As a pumping mom, time is one of the biggest obstacles. There is never enough of it.
We are constantly trying to keep up; Keep up with our baby, our family, our work, and our milk supply. It can get tiresome!
When I first returned to work as a new mom, I found myself looking for ways to save just an ounce of time. So when I came across some Kiinde Twist reviews, I was excited to give this feeding system a try!
This all-in-one feeding system allows for pumping moms to pump, feed and store from the same bag! It has been one of my favorite finds!
In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about the Kiinde Twist!
What is the Kiinde Twist?
When I started pumping with my first baby due to returning to work, I quickly realized how much milk I was wasting by pouring that precious liquid from container to container.
There was the pump bottle I pumped directly into, then the freezer storage bag, and finally, the bottle to feed it to my baby. Each transfer left precious drops of milk behind.
When you are producing a ton of milk, then perhaps that is nothing to worry about but for moms who are struggling to keep up with their baby’s demand, those precious drops mean everything. Not to mention washing and buying containers and storage bags can get expensive and is a big hassle!
Enter the Kiinde Twist.
I wish I had known about this feeding system with my son. They really have thought of everything!
The Kiinde Twist doesn’t allow one drop of that precious milk to go to waste. You simply pump directly into the Kiinde Twist Pouches, pop the pouch into a Kiinde bottle and feed your baby. Simple as that!
The Kiinde bags are also storage bags and can be refrigerated or frozen. To use stored milk, simply thaw and warm the pouch and pop into a Kiinde bottle. Easy peasy!
No mess, no fuss, and best of all, no wasted breast milk!
How Does the Kiinde Twist Work?
Direct Pump
The Kiinde starter set comes with adapters that work with all major pumps. The Direct-Pump Twist adapters connect directly into the pump flanges and allow you to pump your breast milk right into the Kiinde Twist pouches.
Here are some of the pumps that the Kiinde is compatible with:
Medela
Philips AVENT
Evenflo
Playtex
Ameda
Tommee Tippee
Spectra
The First Years
Hygeia
Lansinoh
ARDO
The Kiinde Twist pouches are leak-proof and very tough. Pump directly into the pouch, serve or store in the pouch and use later. You will never have to transfer your milk again. The Kiinde Twist Pouches are made that they can stand on their own or can be laid flat. There is also a convenient space for labeling on the pouch.
The Kiinde Twist pouches make great storage bags on their own even if you don’t use them to pump into. In fact, they are comparable in price to the Medela Pump and Save storage bag. The Kiinde run about $0.32 a bag and the Medela about $0.31.
When you look at the cost of bottles and the time spent washing them, etc plus the added cost of buying freezer and storage bags for your milk, the Kiinde Twist bags seem like a great, easy and affordable option.
==>Click here to read what Moms think of the Kiinde Twist!<==
What Comes with the Set:
Twist Pouches (x20)
All Direct-Pump adapters (for all major pump brands)
Keeper Breast milk Organizer (x1)
Squeeze Natural Feeding Bottle (x2)
Slow Flow Active Latch Nipple with Case (x1)
Medium Flow Active Latch Nipple with Case (x1)
Fast Flow Active Latch Nipple with Case (x1)
Nipple Brushes (x2)
Storage and Warming
One accessory that I love that comes in the Kiinde Starter Set is the Keeper Breast Milk Organizer. It is a shelf that stacks 12, 6-ounce storage bags. It lays them flat or can be used to stand them up. Either way, it is an ideal size to fit directly into the refrigerator.
The spacing between the dividers on the organizer makes it easy to read the label on each pouch. This would also work in the freezer but might take a little more space than if you stacked them frozen on top of each other. But it is a great accessory!
Another great option is the Kozii which is the Kiinde Breast Milk and Bottle Warmer. Kozii uses a low temperature, nutrient-safe water bath that is safe for ALL bottle and bag types (so not just Kiinde). The water in the warmer is about as warm as warm tap water.
This allows you to warm your little one’s meal without exposing bags and bottles to dangerous steam, hot or boiling water, or the microwave. Kozii uses technology, specifically designed to eliminate the risk of hot spots, nutrient damage, and dangerous chemicals that can be released from plastic bottles at high temperatures.
The Kiinde Starter Kit does not include the Kozii bottle warmer but there is a bundle that does have it. It runs for about $99. Considering the Kozii alone is $70, buying the bundle will save you about $10. Pretty good deal!
