The Kid Basix Safe Starter stainless steel bottle, distributed in UK through Bibs and Stuff, is billed as a groundbreaking alternative to conventional plastic feeding bottles. However, serious design flaws mean it doesn’t deliver.
The attractive Kid Basix Safe Starter stainless steel bottle, which is made from non-leaching stainless steel encased in an insulating silicone sleeve, is “the coolest baby bottle in the world” and “the next natural step in the evolution of the baby bottle” according to the US based manufacturer Kid Basix. It also comes with a travel cap with volume markings for measuring food intake and a silicone teat available in slow, medium or fast flow.
While parents concerned about chemicals released from heated plastic bottles will be impressed by the concept, the fact that it’s impossible to accurately measure out the water content for formula feeds and also that there’s no way of seeing how much your baby has drunk, negates its impressive safety credentials and will put off many mums and dads.
The Safe Starter stainless steel bottle is available in two sizes: 150ml (5oz) for £11 and 255ml (9oz) for £12.
What we love
I think the concept of a stainless steel feeding bottle is an interesting one and it was very reassuring to know that there was no risk of my son Joe ingesting any harmful chemicals, as the bottle and even the teat are completely BPA-free. Even the cardboard box the bottle came in is made from recycled paper and printed with soy-based inks.
The neat and compact shape of the Kid Basix Safe Starter stainless steel bottle is a plus – as well as being easy and pleasant to hold while feeding it means it will also fit in most conventional bottle bags and bottle warmers.
What to watch out for
I really wanted to like the Kid Basix Safe Starter stainless steel bottle because I think the idea behind it is a good one in theory but it just didn’t work for me on any practical level.
Because it is made from opaque stainless steel there’s no way of seeing how much liquid there is in the bottle. Although there are measurement markers on the outer silicone jacket it’s impossible to work out the volume of liquid inside as precisely as you need to for making up formula feeds unless you’re using a ready made carton. This is also an issue when it comes to seeing how much your baby has drunk.
The teat would not fix on the bottle properly – instead of tightening properly it only goes so far before becoming lose again so when I shook the bottle to mix up the formula it went everywhere. Again I ended up covered in formula when taking off the travel cap to feed Joe as this dislodged the teat itself.
It’s also tricky to see if the bottle has been cleaned properly and I found it annoying that I couldn’t use it in my trusted microwave steriliser but had to boil it in a pan on the hob for five minutes instead.
Who is the Kid Basix Safe Starter stainless steel bottle best for?
Parents who don’t use microwave sterilisers after an alternative to plastic and glass bottles.
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MadeForMums verdict
The Kid Basix Safe Starter stainless steel bottle is an innovative bottle in theory. However, in practicality it doesn’t deliver. It’s not easy to make up a feed or see how much your baby’s consumed, the teat doesn’t stay put and it can’t be used in a microwave steriliser.
