9 Best Baby Bottles, Parent-Tested and Baby-Approved
In a nutshell:
Based on our hands-on product testing, a survey of over 300 new parents from The Bump community and advice from a lactation consultant, we chose the Chicco Duo Hybrid Baby Bottle as the overall best baby bottle. In particular, this option stood out because of its innovative hybrid material, easy-to-clean design and ergonomic shape.
Whether baby will be fed with formula, breast milk or a combination of both, you’re probably going to need some baby bottles—and deciding which brand or style to go with can be daunting at first. Ultimately, the best baby bottles for your little one will come down to personal preference, and even that will change as your infant grows and needs evolve.
There are dozens of baby bottle brands on the market, all claiming to be among the best, and the sheer volume can feel overwhelming. But I’m taking out the guesswork for you; as the mother of an 11-month-old baby, I’ve tested all types of bottles over the last nine months—from BPA-free plastic to glass baby bottles and everything in between—and narrowed the field based on how the options actually held up in real-life scenarios. You’ll get insight into the top-rated infant bottles on the market in various categories that I’ve tested with my baby between 2 months and 11 months of age. Read on for shopping tips and browse The Bump’s picks of the best baby bottles, including this year’s Best of The Bump award winners.
If your baby is experiencing colic or you specifically need a bottle to use when breastfeeding, you may want to read our separate product-tested articles that focus solely on the best anti-colic bottles or best bottles for breastfed babies.
The Bump editors did extensive research to create a shortlist of 28 top-rated bottles, and from there took the following steps:
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I personally put 22 different baby bottles to the test over nine months of my baby’s first year of life! I cleaned, sanitized and filled an array of bottles (and of course, fed my baby with them) and evaluated each for ease of use, ease of cleaning, effectiveness, quality and value for money.
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We interviewed a lactation consultant to understand essential features and safety considerations you should consider while shopping for and using baby bottles, and adhered to safety guidance from authorities like the FDA.
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We surveyed over 650 new and expectant parents in The Bump community for additional insight on the ins and outs of specific baby bottles.
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To understand how these bottles performed for a variety of families, we scoured forums and message boards and read user reviews to find out how these bottles performed for parents across the country.
Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read about how The Bump develops and reviews all articles, including product reviews.
Overall best baby bottle
- Safe and resilient glass and plastic design
- Skin-like nipple for easy latching
- Very easy to clean
- Non-fade measure lines
- While I tested the 9 oz. bottle, only the 5 oz. is currently available
What could be better than a baby bottle that offers the resilience of plastic and the safety of glass? The Chicco Duo Hybrid is designed with an outer shell of plastic, wrapped around and bonded with a patented glass material. The glass is the innermost layer of the bottle, ensuring that it's the only surface that touches baby’s milk. I love so many things about this bottle that I awarded it a 10 out of 10 score in every testing category, making it the Best of The Bump award winner for overall best baby bottle for the second year running! (See all of this year’s Best of The Bump winners.)
With only three pieces to put together (four, including the cap), preparing my baby’s middle-of-the-night feedings is a breeze. The instructions are concise and clearly explain how to clean, heat and select a proper nipple size, so there’s zero confusion about how to use and take care of this baby bottle. It was also easy to see how much milk my baby drank, because the ounce measurements were etched rather than printed onto the bottle—meaning the measurement indicators will never fade over time, unlike other brands that only print the measurements.
The slightly curved bottle shape makes it incredibly easy to hold and position at an optimal angle when feeding my baby. The nipple is designed to position baby’s tongue for an optimal latch. My breastfed baby loved the skin-like texture of the nipple, and the anti-colic valve prevented any major gas and spit-up after feedings. Feature after feature, this bottle just kept delivering, earning its spot as the year's Best of The Bump winner as overall best bottle.
Number of bottles: 2 | Capacity: 5 fl. oz. | Material: Plastic (outer); glass (inner) | Number of parts: 4 | Dishwasher safe?: Yes (top rack only)
Our product tester says:
“The thin layer of glass is one of my favorite features—the bottles never have a cloudy look and feel much cleaner than other plastic brands on the market.”
