A bottle teat’s flow rate is the volume of milk that passes through the teat per minute, ranging from roughly 2 to 85 mL/min across products on the market. It changes in stages as your baby grows, moving from a slow newborn flow to faster stages as feeding becomes more efficient. This part of the bottle is also called a bottle nipple or milk bottle nipple in some markets, and puting botol susu in Malay, though teat is the more common term in Malaysia.

Quick Answer

Most babies start on the slowest teat, labelled SS or newborn, then step up through five or six stages before toddlerhood. The gaps are uneven rather than fixed. Pigeon’s SofTouch range moves at 0, 1, 3, 6, 9 and 15 months. Age is only a starting point. Gulping, choking, or feeds dragging past 30 minutes are the real signals to size up.

Flow rate is just one piece of choosing a bottle overall. For how it fits together with size and material, see our full guide on how to choose the right feeding bottle for your newborn.

What Makes One Teat Flow Faster Than Another?

A single small hole restricts flow the most, which is why newborn stage teats typically use one small opening, while faster stages use a larger hole, more holes, or a cross-cut shape that opens wider under sucking pressure. The number on the packaging is meant to guide you toward a rough speed, but as the research below shows, that number is far less reliable than most parents assume.

You can check a teat’s flow yourself before a feed. Malaysia’s Ministry of Health advises holding the bottle upside down and watching the milk: it should drip out at a constant, steady rate rather than running in a stream or barely moving. Teats also wear out, so check regularly for damage, particularly once teeth start coming through.

How Do Teat Flow Stages Progress As Baby Grows?

A teat stage is a calibrated flow level matched to a feeding age, and most ranges step up in five or six increments from newborn to toddler. Naming differs between brands, so compare hole shape and stated age rather than the letter or number on the pack. Pigeon’s SofTouch range runs as follows:

Stage Stated Age Hole Type Best For
SS 0+ months Round Hole Newborns setting a slow, gentle pace
S 1+ months Round Hole Slightly faster pace as sucking strengthens
M 3+ months Y Cross-Cut Controlled flow opening under suction
L 6+ months Y Cross-Cut Established, more efficient feeders
LL 9+ months Y Cross-Cut Larger volumes in shorter feeds
LLL 15+ months Y Cross-Cut Toddlers and thicker liquids

Treat the ages as a starting point rather than a rule. Pigeon notes that the right size depends on your baby’s age, feeding time, and the amount taken, and recommends sizing up if feeds run long, breathing becomes laboured, or the teat collapses during sucking.

Why Does Teat Flow Rate Matter?

Choosing a teat stage is not just a convenience decision, and the clinical research on this is more striking than most parents expect. One widely cited study tested 29 different teat types and found flow rates ranging from about 2 millilitres per minute at the slowest to over 85 millilitres per minute at the fastest, a more than 40-fold difference across products on the market. That study also found meaningful variation between individual teats of the same type, meaning two teats from the same box are not guaranteed to flow identically.

A follow-up study went further and tested how well packaging actually reflects real-world performance. Researchers found that the flow speed printed on a teat’s packaging often did not accurately match its measured flow rate, and grouped tested teats into five real performance clusters ranging from extra slow to very fast, regardless of what the label said. In practice, this means a “slow flow” label is a useful starting point, but it is not a guarantee, especially if you are switching between brands.

What Are The Signs It’s Time To Change Teat Size?

Signs the flow is too fast:

  • Frequent gulping, choking or coughing during feeds
  • Milk leaking from the corners of the mouth
  • Splayed or clenched hands
  • Pulling away from the bottle

Signs the flow is too slow:

  • Falling asleep partway through a feed
  • Frustration or fussing while sucking
  • The teat collapsing
  • Feeds running well past 30 minutes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good starting teat flow rate for a newborn?

A newborn should start on the slowest teat in the range, which uses a single round hole rather than a cross-cut. Pigeon labels this SS. Newborns suck gently and are still coordinating sucking with swallowing and breathing, so a slow single-hole flow lets them set the pace rather than chasing the milk.

What teat size does a Pigeon SofTouch bottle use at each age?

Pigeon’s SofTouch range runs six sizes: SS from 0 months, S from 1 month, M from 3 months, L from 6 months, LL from 9 months and LLL from 15 months. SS and S use a round hole; M onwards use a Y cross-cut that opens under sucking pressure. Use the age as a starting point and adjust to how your baby feeds.

How often should a bottle teat be replaced?

Replace teats at least every two months, and sooner if you spot damage. All teats deteriorate with use, and a torn or thinning teat is a choking hazard. Check them regularly once your baby’s teeth start coming through, since biting wears the silicone faster than sucking does.

Can a teat that flows too fast harm my baby?

A flow that outpaces your baby’s ability to coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing causes gulping, coughing and milk spilling from the mouth. Clinical research links faster flow rates to physiological instability during feeding in vulnerable infants. If you see those signs, drop back a stage rather than pushing through.

Are all “slow flow” teats the same across brands?

No. Testing has repeatedly found that teats labelled with the same flow category can perform quite differently from each other, so a slow-flow teat from one brand will not always behave like another’s.

Can I mix teat brands with the same bottle?

Only if the teat’s thread size matches your bottle’s neck. Even then, expect some difference in actual flow, since flow rate is determined by the teat itself rather than the bottle body.

Pigeon’s SofTouch Teats: Built On Consistent Stage Calibration

The inconsistency researchers have documented across the industry is exactly why teat stage progression matters as a system, not just a single purchase decision. Pigeon’s SofTouch™ range uses six calibrated stages, from SS for newborns through to LLL for older babies, designed to progress together with the wide neck bottle body rather than as a one-off accessory. Each stage is built around Pigeon’s own research into natural sucking motion, so moving up a stage means a deliberate step in flow, not a guess based on a label alone.

Ready to find the right stage for your baby? Browse Pigeon’s bottle teats and feeding bottle range.

Sources