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Most of my mommy friends have used Avent and other brands for their babies so I decided to write a review of the Dr. Brown's Natural Flow and the Playtex Ventaire Bottles for mommies interested in buying them for their little one.

We've been using our baby bottles for about 2 years now and so far, we've only had to replace their slow flow nipples for fast flow ones. Both brands are supposed to prevent colic and minimize air ingestion.

Let's start with the Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Bottles.










We have the standard natural flow bottles and each one comes with a vent insert, a vent reservoir, collar, disc and cap. They come in various sizes. What makes the Dr. Brown's bottles special are the vent insert and reservoir. These basically take care of the air and vacuum problem that cause the air ingestion problem and colic. Without these 2 parts, the bottle is basically just an ordinary bottle without any special features.

Pros
1. Prevents/Reduces air ingestion and colic
2. Dispenses milk faster than playtex slow flow nipples, faster feeding time
3. Slim bottle body makes it easy for baby to hold the bottle
4. Attachments are replaceable and easy to find.
5. Engraved measurements

Cons
1. Extra parts are hard to clean
2. Vent insert is prone to mold growth and discoloration
3. Fast flow will sometimes cause infant to take in too much milk than intended causing spit ups
4. Messy when discs are not used, as shaking the bottle, causes molk to flow into the cap.


The Playtex Ventaire Bottles
Like the Dr. Brown's Natural flow Bottles, they also prevent and reduce air intake and colic. We have been using the standard and the wide variety. What makes it special from the other bottles is the fact that its bottom part can be removed, making it easier to clean and it has the ventaire disc that fits into the bottom lid with holes that basically take away the air from the bottle. It is important to take care of the disc because without it, the bottle becomes totally useless and will leak out milk from the bottom end. Another special feature is the curved shape of the bottle. This design helps keep milk leveled at the nipple while the baby is using it, further preventing air ingestion.






Pros
1. Prevents/Reduces air ingestion and colic
2. Easy to clean
3. Slower milk release; allowing gradual flow matching baby's sucking motion
4.Wide nipples mimic breast shape, minmizing nipple confusion and better for moms that breastfeed
5. Nipples touch the cap, ensuring no leaks while mixing formula or whenshaking the bottle
6. Curved design ensures only milk, without space for air, goes to the nipple even when toddler is drinking while sitting up or standing.

Cons
1. Wide variety is harder for baby to hold than standard bottles
2. Printed bottle measurement/calibration has been reported to be prone to fading but ours still seem brand new.
3. Standard bottle nipples seem longer and sometimes cause baby to gag.
4. Slow flow sometimes causes baby not to finish feeding and the little one starts tiring before consuming all the milk

Our verdict
We love them both and have learned to work around the pros and cons. We started really using the bottles at about 5-6 months. Depending on how hungry your baby is, you may choose the Dr. Brown's for when you know they are up for a lot of milk like breakfast feedings or late night ones. The Playtex for leisurely feeding and for times when they aren't too hungry. For example, we would give a 10 pm feeding with Dr. Brown's  if our daughter had dinner at 6pm but did not have a snack in between. We woild use the Playtex bottle for when she has had snacks. These were adjustments we had to make when she was much smaller but as she turned 2, she finishes her milk the same way with the 2 bottles, having learned how to adjust her rhythm to the flow of both brands.

We like using Dr. Brown's at home so we don't have to keep using the discs that prevent leaking and we prefer our Playtex Ventaire for travelling. We totally recommend both brands to those looking to purchase baby bottles. Both are good brands and so far, my baby hasn't had any problem with colic while using them.

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Welcome to the wonderful journey of mommyhood. Each experience is unique and special but the desired outcome is always the same: to give birth to a healthy baby. Before you know it, you are on your way to the hospital ready to meet your bundle of joy. You might want to have things planned out way in advance to make sure you don't have to stress out about anything else on the big day but the big push. Having a baby is no easy feat. You are, after all, undertaking the biggest project of your life- Your little miracle. Planning and preparing for the big day is important because the days that come after you pop your baby out will demand your complete attention and time. Here's a list of things you can do to lessen the load and to enjoy pregnancy to the fullest.