Best baby bottle for newborns
- Lets baby control the flow of milk, like the breast
- Wide, flexible nipple makes for easy latching
- Easy to assemble and clean
- Some parents say the nipple collapses during feedings
Philips Avent Natural allows baby to control their feedings, much like breastfeeding. The nipple is designed to only release milk when baby is actively drinking, which prevents newborns from being overwhelmed by too much milk. I found that the slow, even flow was just what my 2-month-old baby needed at the time—he took to his nighttime feeds with this bottle as seamlessly as to my breast. I gave the Philips Avent Natural our Best of The Bump winner for best baby bottle for newborns, a 10 out of 10 for effectiveness and ease of use; his latch was instantaneous and the feeding felt completely “natural,” as promised!
This baby bottle is very simple to put together: The large pieces make it easy to quickly assemble and take apart, a fact that was much appreciated during those groggy nighttime feeds. I also loved that the bottle didn't leak when assembling and filling, even when turned completely upside down. The instructions were short, concise and simple to follow.
The measurement markers clearly indicated whole and half ounces, and while it did lack quarter-ounce markers, the printed dark gray measurement markers made it easy to see how much milk my baby consumed. I particularly loved the bottle's curved shape, which made it easy to hold and position properly for effective and air-free feeding. Plus, this bottle was a breeze to clean, earning it another 10 out of 10 score; the nipple has a soft tip, so it was simple to reach with bottle brushes. Thank goodness—because if there's one thing a parent of a newborn doesn't need, it's another difficult task!
Number of bottles: 1 | Capacity: 9 fl. oz. | Material: Plastic | Number of parts: 4 | Dishwasher safe?: Yes (top rack only)
Our product tester says:
“Feeding my baby with this bottle was a pleasure. The flow (even with a size three nipple), was slow and even, and I felt that my baby controlled the milk flow. The nipple has a soft tip and extra-wide base for easy latching for my primarily breastfed baby.”
Our community says:
"[I love this bottle's] ease of use, easy-to-clean features and minimal pieces." – Laura, nursing mom and The Bump survey respondent
Best baby bottle to avoid nipple confusion
- Nipples are available in four skin tones
- Skin-like nipple texture
- Patented medical-grade silicone anti-colic bag
- Limited availability in certain regions
- Nipple too wide for some babies
What makes Suavinex Zerø.Zerø Anti-Colic Bottle such a great choice when you want to introduce bottles but keep your baby happily breastfeeding? Not only does the asymmetrical nipple mimic the breast, but the bottles come in four skin tone shades—fair, light, medium and deep—for a “more visually consistent transition” between breast and bottle. I found the skin-like texture and color comforted my baby during his feedings—he transitioned seamlessly, easily latching to the bottle shortly after finishing at the breast. The Suavinex Zerø.Zerø Anti-Colic Bottle was an easy pick for a Best of the Bump award for best baby bottle to avoid nipple confusion.
Another innovative feature of the Suavinex Zerø.Zerø Anti-Colic Bottle is the silicone bag, which holds the milk inside the bottle and is meant to contract as baby sucks, preventing them from swallowing air. And there’s no arguing with success—my baby was in complete control of the milk flow, which made for a very contented feed and no gas or excessive burps afterward. But I did find it to be much easier to insert the silicone bag into the top of the bottle rather than the bottom (the instructions advise that either way is acceptable). Suavinex offers four nipple options available for various milk flows, and positioning the bottle was very simple.
These bottles are on the higher end as far as price goes, but they’re so thoughtfully designed! Between the silicone bag, the skin-like texture of the nipple and the asymmetrical nipple design that mimics the angle of breastfeeding, everything about this bottle seemed tailored to helping me continue my breastfeeding journey with my little guy.
Number of bottles: 1 | Capacity: 6 fl. oz., 9 fl. oz. | Material:: Plastic with silicone bag | Number of parts: 6 | Dishwasher safe?: Yes
Our product tester says:
“There was no leaking with this bottle, and I love how the bottles are made in a skin tone like mine with a skin-like texture to mimic what my baby sees and feels while nursing. These unique features made my baby very comfortable with feeding.”
