Buying guide for Best baby bottles
As a parent, getting your baby the proper nourishment is high on your list of priorities. It’s important to find the right baby bottle whether you feed your child formula, a combination of formula and breast milk, or express milk so another caregiver can share feeding duties.
Babies are tiny humans who have preferences just like the rest of us, so there's no single bottle that's right for all babies. Some babies will only drink from bottles with wide latex nipples that feel more like a breast. Others will drink from almost anything. For colicky babies, a vented bottle reduces the amount of air they might swallow and minimizes gas and stomach discomfort.
As the person preparing the bottle, you have to figure out what works for you as well. Perhaps you find it easier to mix formula in a wide-necked bottle. Perhaps you want a bottle that fits in the insulated pouch of your diaper bag. Fortunately, you have many options to choose from so you can find the perfect fit.
After researching baby bottles of all shapes and sizes, we found the Philips Avent Natural Baby Bottle Gift Set to be the top choice for most babies and parents. You get five bottles in a pack, and the nipples that come with the pack are flexible, soft and breast-shaped, so most babies take to them well.
Best baby bottles
These wide-necked bottles are made from plastic, making them durable, affordable and easy to clean and mix formula in. You get five bottles in a set: two with 9-ounce capacities and three with 4-ounce capacities.
The included nipples are wide and soft to mimic the natural feeling of breasts, so they work well for babies who are fed a combination of bottle and breast. The nipples are designed to only release milk while babies are actively drinking, which is similar to the experience of breastfeeding. The set also comes with two pacifiers and a bottle brush for easier cleaning.
Although they're made from glass, the fact that these bottles come in a set of six brings the price per bottle down, offering excellent value. They have a standard shape with an ergonomic twist to make holding them for long periods more comfortable.
Each bottle holds 8 ounces and comes with a slow-flow nipple that's suitable for newborns, although you can buy fast-flow and medium-flow nipples separately if required. The vented design helps reduce the chance of babies taking in air and suffering from colic.
With their wide-necked design, these bottles are easier than standard ones to clean and mix formula in. They come in a pack of three, all of which hold 8 ounces of milk. The included nipples are slow-flow and suitable from birth, though older babies may need a higher flow rate.
The vented design reduces colic and other digestive issues, such as gas and spit-up. The bottles are made from plastic, and the silicone nipples have a natural flow design to let babies drink at their own pace.
Although pricier than other baby bottles, you may be willing to dish out a few extra bucks considering the high-quality build and sleek design of these bottles. They detect when liquids are over 158 degrees, making them unsafe for infants to drink and will automatically leak out the sides. They're also terrific for the long run since they can be used as food storage containers once your child has outgrown them.
If you have a baby who suffers from colic, these bottles can help prevent it thanks to the air vent that reduces air intake. It also minimizes milk oxidization, allowing it to retain its nutrients for longer periods.
While it isn't cheap, this high-end bottle is worth the investment if you're struggling to get your baby to take other bottles. The nipple is wide and soft with a natural shape and feel that's great for combination-fed babies who prefer breast over bottle.
It's vented to reduce the chance of colic and digestive issues and has a super wide-necked design, so cleaning it and mixing formula inside is a breeze. It's made from food-grade silicone, which is a light, durable alternative to plastic. It comes in 5-ounce and 8-ounce versions.
Made from stainless steel, this bottle is worth considering if you want to avoid plastic bottles but are looking for something more durable than glass. There's no plastic in any part of the bottle, inside or out, and the silicone sleeve makes it easier and more comfortable to grip.
The medium-flow nipple is suitable for babies three months and up, while the 11-ounce capacity allows it to hold more milk than many competing bottles. It comes with a natural vent silicone nipple that reduces the incidence of colic. The lids are interchangeable, so you can use it as a sippy cup, straw cup or standard water bottle as your baby grows.
While the angled design isn't for everyone, it lets you feed your baby in a semi-upright position, which pediatricians recommend to reduce ear infections and reflux. The three bottles in this set hold 9 ounces apiece and are made from durable plastic.
They have a vent system that reduces the chance of digestive problems, such as colic, by limiting the amount of air babies swallow while feeding. The silicone nipples have wide bases to promote latching and a medium flow that's recommended for babies three months and up.
While some bottles use vents to help prevent colic, this one has a simple collapsible silicone pouch design. By collapsing as your baby drinks, the pouch doesn’t let your baby take in air that can cause gas and colic. And since the milk only touches food-grade silicone, it gives peace of mind to parents concerned about using plastic bottles.
You can choose between smaller 4-ounce bottles with slow-flow nipples for newborns and larger 8-ounce bottles with medium-flow nipples for babies over three months old.