1. Plan out your doctor's appointment
 If you are planning on bringing your partner or someone to give you that much needed moral support, you have to commit to the date set by your OB-Gyne. No question is ever silly. Be it about your diet, exercise or even the delicate matter of coitus. Feel free to ask your doctor about stuff on your mind about pregnancy. Better yet, write them all down because once you hear your baby's heartbeat or see him/her for the first time on your sonogram, you will probably forget. Key questions being, what to avoid, what things you can keep doing, hospital you plan to give birth in, quotations and insurance details. If the clinic doesn't offer a copy of the sonogram, you might want to bring along your camcorder or phone to record your child's first heartbeat and growth. It would be nice to have pictures and videos to see how much your baby has developed.

2.Beauty and the Bump
You might want to read up on beauty regimens to avoid during pregnancy. Some doctors will tell their patients to stop using products with retinoids (usually found in anti- aging creams or  oral acne medications), salicylic acid (usually in soaps, toners, whitening, refining products), certain cosmetics, whitening and anti-acne creams and medication.While it is said that topical products are not proven to be dangerous, some doctors still advice their patients to avoid them during pregnancy. Your salon appointments may also need to be reconsidered as some practitioners will tell moms-to-be to skip the hair color and nail sessions. This is to avoid possible allergic reactions to hair dye, infection from manicure and pedicure mishaps and inhalation of strong chemicals. It's usually not a problem if the salon you go to is well-ventilated and if they sterilize their tools before using them on their clients.

3. Bonnappetit
A woman's diet during pregnancy should be based on her level of fitness as well as existing health concerns. Usual things to avoid are soft cheeses, raw seafood and processed meats such as ham and hotdogs. There is no better time to make smart eating choices than when you have another human being to think about. While the popular belief is to eat more because you are eating for two, some doctors will tell you to eat sensibly with quality and nutrition in mind instead of doubling your intake. Gestational diabetes is the usual outcome from over indulging on cravings and meals. The baby will take what it needs from what you put into your body which is why you need to improve your diet if you aren't eating for health.

4. To Buy or Not to Buy
Doctors will usually tell you to buy baby stuff once they're sure of the sex or once they see the pregnancy progressing nicely. It may be tempting to buy lots of baby things but you may want to control that urge to make sure you get what you need and stuff you are sure to use. That ridiculously overpriced onesie may be cute for now but it won't look so cute once you realize that after two uses, it no longer fits your baby. You should hold off the baby shopping spree until after your baby shower or until you find out the baby's sex, if you prefer not to be surprised. If no one has volunteered to throw you a baby shower and you've finally done an inventory of stuff you've been given or loaned by family and friends and you're starting your third trimester, by all means, let the shopping begin! Start looking for cribs and playpens that aren't too expensive but are guaranteed safe. This is especially important if you are not planning to co-sleep with your baby. However, if you plan to have your baby with you in bed but have fears about his/her safety, you may opt for a lightweight bassinet you can place on the bed with you. A sturdy stroller with a carseat is also a good investment as it will be perfect and snug for your infant and will still be useful for when she becomes a toddler. The carseat also comes in handy when you need a place to put the baby in when you're out. When removed from the base, it can even serve as a rocker for the little one.You will also need at least 3-6 outfits that open at the front or the side for your neonate. Kimono tops are easy to put on a neonate and is preferred by seasoned moms because it allows easy access to the umbilical stump and makes cord dressing easier. You are also going to need washcloths, bibs, burping cloths and receiving blankets. Mittens and socks will help keep your baby warm. With receiving blankets, you're going to want two types. Thin and breezy for warm days, thick or double layered for cold days. Nursing covers, breast pumps and nipple cream are things you want ready of you plan to breastfeed.