Best baby bottle for gassy babies
- Eliminates air during feedings
- Easier to clean than other vent systems
- Ergonomic shape is easy to hold
- May leak if vent isn’t secured correctly
- Some parents say the nipple collar warps in the dishwasher, causing leaks
Behold, a baby bottle with a vent system that does exactly what it promises! The AirFree vent on Philips Avent Anti-Colic baby bottles truly works to eliminate gas, and that’s why they’ve earned our Best of The Bump award for the best baby bottle for gassy babies. While my little one needed a little adjustment latching onto the nipple at first (he’s primarily breastfed), I was really impressed with how well he fed once he was latched. The milk flow was steady, controlled and not at all overwhelming for him, and the AirFree vent seemed to have a lot to do with this. The vent system closes off the nipple, keeping it full of milk rather than air. I tested this bottle when my son was around 2 months old, during a period when he was doing a lot of spitting up, and he didn’t spit up or have any gas issues after any of his feedings with this bottle. I was truly amazed at how it met the manufacturer's claims!
This baby bottle feels sturdy and extremely well-made. While the nipple is thick, it’s still soft and flexible, which makes it more breast-like than some other brands. While many other vented bottles on the market have a lot of parts that have to be secured together and are difficult to clean, Philips Avent Anti-Colic only has one main vent part. The unique design cleans easily and prevents gas, and as a result, I gave it 10 out of 10 scores for effectiveness, ease of cleaning and ease of use. I would recommend this bottle for any infants, but especially for gassy babies!
Number of bottles: 1 | Capacity: 4 fl. oz., 9 fl. oz., 11 fl. oz. | Material: Plastic | Number of parts: 5 | Dishwasher safe?: Yes (top rack only)
Our product testers says:
“I would definitely recommend this bottle, especially to moms whose babies are experiencing spit-ups. Considering all of the value with less air ingestion, the freedom to feed with or without the AirFree vent and the ease of cleaning, I definitely feel it’s worth the money.”
Easiest baby bottle to use
- One-handed press-to-close top
- Can heat and freeze milk right in the bottle
- Easy to hold and clean
- Compatible with most electric and manual breast pumps (with adapters)
- Expensive
- Some parents found the nipple too long for their baby
Hegen PCTO is a genius bottle design! It earned high scores in every category during product testing, but maybe more importantly, I kept finding myself commenting to my husband about how easy it was to use and clean. Its innovative snap-close design feature is a standout quality, one that nabbed it a Best of the Bump award for easiest baby bottle to use.
PCTO stands for press-to-close, twist-to-open. I love how easy it is to close the bottle securely with one hand, which is so convenient when preparing a bottle while holding my baby on my hip. Another one of my favorite design features is the unusual shape: square with rounded edges. Not only did I find this easy for him and me to grasp—my 11-month-old immediately grabbed the bottle from me and easily fed himself—but when my baby dropped the bottle, it didn't roll away from him (and potentially under the couch and out of reach!) like some other brands would. But even more impressively, the bottles are made of polyphenylsulfone, a type of plastic that can reach very high or very low temperatures without breaking down. In practice, that means you can both freeze and heat milk directly in the bottle—an incredible feature that minimizes the risk of spills by reducing the number of times you have to transfer milk between containers.
The bottle has a slanted nipple that mimics the breast, which made it easy for my baby to latch onto the bottle and ensure that the nipple was full of milk when feeding, avoiding any gas bubbles. The bottle is marked with black ounces and ml markers, so I could easily see how much my baby consumed—one of so many little features that made my experience using this bottle simple and easy. And the easy user experience doesn’t stop when feeding is over: With large, minimal pieces, this bottle was an absolute breeze to clean given that it’s wide and doesn't have small crevices that catch milk. Warm water and mild soap cleaned it up beautifully after feedings, and the bottle dried quickly and looked brand new once finished.
Number of bottles: 2 | Capacity: 5 fl. oz., 8 fl. oz. | Material: Plastic | Number of parts: 4 | Dishwasher safe?: Yes (top rack only)
Our product testers says:
“While these are pricier than many regular baby bottles, they pack a ton of value. I feel that the durability, the way my baby fed so contentedly and the versatility in being able to freeze and heat milk in the same container made this bottle worth it.”
