Dr Brown's Preemie Flow Nipple: Using the 60ml Bottle Safely
By Dr Browns | Published: 2026-11-01
Category: How-to Guides
A step-by-step guide to setting up and using the Dr Brown's 60ml Natural Flow bottle with a Preemie Flow nipple, including vent assembly, pacing, and what to watch for.
Quick answer
Use the Dr Brown's 60ml Natural Flow bottle with its Preemie Flow nipple as a complete, matched set: assemble the internal vent fully, warm only the milk, and feed in short, paced pauses so the slowest flow rate actually works as intended.
Why the 60ml size and preemie nipple belong together
The 60ml bottle is sized for small, frequent feeds, and its Preemie Flow nipple is Dr Brown's slowest flow rate. Pairing them keeps the volume and the flow matched to a premature baby's typical feeding pattern.
The anti-colic vent system is clinically proven to reduce colic and is designed to decrease spit-up and burping. That matters most when feeds are short and repeated, because trapped air can crowd out the small amount of milk a preemie takes.
When a preemie nipple is the right choice, and when it is not
A preemie flow nipple suits babies born early or others experiencing feeding difficulties, as described for this bottle. It is not a universal newborn nipple; a baby who is feeding well and gaining may need a faster flow to stay awake and finish a feed.
If feeds consistently stretch long, the baby falls asleep before finishing, or weight gain stalls, treat that as a signal to review the nipple with your feeding specialist rather than simply pushing through with the slowest nipple.
Step-by-step: setting up and feeding with the 60ml preemie bottle
- Clean and inspect before assembly: Wash the bottle, nipple, collar, and internal vent parts, then hold the Preemie Flow nipple up to the light and check the tip for tears or clogs. Common mistake: skipping the tip check and discovering a blocked or split nipple mid-feed. Replace any nipple that looks stretched, sticky, or damaged rather than trying to stretch its life.
- Assemble the vent fully: Seat the internal vent tube into the bottle so it sits straight and reaches the base, then fit the nipple and collar. Common mistake: leaving the vent tube loose or tilted, which lets air bypass the vent and defeats the anti-colic design. Give the assembled bottle a gentle swirl; if the vent shifts, reseat it before adding milk.
- Fill to a realistic feed volume: Add only the amount you expect the baby to take in one feed, since the 60ml bottle is sized for small, frequent feeds. Common mistake: filling to the brim and then reheating leftovers repeatedly. Discard any milk left in the bottle after a feed rather than saving it.
- Warm the milk, not the bottle hardware: Warm milk in a separate container or warm water bath, then swirl the bottle to mix. Common mistake: microwaving the assembled bottle, which heats unevenly and can damage the vent and nipple. Test a drop on your inner wrist; it should feel lukewarm, not hot.
- Feed in a semi-upright, paced position: Hold the baby semi-upright with the bottle roughly horizontal so the nipple stays filled with milk but does not pour. Pause every few sucks to let the baby breathe and reset. Common mistake: tipping the bottle up to speed the feed, which overrides the slow flow rate. Watch for a steady suck-swallow-breathe rhythm; if it breaks down, pause and rest the baby.
- Stop at the baby's cues, not the ounce mark: End the feed when the baby turns away, slows, or falls asleep with the nipple still in the mouth. Common mistake: coaxing the baby to finish the bottle because milk remains. Note the volume taken and the time it took; bring that pattern to your next feeding review.
- Disassemble and clean right after the feed: Take apart the vent, nipple, and collar and wash them before milk dries in the vent tube. Common mistake: soaking only the bottle and leaving the vent tube for later, which lets residue build up inside it. Check the vent tube opening is clear each time you reassemble.
Product facts
- Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow® Anti-Colic Narrow Baby Bottle, 60ml with Preemie Flow™ Nipple: The 2oz/60mL bottle comes with a Preemie Flow nipple, Dr Brown's slowest flow rate, for premature babies or others with feeding difficulties. Buying the bottle and nipple as one set removes the guesswork of matching a slow nipple to a small bottle.
Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow® Anti-Colic Narrow Baby Bottle, 60ml with Preemie Flow™ Nipple - Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow® Anti-Colic Narrow Baby Bottle, 60ml with Preemie Flow™ Nipple: The Natural Flow anti-colic vent system is clinically proven to reduce colic and is designed to decrease spit-up, burping and trapped air. Assembling the vent correctly is what makes the anti-colic design work, so it is worth checking before every feed.