5. The Outfit
Breastfeeding moms might want to have a simple front button up or kimono style dress ready for a less complicated wardrobe for breastfeeding and bathroom trips for recovering mamas. Some hospitals offer gowns but if you prefer wearing your own clothes you can start scouting for one. Don't forget the nursing bra and pads to keep your clothes free from lactation stains. Open toed sandals or slip ons are the preferable footwear after you give birth as your feet will most likely be swollen for a few days.

6. Prepare Your Bag and Checklist at the Start of Your 3rd Trimester.
You can pack your essentials way before your due date so that when the baby tells you it's ready to come out, or if there are any complications, you don 't have to worry about packing or forgetting stuff for your hospital stay. My husband and I prepared months before our due date and when the doctor told us we had to induce labor earlier than expected, we were ready. We had a leisurely lunch then had an unhurried trip to the hospital. Here are some things you might want to prepare for the big day.

    1.Change of clothes for at least 3 days (outfits for the husband/watcher and you)
    2. Extra undies and maternity pads
    3. Toiletries/freshen up kits (shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, s hooks, clippers, comb, hair ties, lip balm, small towel, rubbing alcohol)
    4. A large envelop containing pens, birth certificate, id and insurance copies and other legal documents you might need.
    5. A book or something to do while waiting
    6. Diapers, receiving blankets, burping cloth and baby outfit
    7. Camera
    8. A shawl
    9. Flip flops for the bathroom
   10. Breast pump
   11. Nipple cream
   12. Milk storage containers
   13. Chargers, pocket wifi and gadgets
   14.Disposable cups, utensils and plates for visitors
   15. Baby book and foot stamp if you want the nurses to take down birth details for you
   16. Donut pillow or neck pillow (to sit on after you give birth)

7. The Baby's Nursery
You definitely want this set up before you give birth so when you come home, there is nothing left to do but enjoy your bundle of joy. You don't want to have to assemble your crib on the day the little one arrives.

8. Meals at Home
As you are nearing the big day, cook and freeze up delicious meals, especially favorite soups with clear broth to eat after you give birth. Unless you have people to cook for you, it's always nice to have something you like ready for heating in case you're too tired or busy to cook.

9. Lamaze and Other Birth Prep Classes
These classes can help prepare you and your partner for the big day.  If you don't have time to attend them, reading up or watching birthing classes and videos can help you tremendously and take away some of the anxiety especially if you are a first time mom.

10. Baby Journal/Apps
There are lots of apps out there that give you detailed information about your baby according to their gestational age. Some may even extend to a few months after the baby is born. It's a fun way to keep track of your baby's development while pregnant.


   

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As a mom, you impulsively want to get every single thing made for babies out there. Along with every cutesy onesie that says "mommy loves me". It isn't bad to want things for your baby but you also want to get the useful essentials first before all the other things that might not give you as much bang for your buck. Aside from the obvious purchases like diapers and toiletries, here are some major items most parents consider buying for their little one and our personal experiences with them.


1. The Portable Playpen
     Yes. Definitely. A playpen is a good place to put your child in when you need to get something done or just need a little break. I prefer it to wooden cribs as my baby never got those goose egg bumps on the head with it, unlike me and my brothers who used the classic cribs growing up. I suppose you could baby proof a wooden crib with those linings and pillows but it is important to note that these could pose a danger to infants that have not yet developed full control of their necks and body. We co-sleep with our baby so we never really had to get those full on cribs but we always used our portable playpen that kept her safe when we needed our bathroom breaks or when we got tired of holding her. It helped her practice her pull ups and got her to stand and cruise along while holding onto the cushioned bars. We prefer it over the traditional crib because when she falls, she lands on cushioned and netted panels and the fact that it's portable is great for when you want to bring it along for vacations and short visits. Besides, have you tried lugging around the traditional cribs?

2. The Sterilizer
     There's an assortment of them out there, but the electric steam sterilizer is something you want because most of them have the auto off function that prevents nasty accidents that melt the baby bottles when you forget to turn it off unlike the traditional boil away stove top method. Some even have the auto resterilize feature for when you've left the bottles in them for a longer time.