Best budget-friendly baby bottle
- Very affordable
- Simple design that’s easy to clean
- Lightweight
- Basic features
- No valve or vent to reduce gas
- Measurement markers are difficult to read
Evenflo Feeding Classic Plastic Baby bottles come in a pack of 12, and at around a dollar a bottle, they are by far the cheapest bottle option we tested. They may have a simple design and low price tag, but these bottles still beat out much more expensive options in testing, making them our Best of The Bump winner for best budget-friendly baby bottles. I was surprised by how well my breastfed baby did with these bottles! They are truly no-frills, and yet the nipple worked well with the milk flow, and my 11-month-old fed himself nicely.
With only three main components (four including the cap), Evenflo Classic bottles are easy to assemble. The bottle will leak if held fully upside down (meaning baby doesn’t control the milk flow), but it didn’t leak in my diaper bag or while I was making up the bottle. And while they don't come with instructions, assembly is simple and intuitive.
Since my baby only takes a couple of ounces to supplement nursing, I wish this bottle came in a smaller size so that he could more easily hold the bottle himself; I had to help him position the bottle in his mouth to ensure that he didn't suck in any air, so this isn’t the best choice for babies that are particularly prone to gas or reflux. But positioning the bottle upright was pretty easy, and the bottles include Evenflo's classic slow-flow nipples to help keep baby from getting too much milk, and there were no issues with nipple collapse.
I love that this bottle and its parts are top-rack dishwasher safe. I left a bottle out with some leftover milk inside it over a few hours, and I worried that it wouldn’t ever come clean since it’s such a budget-friendly option. I was pleasantly surprised that it cleaned up beautifully after washing in the top rack of my dishwasher! I should have known that inexpensive doesn’t automatically mean cheap.
Number of bottles: 12 | Capacity: 8 fl. oz. | Material: Plastic | Number of parts: 4 | Dishwasher safe?: Yes (top rack only)
Our product tester says:
“You cannot beat the value of Evenflo Feeding Classic Baby Bottles. …These are a nice value for a simple, classic bottle feed.”
Best glass baby bottle
- Tempered glass is not easily breakable
- Easy to clean
- Recyclable and sustainable
- Too heavy to pump into
- Can’t be used in a bottle warmer
- Difficult to see the measurement markers on the rippled glass
Evenflo Vented+ Glass bottles—our Best of The Bump winner for best glass baby bottle—prove there’s nothing like a classic. When I started testing bottles for this article, I was a little worried about using glass infant bottles (visions of dropped bottles and lost liquid gold!). But Evenflo’s tempered glass makes it difficult to break, and the ergonomic design made it a pleasure to hold while feeding; the twisted shape is easy to grip during feedings without dropping.
At first, I wasn’t sure how my breastfed and bottle-fed baby would take to a narrow nipple, but he latched easily—in fact, this bottle was one of his favorites! At the time of testing, my baby was 2-months-old and I was so impressed with how he had complete control over the milk flow without struggling or gulping. This bottle had absolutely no leaks while I was making the bottle, feeding and even transporting it in a cooler bag. The Evenflo Vented+ Glass bottle scored 10 out 10 not just on value for money, but also quality, effectiveness and ease of cleaning.
One of the best features of this baby bottle is that you can sanitize it in the dishwasher, and the glass comes out crystal clear. The nipple, nipple screw top collar and cap were also dishwasher-safe on the top rack. I love this feature! I washed the bottle and all parts with hot, soapy water and all four components came out brand new. The nipple is a little narrow, so at first glance, I thought it might be more difficult to clean, but it turned out to be very easy.
At under $3 a bottle, Evenflo glass bottles are so affordable and easy to clean, and most importantly, my baby fed very well with them!
Number of bottles: 3 | Capacity: 4 oz. | Material: Glass | Number of parts: 4 | Dishwasher safe?: Yes (top rack only)
Our product tester says:
“What did I learn from testing this bottle? Don't rule out a classic. This bottle was one of my baby’s favorites!”
