No matter if you want to breastfeed or formula feed, picking the best baby bottle is an important decision for a parent to make. The right bottle keeps your baby happy, fed, and comfortable. The wrong bottle causes gas and stomach pains, leading to a very unhappy baby.
The market is full of different choices for the best baby bottle, so you have to wonder what is the right choice for your child. The last thing you want to deal with is a bottle leaking, collapsing nipples, or air bubbles. Instead, parents want to enjoy snuggling with their child as they feed.
Budget |
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Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Original Bottle |
4.6/5.0 |
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Best Value |
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Medela Breastmilk Bottles |
4.6/5.0 |
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Top Pick |
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Comotomo Natural Feel Baby Bottle |
4.7/5.0 |
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Baby Bottle Brand | Available Materials | Available Sizes | Rating |
Comotomo Natural Feel Baby Bottle | Silicone | 5oz, 8oz | 4.7 |
Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Original Bottle | Plastic, Glass | Plastic: 2oz, 4oz, 8oz Glass: 5oz, 9oz | 4.6 |
Baby Brezza Bottle | Plastic, Glass | 5oz, 9oz | 4.1 |
Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature | Plastic | 5oz, 9oz | 4.5 |
Medela Breastmilk Bottles | Plastic | 5oz, 8oz | 4.6 |
MAM Anti-Colic bottles | Plastic | 5oz, 9oz, 11oz | 4.4 |
Evenflo Classic Glass Bottles | Glass | 4oz, 8oz | 4.3 |
Philips Avent Natural Bottle | Plastic, Glass | 2oz, 4oz, 9oz, 11oz | 4.3 |
Lifefactory Glass Baby Bottles | Glass | 4oz, 9oz | 4.2 |
Glass, Plastic, or Stainless Steel
When parents select the best baby bottle for their child, they have to decide if they want to use glass, stainless steel, or plastic. There are pros and cons to each type!
Glass: Many parents love glass bottles because they are sturdy and long-lasting. Glass bottles are easier to keep clean as well.
However, glass bottles are more expensive, break easier, and cost more. If you plan to have more children, glass bottles will last through multiple children. Consider purchasing a protective, silicone sleeve to prevent the bottles from shattering.
Plastic: Plastic is the most popular pick for parents. Plastic bottles are made of polypropylene, which is hard plastic. Parents love that these bottles are lightweight and unbreakable. Don’t expect plastic bottles to last through multiple children.
Never take hand-me-down plastic bottles made before 2012. Older plastic bottles contain a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA). New regulations require manufacturers to make baby bottles BPA-free. It is a dangerous chemical for infants.
Silicone: A few bottles are made of silicone, and they can be hard to find. Silicone bottles are BPA-free, flexible, don’t break easily, and are lightweight. However, silicone bottles do tend to cost more than other materials.
Types of Baby Bottles
Straight Bottles
Straight neck bottles are the standard design that a large number of parents use. It has a straight neck and a standard width for the entire length of the bottle. You won’t have trouble fitting a straight bottle into bottle warmers and sterilizers.
Angled Bottles
Unlike straight bottles, an angled bottle has a bend along the neck. The location of that bend depends on the brand and design of the manufacturer.
Some parents love angled bottles because they can be easier to hold. The other benefit is that your baby can feed at a semi-upright position, ideal for babies with reflux and to prevent ear infections.
The downside is that mixing formula in an angled bottle can be difficult. It is easier if you have a funnel.
Wide Neck Baby Bottles
Wide neck bottles have, as you might suspect from the name, a wider neck opening than a standard bottle. The wide neck allows for easier cleaning, mixing formula, and pouring in breastmilk.
The benefit of wide neck bottles is that they use a wider nipple, which mimics a mother’s nipple. Many breastfed babies struggle to take a bottle, so a wide neck bottle makes transitioning from breast to bottle a lot easier for babies.
Vented Bottles
You might see vented bottles labeled as natural flow bottles. These bottles have vents that prevent air from getting trapped in the nipple, which your baby will swallow. Trapped air leads to gas, excessive burping, colic, and discomfort.
Vented bottles may have holes on the nipple that allow air to pass through, but that doesn’t mean it is impossible for milk to enter the digestive system. Some bottles have a straw with slits to allow air to pass. It ensures that air doesn’t mix with milk and moves the air to the bottom of the bottle.
These bottles are perfect for colicky or gassy babies, but it is harder to clean these bottles because they have multiple pieces.
What to Consider When Buying the Best Baby Bottle
You’ve already looked at the different bottle materials and types of bottles. Now, it is time to look at the other features that matter when it comes to selecting a bottle that is right for your child.