Anyone in the market for simple glass bottles should consider these bottles from Philips Avent. You can buy them individually or in packs of four. You have two options: 4-ounce bottles with slow-flow nipples for younger babies or 8-ounce bottles with medium-flow nipples for older babies. That said, the nipples are interchangeable, so you can buy alternatives if the included flow rate isn't right for your baby.
The nipples are wide to mimic the feeling of breasts and are designed to only release milk when your baby is drinking for an experience similar to breastfeeding. These bottles are vented to reduce colic.
Keeping milk at the correct temperature while you're out of the house is a challenge, but this insulated stainless steel bottle makes it easier. Thanks to vacuum insulation, it keeps its contents warm or cool for roughly 10 hours.
The bottle holds 9 ounces and has a wide-necked opening for easy cleaning and mixing of formula. It comes with a slow-flow silicone nipple that's great for babies under three to six months, but you can buy medium-flow, fast-flow and maximum-flow options separately.
Some parents want the durability of plastic, but they don’t want the chemicals in plastic to touch their baby’s milk. That's where this hybrid bottle comes into play, with a non-porous glass interior and a durable plastic exterior.
The silicone Intui-Latch nipple positions a baby’s lips and tongue to help them latch. It has a soft, skin-like texture that's encouraging to combination-fed babies or babies who are just transitioning from breast to bottle. The included nipples are slow-flow, which is suitable for babies up to three months.
What to know before buying a baby bottle
Types of baby bottles
Angled bottles
These bottles have a bend somewhere along the neck. The location of the bend depends on the brand and make. Many parents find it easier to hold this type of bottle. Angled bottles are often recommended by pediatricians because they allow babies to be fed in a semi-upright position, which can help prevent ear infections. Filling and mixing formula in an angled bottle can take some getting used to and may require a funnel.
Standard bottles
Standard (straight-neck) bottles have the traditional design that’s been associated with baby bottles for decades. They have a straight neck and standard width for the entire length of the bottle. Their basic shape fits in most diaper bags, carriers, bottle warmers, and sterilizers.
Wide-necked bottles
As the name suggests, wide-necked bottles have a wider neck opening than standard bottles. The wide opening makes them easy to clean and mix formula in. This design also accommodates a wider nipple, which more naturally resembles a mother’s nipple. This is why wide-necked bottles are often used for babies who are transitioning from breast to bottle or who will be both breastfeeding and bottle-feeding.
Vented bottles
Sometimes called natural flow bottles, vented bottles are specially designed to prevent air from getting trapped in the nipple, where it could easily be swallowed by the baby. Swallowing air can cause painful gas that makes for an upset stomach and colic. There are three kinds of venting systems to consider.
- Top: Vent holes are located on the nipple, allowing air to pass into the bottle. However, air bubbles in the milk can still enter your baby’s digestive system.
- Straw: Slits in the nipple allow air to pass through a straw. Air does not mix with the milk and directly moves to the bottom of the bottle.
- Bottom: A valve at the base of the bottle allows air to be drawn in as the baby sucks. The pressure created prevents air from entering the formula. This is considered the best style for colicky babies because it prevents excessive swallowing of air.
The only downside to vented bottles is that they tend to be harder to clean, particularly if they have a valve. But if your baby shows signs of tummy trouble, it’s the best choice.
Disposable bottles
Some disposable baby bottles are truly disposable after each feeding; others employ disposable bags or liners that fit inside a reusable bottle. A disposable bottle comes in a sealed bag that keeps the bottle sterile until use. Once used, it must be thrown away.
Because of the waste they create, this type of bottle should only be used while traveling or in emergencies. A reusable bottle system, one you can reuse with disposable liners, works well when traveling because you don’t have to clean the entire bottle. Simply throw the liner away and wash the nipple.
Bottle material
It’s important to know what material your baby’s bottle is made from. Starting in 2012, baby bottles were no longer made of plastics containing BPA.
- Glass: Glass bottles are durable and BPA-free, and they last longer than plastic alternatives. Keeping them clean is also easy. However, they are heavy, more likely to shatter unless you also buy a protective silicone sleeve and more expensive at the initial purchase.
- Plastic: The benefits of plastic are many: lightweight, shatterproof and inexpensive. But, while BPA was banned from baby bottles in 2012, many parents still worry about harmful chemicals leaking from plastic bottles. Furthermore, plastic bottles eventually break down and must be replaced.
- Silicone: Bottles made of silicone can be hard to find, but they have no possibility of containing BPA, don’t break easily and are lightweight.
- Stainless steel: Stainless steel bottles are the most durable. They last a long time, are lightweight and do not contain BPA. Some have insulative properties to keep milk warm or cold for 10 to 12 hours. Keep in mind that they are expensive and can be hard to find when you need a replacement.
Bottle system
Some bottles are stand-alone models. Others come as part of a system that may include a breast pump, sterilizer, milk storage containers, interchangeable bottles of all sizes, a diaper bag and nipples of varying grades. These systems can be expensive, but they ensure all your baby-feeding products work together.