Best silicone baby bottle
- Silicone texture and shape mimic the breast
- High quality, flexible nipple
- Easy to clean
- Dust and hair easily stick to silicone bottle
- Doesn’t work well in a bottle warmer
Naturally BPA-free, antibacterial and easy to clean, it’s clear why silicone is a beloved baby bottle material. And the Nanobébé Flexy Silicone Baby Bottle takes full advantage of the flexibility silicone offers—I was blown away by how my baby handled the bottle like he would my breast; he kneaded the bottle with his hands and seemed so comforted by the shape of this bottle. I’ve tried other silicone brands and my baby didn’t love them like he did the Flexy!
I’m not the only one whose baby was comforted by the flexible construction of this bottle: Erica, the mother of a 3-month-old and one of our survey respondents, was a big fan of the Nanobébé’s flexible silicone design, telling us that the squeezable material allowed her little one to feed themselves (somewhat) independently at an early age. “[My infant] had a hard time transitioning from the breast for daycare, and being able to squeeze the bottle to squirt milk into his mouth was crucial in helping get some milk into him until he figured out the latch,” she explained.
The Flexy is more than just a cool material, though. It earned a Best of The Bump award by scoring high in every testing category. My baby latched beautifully to this nipple. Even though he is teething and can often chew on other bottle nipples, he instinctively latched onto this bottle and contentedly fed. One of my favorite features is that the nipple is thick, flexible but non-collapsible and very high quality. The three anti-colic vents were also especially important to me, since my baby is at a point where he is feeding himself and swallowing air is a concern. I've noticed with other brands that vented nipples can make baby bottles very leaky, but not with the Flexy!
The bottle never leaked during feedings or when I tossed it into my diaper bag to drop off my older son at school. It was easy to assemble and clean (the silicone bottle snapped easily into the neck ring, making a popping sound to let me know that it was totally secure), and I could clearly see how much milk my baby drank, thanks to the bold markers that are etched into the silicone. And it can even grow with him as he gets older—Nanobébé’s quick-click handles (sold separately) encourage self-feeding in older babies. All in all, the Nanobébé Flexy offers an outstanding value for the price.
Number of bottles: 2 | Capacity: 5 fl. oz., 9 fl. oz. | Material: Silicone | Number of parts: 5 | Dishwasher safe?: Yes
Our product tester says:
“The bottle part is robust while maintaining softness and flexibility, making it easy for my baby to hold. …I found that my 11-month-old was so comforted in holding this bottle and felt secure with the breast-like shape and feel of the silicone.”
Our community says:
"Easy to clean and assemble. The bottle mimics the flow of breastfeeding well." – Haley, mom of a 1-month-old and The Bump survey respondent
Best stainless steel baby bottle
- Shatterproof, lightweight and durable
- Odor-resistant
- Easily converts into a sippy cup
- Ounce markers are inside the bottle
- Higher price point
- Gets very hot in electric sterilizer
I'll admit that I was skeptical about stainless steel as a material for a baby bottle, but it ended up being surprisingly effective! There is so much to love about stainless steel for feeding your little one, and after testing multiple options, Pura Kiki was the clear Best of The Bump winner for the best stainless steel baby bottle. I used to think of stainless steel as a heavy material, but immediately upon opening this bottle I couldn’t get over how lightweight it was, yet it still felt substantial—I gave it a 10 out of 10 score for quality. Stainless steel is shatterproof and non-toxic, and Pura Kiki even offers a lifetime warranty on stainless components!
The silicone cap is genius, as it didn’t add to the weight of the bottle in my diaper bag, and the silicone sleeve offered a great grip on the bottle while I was preparing the milk and feeding my child. The sleeve stays put when you want it to but easily slides on and off, making for simple cleaning.
I especially loved that the bottle didn't leak during feedings or while being transported around, and that the nipple includes a vent to prevent gas. When placed in a cooler bag with an ice pack, the milk stayed notably colder than plastic bottles. And while the opaque stainless steel made it difficult to see at a glance how much milk my baby had consumed, Pura Kiki has gone the extra mile with measurement markers inside the bottle, so you can unscrew the cap and confirm how much baby drank.
