A bottle is a hollow vessel of any sort, especially one with a narrow mouth, for holding or conveying liquors. The eastern nations use skins or leather for this purpose; in Europe and America glass bottles are used, as well as the small kinds, called vials or phials.
Glass, an inorganic solid material made by cooling molten ingredients such as silica sand quickly enough to prevent the formation of visible crystal lattice structures, has been a staple of practical and decorative applications since antiquity. Almost indestructible and impervious to the elements, glass is used for windows, containers, tableware, ovenware, and even optical fibres for telecommunications. It is also very versatile, capable of being shaped into a vast number of shapes and sizes while still maintaining its transparency and strength.
Baby bottles are usually designed to facilitate a quick and easy transition from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding. This is important for both baby and parent as a poorly timed bottle-feed can result in stomach pain, sleep deprivation, and poor eating habits. Using the right type of formula, following instructions from your pediatrician, and practicing often can help to ensure a successful bottle-feeding experience.
Prepping a bottle can be intimidating for new parents, and for good reason: Bottle-feeding is a brand-new skill that requires combining several different skills and equipment. In addition, there are real safety concerns to be addressed when mixing and preparing formula. However, with a little patience and the help of some online resources, new parents can be confident in their ability to prepare a bottle for their baby.
For many babies, a bottle is their first “nipple.” To encourage them to suck, some parents find it helpful to have an article of clothing that the baby has worn (such as a nightgown or t-shirt) to place on their arm, shoulder, or chest so that the baby will smell their scent and be more willing to open their mouth and latch onto the nipple. Once the baby has an open mouth, gently vertically lay the nipple against the roof of their palate and tip it up a little to encourage them to seal their lips around the nipple and start sucking.
A line forming the center of the body between the neck and base that is sometimes called the parting line (but see the Bottle Bases page). The heel is the lowest point on the bottle where it begins to curve down toward the base. The heel can be distinguished from the base by its slightly wider circumference and the fact that it is less steeply inclined.