Ease of use
Feeding a baby when you’ve had little to no sleep can be hard. Consider the time and effort it takes to maintain a bottle before purchasing it. Bottles with wide openings are easier to make formula in, but if they don’t fit in the bottle holder of your diaper bag, that might not mean much.
Think about how you plan to make and heat the formula. If you plan to use a bottle warmer, an angled bottle won’t fit inside one.
Whichever bottle you choose, be sure the benefits outweigh any potential drawbacks.
Nipple design and material
The nipple design and material can be even more important than the body of the bottle. Babies can be notoriously picky about the type of nipple they will accept. There are a few factors to keep in mind when choosing a bottle and the nipple that fits it.
- Material: Nipples may be made of latex or silicone. Latex nipples are rubber with a texture that resembles a mother’s nipple. Latex is inexpensive but does break down over time and will need to be replaced when it cracks or tears. Silicone nipples are firmer and more durable. However, their tougher texture doesn’t appeal to some babies, as it doesn’t as closely resemble a human nipple.
- Shape: Nipple shape plays a big part in a baby accepting a bottle. Standard nipples have a dome shape. Another option is an orthodontic nipple that’s specially designed to fit a baby’s palate and gums, with a bulb that rests against the roof of the mouth and a flat side that touches the tongue. Some babies prefer one or the other, while other babies are fine with either shape.
- Design: Wide or flat-topped nipples have a wider base and feel more like a breast. For babies transitioning from breast to bottle or who switch between the two, a wide nipple is a good option.
- Size and flow: As a baby grows, sucking power and the amount of liquid they can swallow increases. Nipples come with varying degrees of flow. Newborns and young babies require a small one-holed nipple, whereas a 10-month-old needs a larger three-holed nipple to accommodate a growing appetite. Be sure to get a nipple that fits the age of your child, and watch for when it might be time for an upgrade.
- Disposable: Disposable nipples come in a sealed bag, can be used once, and need to be thrown away after use. They are expensive but convenient when traveling.
Cleaning ease
Unless you only plan to use bottles as an occasional replacement for breastfeeding, you’re going to be cleaning a lot of them. Narrow-necked and angled bottles can be hard to clean. They may even require a special flexible bottle brush. The more parts a bottle has, the harder and more time-consuming it will be to clean.
Some bottles can be cleaned in the dishwasher. Just keep in mind you’ll need enough bottles to keep feeding while the dishwasher gets full or runs.
Extras
- Handles: Some bottles come with a plastic ring or silicone sleeve with handles. While newborns won’t use these, older babies who are ready to feed themselves might like something extra to hold.
- Measurement lines: Measuring breast milk and formula is much easier in a bottle with measurement lines. It also helps you keep track of how much your baby is eating.
- Nipple cover: Nipple covers are plastic lids that snap over nipples when bottles aren’t in use. They are a nice feature when traveling to prevent nipples from becoming dirty or to help contain nipple leakage.
Tips for using and caring for baby bottles
- If you’re using a breast pump, it might be convenient to use a bottle that fits the pump.
- Liquid should drip out of the bottle so as not to choke the baby. If the formula or breast milk comes out of the nipple in a steady stream, it’s time to replace the nipple.
- Some bottles and parts can be cleaned in a dishwasher, while others should only be washed by hand. It’s a good idea to invest in high-quality bottle brushes of different sizes to clean inside the bottle and nipple.
- Inspect nipples for tears and cracks. Once your baby gets teeth, they may chew off the end of the nipple, posing a choking hazard.
FAQ
Q. How much do baby bottles cost?
A. Bottles cost anywhere from $2 to $5 apiece for plastic or glass bottles that come as part of a pack to $20 to $30 for an individual stainless steel bottle. High-end individual plastic, glass and silicone bottles can cost as much as $10 to $20 each. You'll always pay less per piece when you buy packs of multiple bottles.
Q. I plan to exclusively use formula for my baby. How many bottles should I buy?
A. That depends on how often you plan to wash your bottles. You could get by with a minimum of two bottles: one for feeding and one that’s drying while you feed. But you’d have to wash the bottle and nipple right after each use.
Some parents prefer to have 10 to 12 bottles so they have enough to use all day and then wash them all at once in the evening.
It also depends on whether you plan to hand-wash the bottles or place them in the dishwasher. Most people don’t run their dishwashers more than once a day. If that’s the case, you’ll need enough bottles to feed your baby all day. The older your baby gets, the fewer bottles your baby will need as they start eating solid foods.
Q. I’m breastfeeding, but I want to feed my baby a bottle now and then. What kind of bottle should I use?
A. Look for a bottle and nipple that feels as much like a breast as possible. Wide-neck bottles, which also take wide nipples, feel more like a breast than other types. Latex nipples are softer than silicone and feel more natural.