While these bottles are a little pricier at $18 apiece, I gave them a 10 out of 10 for value for money. As the manufacturer notes, there's no need to throw away or replace your bottles as baby matures—the stainless steel is super durable and won’t retain any milk smells. Plus, this bottle is compatible with straw lids and sippy cup lids, so the product lasts through several phases of childhood development. You can even reuse them as your family grows!
Number of bottles: 1 | Capacity: 5 fl. oz. | Material: Stainless steel | Number of parts: 5 | Dishwasher safe?: Yes
Our product tester says:
“I would absolutely recommend this bottle to other moms and dads. I love that this is a toxin-free option for feeding my baby—that's the beauty of stainless steel!”
Baby Bottles Comparison Chart
Overall best baby bottle | Best baby bottle for newborns | Best baby bottle to avoid nipple confusion | Best baby bottle for gassy babies | Easiest baby bottle to use | Best budget-friendly baby bottle | Best glass baby bottle | Best silicone baby bottle | Best stainless steel baby bottle | |
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Overall Best Chicco Duo | Philips Avent Natural Response Baby Bottles with Natural Response Nipple | Suavinex Zerø.Zerø Anti-Colic Bottle | Philips Avent Anti-Colic Bottle | Hegen PCTO Feeding Bottle | Evenflo Feeding Classic Plastic Baby Bottles | Evenflo Vented + Bottle | Nanobébé Flexy Silicone Baby Bottle | Pura Kiki Stainless Steel Anti-Colic Infant Bottle | |
Price | $$ | $$ | $$$ | $$ | $$$ | $ | $ | $$ | $$$ |
Material | Plastic (outer); glass (inner) | Plastic | Plastic with silicone bag | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | Glass | Silicone | Stainless steel |
Number of parts | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
Anti-colic valve/vent | |||||||||
Dishwasher safe | |||||||||
Size range | 5 fl. oz. | 4 fl. oz., 9 fl. oz. | 6 fl. oz., 9 fl. oz. | 4 oz., 9 oz., 11 oz. | 5 fl. oz., 8 fl. oz. | 8 fl. oz. | 4 fl. oz., 8 fl. oz. | 5 fl. oz., 9 fl. oz. | 5 fl. oz., 9 fl. oz., 11 fl. oz. |
Nipple flow options | Slow, medium, fast | Stages 1 to 5 | Adaptable, slow, medium, dense | Stages 1 to 4 | Extra slow, slow, medium, fast | Slow, medium, fast | Slow, medium, fast | Preemie, slow, medium, fast, Y-cut | Slow, medium, fast, Y-cut |
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*Note: Some names have been changed due to privacy requests.
When my mom came over to help out with my little ones, she was floored by the variety of bottle shapes, materials (hello, stainless steel!) and nipple styles available. They’ve come a long way from the limited options available way back when I was a baby. Some of the types you can buy today include:
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Glass baby bottles. The OG in baby bottles, glass is a fantastic material for feeding your child. Since glass is naturally BPA-free, toxins and chemicals aren’t generally an issue. Glass is easy to sterilize, warms milk easily (since it’s a conductor of heat) and is durable enough to be kept and used for your next baby (if you’re intending to grow your family). While the worry years ago used to be that the material was easily breakable, many glass infant bottles today are made with tempered glass so they’re far stronger. They’re also recyclable, making them an eco-friendly bottle option. According to our survey of parents in The Bump community, 19 percent of respondents opted for this type of bottle.
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Plastic baby bottles. Plastic is the most commonly used material for baby bottles. Due to its low weight, break resistance and cost-effectiveness, many caregivers find it to be the most convenient option. In fact, plastic bottles were the most popular among our survey respondents, 70 percent of whom told us they preferred this type. However, as with any option, there are some drawbacks to consider: Plastic can retain smells and doesn’t last as long as glass. But while plastic bottles of years past may have contained toxins (BPA) that could leech into baby’s milk, this hasn’t been an issue for more than a decade; the FDA banned the use of BPA-based materials in baby bottles in 2012.