Twist and Feed
When it comes time to feed your baby, it honestly can’t be easier. Just warm the Kiinde Twist pouch and snap it into a Squeeze Kiinde Bottle. Squeeze the air out of the pouch and attach an Active Latch Nipple.
Per the Kiinde site, here are some key features of the Kiinde Squeeze bottles and Active Latch Nipples:
-Collapsible Twist Pouches completely eliminate gas from your baby’s meal, without complicated venting mechanisms.
-Patent-pending 1-piece Active Latch nipple means there is only 1 food-contact part to clean. No leaks, threads, lock rings, or complicated venting parts.
-Active Latch nipples are designed to teach and reward deep, wide, natural latching.
-By requiring suction AND massaging of the nipple, they are designed to discourage “lazy latching”, and to ease the transition between bottle and breast.
-The contoured bottle shape is easy to hold for your little one, and for you!
-The bottle can also be used to support your breast pump while pumping directly into Twist Pouches.
-Using Kiinde’s Direct-Pump adapters, nipples from a wide variety of brands can be used to feed gas-free directly from Twist Pouches, eliminating the need to transfer to a bottle and create more dirty dishes.
-Wide openings in front and back of the bottle allow you to simulate natural let down response by squeezing the pouch for more flow.
-Recyclable (#5), and BPA-free, PVC-free, and phthalate-free.
-Top-rack dishwasher safe.
-Steam sterilizer safe.
==>Click Here to read more about the features of the Kiinde Twist!<==
A concern I had when I first heard about the Kiinde was that by using this system, you are stuck with just their bottle and nipple. What if your baby doesn’t take to the Kiinde bottle? What then?
Well, Kiinde thought of that too. Remember the Direct-Pump adapters? Those can be used as adapters on the Kiinde Squeeze bottle which allows you to use most major brand nipples. Impressed? Me too!
It’s not the most attractive looking contraption but it certainly is a huge plus in my book! The fact you can use whatever nipple you want (well, most anyway) is a fantastic feature. Another positive is that if you are having trouble finding a nipple your baby likes, think of all the money you will save by only having to buy the nipples and not all those bottles!
Here is a list of brands that you can use the nipples from on the Kiinde Squeeze bottles:
Medela
Ameda
Dr. Brown’s
Spectra
Lansinoh (narrow and wide mouth)
The First Years
Avent
Playtex
Tommee Tippee
Evenflo
Hygeia
Pros and Cons of Kiinde Twist
The Kiinde Twist boasts a 4.5-stars out of 5-stars on Amazon. Reviewers rave about this innovative product.
Some features that moms loved the most is the ease of using the Kiinde Twist and the lack of washing bottles. The Kiinde pouches are said to be very sturdy and do not leak. The adapters for both direct-pumping and the nipples for other brands is also a big winner.
The Kozii bottle warmer was also a big hit with users. It is said to be quick, easy and warms perfectly.
Some negatives about the Kiinde Twist included: The neck of the storage pouch was hard to defrost frozen milk in because of how it is shaped, complaints that the 6-ounce bags were too small, the slow flow nipple is too slow, the pouch is hard to squeeze air out of when placed into the bottle, and complaints that the ounce measurement on the storage bags is off.
Overall, a majority of reviewers loved the Kiinde Twist and the accessories. I think some of the complaints have valid points but are fixable. For example, Kiinde offers larger pouches in 8-ounce measurement but the set comes with the 6-ounce bags. If you need the higher increments, then the option to purchase them separately is there.
The measurement of the pouches may be an issue but it is important to remember that the design of the pouches is so that they can be laid flat or stand up. When pushed all the way out to stand, then the measurement should be accurate. I would gather it will be very inaccurate when trying to measure the amount with the pouch flattened.
One negative to consider is that the set only comes with 2 of each pump adapter. So if you plan to pump at work with an Avent pump, for example, and your baby takes the Kiinde bottle with an Avent nipple, then you will need to buy extra adapters. Something to consider if you plan on using different brand nipples.
Bottom Line
Overall, I love the Kiinde Twist system. It is a great option for moms who pump often and want to save time and need to capture every last drop of that precious milk.
I wish I had known about this product sooner. All those times I spilled my freshly pumped milk while trying to pour into a freezer storage bag could have been avoided!
I would definitely recommend looking into the Kiinde Twist system if you are planning to pump to any degree. It makes a great pump accessory!
Have you used the Kiinde Twist system? Leave a comment and let us know how you liked it!
Click here to read more about the Kiinde Twist Starter Kit!
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