tommee Tippee Natural Start Baby Bottle Pack of 3 is available now at ALTOE. I wish I'd found it three weeks sooner.

Explore more in these collections:

• Baby Bottles – the full range of feeding bottles for every stage.
• Nursing & Feeding – everything you need to feed your baby with confidence.
• Feeding Essentials – the must-have feeding kit for new parents.
• Baby & Toddler – the full ALTOE range for your little one's earliest years.
• Latest Products – see what's just arrived at ALTOE.

— Niamh Gallagher-Sutton, breastfeeding mum, part-time returner to work, and person who cried happy tears in a hallway at 10am on a Tuesday. Based in Leeds.