I believe every form of feeding other than direct breastfeeding has
potential for confusion/preference/whatever you want to call the non
breastfeeding behaviors we see so often.

Most nipples have a flow issue as well as a suck issue to deal with.  Then
there is the issue of pursed lips.  Then ...  there is the issue of super
stimulus causing the baby to not recognize soft flesh.

Spoon, dropper and cup all deprive the baby of sucking.  I've also seen
diminished willingness to open the mouth widely with these methods.

Supplementing at the breast needs vigilant attention to latch or the baby
may be rewarded with lots of milk while only sucking on the nipple tip.  It
is too awkward for some mothers.

Gavage feeding is intrusive and may cause oral aversions.

Habermans can correct the flow issue and force use of the tongue but still
provide a long, hard surface for the baby to imprint on.

Nuks and Avents can flare the baby's lips and keep the mouth in a wide open
position creating a good profile but don't deal with potential problems
INSIDE the mouth.

I think one should assess the baby, only supplement when truly needed and
only in the amounts needed.  When supplement is needed one should then pick
the method best suited to the individual dyad in question.

I also believe potential problems lesson with time and experience in direct
breastfeeding and most babies with 3 - 6 weeks of good breastfeeding
experience can transfer back and forth with minimal difficulties regardless
of the nipple used to feed. I think flow can still become a problem and
cause difficulties if mom's supply diminishes due to supplementing while not
also maintaining her milk supply.   Some baby's might be better off with one
type nipple over another if there are specific problems.  For example,
Playtex is short so might be better for a baby dealing with flat nipple.
Nuk is broad so maybe would be better for a baby who likes to slide down on
the nipple tip.   I think most babies will do fine with whatever nipple they
prefer.   I tell moms to watch the way the baby's return to the breast after
bottle feeding and if there is no change in the baby's breastfeeding
behavior don't worry about the type of nipple she uses.  Use whatever she
and the baby prefer.

The fact that babies do prefer some bottle nipples over others is evidence
enough for me that we need to get them preferring the breast early, whatever
we call the behavior they exhibit when they prefer not to take the breast.

In the US it is an important point for most moms to know they can eventually
give a bottle, just not in the first month.

Carla (just north of Washington, DC)