There are many decisions one must make when having a child: fabric diapers or disposable; formula or mother’s milk; bottle or breast? In today’s society these decisions can be made easier for us thanks to manufacturers and widely distributed information (doctor’s office pamphlets, commercials, the Internet).

Most parents want what is best for their child, but how does one decide what is better with so many options to choose from?

To breastfeed or bottle feed is a decision that must be made first because a woman who decides to breastfeed has to start feeding that way from the beginning and use only her breast, no bottles, or it might confuse the baby.

If a parent decides to bottle feed, which bottle and nipple should they choose to feed their baby with? There are many nipples on the market to choose from. Such nipples include the Playtex Natural Action Infant Nipples, which claim to be “better for baby…most like Mother.” This nipple supposedly functions most like a natural breast would if the baby was breastfeeding. Evenflo Sensitive Response nipples “are soft and flexible” and “allow air to return to the bottle” which helps to keep air out of the baby’s stomach, which could cause gas and stomach pains. Johnson’s Healthflow nipples are “designed for breastfeeding babies” and are made from silicone, the “softest material available” which aides in the baby’s sucking action. This nipple also conforms to the baby’s mouth which helps seal out air. Nuk Orthopedic Nipples are “similar in shape to a mother’s nipple during breast-feeding.” This nipple also claims to reduce the amount of air that the baby swallows during feeding. But these are just a few of the nipples on the market. Which one is really like a mother’s breast?

The technology of bottles and bottle nipples makes it so a woman’s breast is no longer required to feed a baby. Anyone, man or woman, can feed a child, and can do it in such a way that the baby might not be able to tell the difference between a bottle and a breast.

So which is better for the baby? A real breast and nipple or a bottle and a “most like mother” nipple? Is the technology of life-like bottle nipples transforming the mother-child bond for better or worse? Will this technology influence the breast vs. bottle controversy?