In short: LOVI Mammafeel is a wide-neck baby bottle whose teat mimics the breast in shape, softness and colour, with a softer silicone tip that stretches as the baby sucks. It is designed mainly for combination feeding – breastfeeding plus bottles of expressed milk or formula. Start with the 150 ml bottle and MINI teat, and pace every feed.
Author: Eva Birsa, mum and co-founder of Evitas · Updated: 27 September 2026
What is LOVI Mammafeel?
Mammafeel is a range of bottles and teats from the Polish brand LOVI (sold in the Netherlands and Belgium by Difrax as “Difrax LOVI Mammafeel”). According to the manufacturer, its key features are:
- Breast-shaped teat: wide and contoured, with a skin-coloured ring that resembles the areola and a soft, matte surface.
- Two types of silicone: the soft, dynamic tip extends and contracts with the baby’s sucking rhythm, while the firmer wide base gives the lips stable support and stops the teat collapsing.
- Less air swallowing: the wide base allows a good lip seal and nose breathing; LOVI says the teats have a SuperVent valve. The manufacturer claims a reduced risk of colic – this is a manufacturer claim, not a guarantee.
- Material: BPA-free silicone, made in the EU (Poland).
LOVI refers to a 2023 sucking-biomechanics study by neurologopedist Magdalena Mazur (Poznań) involving 102 babies aged 0–12 months. According to Difrax’s summary, babies used almost the same sucking pattern with the Mammafeel bottle as at the breast. This research is cited by the manufacturer; we did not find an independently published peer-reviewed study.
Awards and what parents say
- Baby Innovation Awards 2026 (Independent Innovation Awards, USA): Difrax-LOVI received “Bottle – Innovation of the Year” in the Nursing & Feeding category.
- Wij Special Media test panel (NL, 2024): 24 mums gave the bottle an average score of 8 out of 10; 88% would recommend it and almost 80% felt it resembled the breast.
- Difrax home test (2025): 54 families, average score 8.4; 74% of parents said their baby accepted the bottle well.
Other parents’ experiences are helpful, but every baby is different – some take a bottle straight away, others need more attempts or a different teat shape.
Who is the Mammafeel bottle for?
- Combination feeding: you breastfeed but sometimes give a bottle (going back to work, an evening feed from your partner, childcare).
- Expressed breast milk: your baby drinks your milk from a bottle – you can store it in breast milk storage containers.
- Formula: the bottle also works for infant formula – see our formula feeding guide for safe preparation.
If you are still establishing breastfeeding (the first few weeks), talk to your midwife, health visitor or an IBCLC lactation consultant before introducing a bottle.
LOVI Mammafeel bottle and teat sizes
| Product | Age | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Mammafeel bottle 150 ml | 0m+ | comes with 0m+ MINI teat; smaller feeds for newborns and breastfed babies |
| Mammafeel bottle 250 ml | 3m+ | comes with 3m+ SLOW teat; larger feeds |
| Teat 0m+ MINI | from birth | slowest flow |
| Teat 3m+ SLOW | from 3 months | slow flow |
| Teat 6m+ MEDIUM | from 6 months | medium flow |
| Teat 9m+ FAST | from 9 months | fast flow |
| Teat 6m+ CROSS-CUT | from 6 months | cross-cut for thicker liquids |
You’ll find the whole range in our LOVI collection. The age on the teat is only a guide. Breastfed babies often do well on the slowest flow for longer, because it feels more like breastfeeding.
When to move up a teat size
- Flow may be too slow: feeds take a very long time, your baby gets frustrated, pulls at the teat, falls asleep before finishing, or the teat keeps flattening.
- Flow is probably too fast: your baby gulps, coughs, splutters, milk spills from the mouth, fingers and toes splay or the head turns away (stress cues described by UNICEF Baby Friendly).
If you see signs of a too-fast flow, go back to a slower teat. The CROSS-CUT teat is for thicker liquids; always check with your GP or health visitor before thickening feeds (for example adding cereal).