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Silicone baby bottles. Silicone is a relatively newer material for baby bottles, and there are plenty of reasons why parents and caregivers love it. It’s BPA-free and can withstand higher temperatures than plastic for sterilizing and warming. Silicone baby bottles also last longer than plastic options, and because silicone is non-porous, it won’t retain odor from milk.
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Stainless steel baby bottles. Stainless steel baby bottles boast several benefits: They’re easier to clean than plastic in most cases, and are durable yet lightweight. One issue to watch out for is that stainless steel is opaque, so it’s difficult to know at a glance how much milk baby has consumed.
Not sure what you should keep an eye out for as you browse the top-rated infant bottles? Below, check out our list of main features to consider:
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Size. In general, you’ll find bottles ranging in size from 2 to 10 ounces. Two-ounce bottles are tiny, but they’re also pretty pricey and often sold individually. These are often considered specialty bottles to be used for premature babies. For full-term babies, many popular brands offer a 4- or 5-ounce starter bottle, and then a larger bottle, ranging from 8 to 10 ounces for older babies. Consider your child’s feeding habits and how much they tend to eat in a sitting.
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Usage. Baby bottles have lots of specialty features, so consider what your family needs the most. If you’re concerned about avoiding gas or spit-up, an anti-colic bottle with a good venting system is a must. If you’re hoping to regularly switch from the breast to the bottle, look for something with a wide neck and a nipple that’s as similar to the breast as possible. If you have a premature baby, get a bottle that has an appropriate nipple flow and can be sterilized easily.
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Parts. Some bottles are simply vessels with nipple attachments, while others have complex parts. Venting systems and specially designed straw filters can help with gas and colic, but they can also make cleaning more labor-intensive. It’s a matter of priority and personal preference. You may want to opt for a bottle with wide openings (that’ll comfortably fit a sponge or brush) and few parts that can go in the dishwasher.
While all of the previous considerations are worth noting, one important feature often gets overlooked. “Rather than focusing on a bottle’s shape or size (although 4- to 5-ounce bottles are most practical for the first few months), one should consider the nipple,” says Diane Liscia, RN, a maternal and child health nurse and certified lactation consultant at the Putnam County Department of Health in New York. “The goal in choosing a nipple is for the infant to mimic the same mouth position and tongue movement that he or she would achieve on the breast as much as possible.”
Liscia suggests a slow-flow nipple to start, to encourage an active suck and comfortable flow of milk. “Avoid nipples with a fast flow that can result in overwhelming the baby, causing a disorganized suck and a difficult feeding,” she explains. Choking, leaking of milk and general distress are all risks.
While many brands claim to mimic a mom’s breast, Liscia advises that nipple shape is even more important than bottle shape. “A flexible silicone nipple that gradually changes shape from a narrow tip to a wide base helps achieve a good latch, allowing the tip of the nipple to go deep into the mouth as well as helping the infant to maintain a tight seal with a wide gape.”
About the writer:
Christine Carpenter is a journalist and storyteller from New York. She approaches her craft intending to make women feel less alone in motherhood. Carpenter’s favorite job is being a mama of two little boys; her toddler, Cole, and baby, Rylan. With over a decade of experience in the fashion industry, she has a rich professional background in product development and a full-blown obsession with products that make life easier and more fun! Carpenter has an eye for quality and experience managing all steps of the product supply chain from inception to delivery. Her writing has been published in Motherscope, The Kindred Voice and Mantra Wellness, among others.
Interested in becoming a product tester for The Bump? Head here to apply.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Diane Liscia, RN, PHN, MS, IBCLC, is a maternal child public health nurse and certified lactation consultant with the Putnam County Department of Health in New York.
US Food and Drug Administration, Bisphenol A (BPA): Use in Food Contact Application, November 2014
The Bump May 2023 Survey. Editors conducted a survey of 300 new parents from among The Bump community, and asked for feedback and insight on the baby bottles they used.
The Bump January 2024 Survey. Editors conducted a survey of 350 new parents from among The Bump community, and asked for feedback and insight on the anti-colic bottles they used.
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