3. The Stroller
     Depends. We got the big one from graco with the carseat and it was useful for about a few months until my baby outgrew the baby carseat and decided that she didn't like being strapped in a stroller. My husband also didn't like lugging it around especially in places without an elevator. Umbrella strollers are much better for toddlers as it gives you the option to fold it up and hold your child's hand to take the escalator or stairs when there aren't any elevators. However, the sturdier and bulkier strollers are great for putting your diaper bags in as well as walking and shopping excursions since they have a bottom compartment for bags and such. They are also much more comfy than the umbrella strollers. Generally, younger babies want the cocoon-like specs of the bulky strollers but toddlers like the open feel of the umbrella strollers. But don't you just hate being stuck with the stroller when the baby wants to be carried or prefers to walk? You see so many parents with the bags sitting in the stroller while they carry their little one.Try doing it alone and you'll appreciate the next item more.

4. The Infant Carrier/Sling
     Yes. If you like baby wearing and having your baby close instead of strollers, these are the best things to get. They are easy to stash away in your bag and easy to take out when you need them. These provide an easy way to carry your baby around that also let's you do other things apart from cradling your child. There are many slings/carriers to choose from and you might want to ask people who've used them to make the best purchase. You might also want to read up on the best material to use and the recommended time of use as they can cause overheating for babies. Most of them are machine washable so that's a plus for it. There are also carriers for toddlers up to 25 pounds but babies rarely want to use them when they get that big as they would naturally want to explore the world around them.

5. The Baby Monitor
    For some it would be a necessity but we rarely used ours since I was always near my baby and our house isn't that big. You should probably invest in it if your nursery is somewhere far from areas you might frequent while leaving baby to sleep. The key is to judge whether you can hear the baby cry or call out from the place you might go to in he house.  If you can't, the  the baby monitor is a good thing to have. If you have a nanny, they can be useful to monitor what goes on in the room while it's just them, although you can also have a cctv cam for this purpose. The baby monitor basically like a radio that lets you listen in on your baby. There is a limit on how far you can take the device so you might want to study the specs of each unit before buying it.

6. The Electric Breastpump
    Yes but only if you truly plan to breastfeed. Manual pumps are also ok. I used both to help build up my milk supply. I never had as much milk as my other mommy friends but the regular pumping, helped increase my milk at a satisfactory level for my child. The electric breastpump lets you relax more since you can just sit back and watch tv while just holding it in place without much effort apart from occassionally adjusting it.

7. The Walker with Wheels
     For us, no. As early as six months our baby was showing interest in learning to walk but since we got her the walker, she fondly calls her car, she started to prefer cruising or walking on tip toes around the house with the aid of the walker. The old filipino rattan walkers would probably be better but  we never could find one she wasn't too tall for. In my opinion, floor time is still the best. It lets the baby train and strengthen his/her body gradually. First through flipping over, then crawling, sitting, standing and eventually walking. Rubberized mats with a comforter on top or even a thin matress can help prevent bumps.

8. The High Chair
     Yes. They essentially get your child to settle down, keep them safe with the harness and lets them associate certain places with eating. They are generally easily to clean and puts your child at the right level with you at the table. My baby no longer uses hers but I am convinced that having a specific chair for eating has trained her to sit and focus during meals when I feed her.

9. Bassinets
    No. They are only useful for a few months and once the baby learns to move around, they become pretty much useless. They are great for newborns for the practical reason of confining them to a safe place especially if you are co-sleeping, so no one rolls over the baby and you get to stay close to your little one in bed. They stop being useful when your sweetheart starts to crawl. Cribs and playpens or even just the matress on the floor with pillows are better alternatives. They may be necessary for those that want to co-sleep but move a lot or are heavy sleepers. Due to the confined space, it may not be advisable to have pillows and blankets inside which may suffocate the baby.

10. Baby food Maker
      Total ripoff. Your blender or food processor does the same thing. This is one product we studied and decided we weren't going to buy. We simply used our trusty blender and got ice cube trays for portioned baby food ease.
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About Pam for the Glam


Pau Ruta is a self- taught MUA and beauty enthusiast who wants to encourage positive self-image, self-love, and confidence.

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