How to bottle-feed a breastfed baby (paced feeding)
For a breastfed baby, the teat shape is only part of the story – technique matters just as much. The NHS and UNICEF Baby Friendly recommend responsive (paced) bottle feeding:
- Position: hold your baby close in a semi-upright position with the head supported so they can breathe and swallow comfortably. Look into their eyes and talk to them.
- Invite the latch: gently brush the teat against the upper lip; when your baby opens wide, let them draw the teat in.
- Keep the bottle horizontal: hold it almost level (just slightly tipped) so milk doesn’t flow too fast.
- Pauses: after a few sucks, tip the bottle down or ease it out and wait to see if your baby wants more. Let your baby set the pace.
- Don’t push to finish: your baby knows how much they need. Turning away, stopping sucking or pushing the bottle away means they’ve had enough.
- Few feeders: in the early weeks, keep bottle feeds mostly to the parents.
Never leave your baby alone with a propped-up bottle or with a bottle in bed – they may choke (NHS).
Cleaning, sterilising and replacing teats
- Wash bottles and teats in hot soapy water as soon as possible after feeds; use a small teat brush for the inside of the teat.
- The NHS advises sterilising feeding equipment until your baby is at least 12 months old. A dishwasher cleans equipment but does not sterilise it.
- The LOVI electric steam steriliser and dryer (per the product description) sterilises with steam in 10 minutes, dries for 10, 30 or 50 minutes, holds up to 4 bottles and 10 small accessories and uses 100 ml of water per cycle. Each Mammafeel teat comes with a sterilising case. See all sterilisers and bottle warmers.
- The LOVI AirWarm bottle warmer heats with dry hot air, without water, and gently moves the milk while warming for an even temperature. Always test the temperature on the inside of your wrist before feeding. Don’t keep prepared milk warm for long – throw away any leftovers after a feed.
- Replacing teats: check teats and bottles regularly and replace any teat that is torn, cracked, sticky or damaged (NHS).
Mammafeel compared with other bottle types
| Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Standard narrow-neck bottle | affordable, widely available, lots of replacement teats | lips open less wide than at the breast |
| Wide-neck “natural” teat bottle | wide latch, popular for combination feeding | teat shape and firmness vary a lot between brands |
| Bottle with extra anti-colic system (valve, tube) | channels air away from the milk | more parts to clean |
| LOVI Mammafeel | breast-shaped teat, dynamic soft tip, wide choice of flows | pricier than basic bottles; won’t suit every baby |
No bottle is the “best” for everyone. If your baby refuses the bottle after a few calm days of trying, try a different flow, a different person or a different teat shape. Browse all baby bottles with teats.
FAQ
Will the Mammafeel bottle cause nipple confusion?
The manufacturer says the teat does not disrupt the sucking reflex. The best way to protect breastfeeding is paced feeding: horizontal bottle, pauses, and your baby sets the pace.
Which size should I start with?
For newborns and breastfed babies, the 150 ml bottle with the 0m+ MINI teat. Move up when you see signs the flow is too slow, not just because of age.
Can I use Mammafeel for formula?
Yes. It works for expressed milk and formula. With formula, always follow the preparation and hygiene instructions.
How long should I sterilise bottles for?
The NHS advises sterilising feeding equipment until at least 12 months, after a thorough wash in hot soapy water.
When should I replace the teat?
When it is damaged, cracked or sticky, and when your baby needs a different flow. Check teats before every use.
Related guides
- Formula feeding guide: making up a bottle, amounts and tips
- Safe formula preparation
- Reusable or disposable nursing pads?
- Weaning your baby: when to start
Sources
- NHS – Bottle feeding advice
- NHS – Sterilising baby bottles
- UNICEF UK Baby Friendly – Infant formula and responsive bottle feeding
- LOVI – Mammafeel
- Difrax – Mammafeel research results
- Difrax – Test mothers give the Mammafeel bottle an 8 out of 10
- Difrax – Mammafeel bottle scores an 8.4
- Baby Innovation Awards – 2026 Award Winners
Breastfeeding is the recommended way to feed a baby. This content is for information only and does not replace advice from your GP, midwife, health visitor or an IBCLC lactation consultant. Product features are as stated by the manufacturer.