Bottle System
Certain bottles are stand-alone bottles. However, some bottles are part of a system. These brands might include a breast pump, sterilizer, milk storage containers, several sizes of bottles, and a variety of nipples. When you use a bottle system, you know all of the products work together perfectly.
Easy to Use
In the middle of the night, do you want a bottle that feels like a Rubik’s Cube? Probably not! You want a bottle that takes little time to maintain.
Many parents love bottles with wide necks because they are easy for formula mixing. However, that wide neck bottle might not fit into your bottle warmer or your diaper bag. That’s where a bottle system comes in handy!
Nipple Design and Material
The design of the nipple is more important than the design of the bottle itself. Babies, especially breastfed ones, can be picky about the type of nipple they want to use. So, when you pick a bottle, consider these nipple design and material factors.
- Latex vs. Silicone: Nipples are made of either latex or silicone. Latex is rubber, and the texture is similar to a mother’s nipple. These nipples are cheaper, but they crack and break down over time. Silicone nipples are durable and firm, which some babies don’t like.
- Nipple Shape: The shape of the nipple can be a determining factor into whether your baby accepts the bottle. Standard nipples have a dome shape. Another option is an orthodontic nipple that fits against a baby’s palate and gums. Those nipples have a bulb that rests against the roof of the baby’s mouth with a flat side that touches the tongue.
- Wide or Flat: If your baby is transitioning from breast to bottle, a wide nipple is easier for babies to latch. A flat top nipple is appealing for many babies though! You have to see which your child prefers.
- Size and Flow: Over time, your baby’s sucking powder and amount of milk he swallows will increase. Because of this, bottles typically come with nipples of varying flows. A newborn or a young baby needs a small, one-holed nipple. Older babies might need a three-holed nipple.
Ease of Cleaning
Cleaning a sink of bottles can take time, and unless you’re a breastfeeding mother who only offers an occasional bottle, you will clean a lot of bottles each day. Narrow bottles are harder to clean, typically requiring a cleaning brush.
Bottles that have multiple parts are harder to clean. Small parts make it difficult to get out all of the milk, which could lead to mold. If you have a dishwasher, make sure that the bottle you picked is dishwasher safe!
Extras Included
The last thing to consider is if the bottle you want comes with any extras! Does the bottle come with a plastic ring or a silicone sleeve? Those features are great for older babies!
Measurement lines are a needed extra for measuring out breastmilk or formula. You might also want lids that cover the nipples for when the bottle isn’t in use. Lids are great for traveling.
Choosing the Right Bottle for Your Baby
Take a look at the features and different styles of baby bottles to decide which features mean the most for you. You might prefer a glass bottle, or selecting a bottle for a breastfed baby could be of utmost importance. Decide the features that matter the most for you, and you’ll find the best baby bottle for your baby.
Do you have a specific baby bottle that you love? Let us know in the comments.
Picks for the Best Baby Bottle
1. Comotomo Natural Feel Baby Bottle
Many breastfed babies find it difficult to take a bottle, and the Comotomo’s natural, soft, silicone nipple makes it easier to transition from breast to bottle. Anti-colic vents provide the perfect air circulation to reduce gas and spit-up, which can be common when breastfed babies use bottles.
One unique feature is that the bottle is squeezable and feels like skin. Older infants can comfortably grip the bottle, but parents find it comfortable as well. Breastfeeding mothers highly recommend the Comotomo bottles, so give this bottle a try first. Otherwise, you might find your cabinet full of unused bottles that your baby dislikes.
Babies love this bottles so much because Comotomo put thought into how to recreate the experience of nursing for babies. The nipple feels like mom, and babies can squeeze the bottle. The bottles perfectly mimic a mother’s breast and milk flow.
The bottle is wide, so parents find hand washing easy. The flexible, short body makes it easier for little hands. The mouth is as wide as the bottle itself, ideal for cleaning. Comotomo bottles are dishwasher and boiling water safe!
Most parents have nothing negatives to say about the Comotomo bottles, but be aware that they can tip over frequently. So, watch the bottle when you are filling it. You don’t want to milk to spill everywhere! Another negative is that the volume measurements are hard to read on the silicone.
Specs |
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Available Sizes: 5oz, 8oz |
Available Materials: Silicone |
Available Nipple Types: Slow Flow (newborns), Medium Flow (3+ months), Faster Flow (older infants or aggressive eaters) |
The Pros |
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Breast-like nipple |
Squeezable |
Anti-colic vents |
Easy to wash |
Mimics mom’s breast flow |
Easy for baby to hold |
The Cons |
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Tips over easily |
Hard to read measurements |
2. Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Original Bottle
Dr. Brown’s is a popular choice for parents because the bottles feature an internal venting system. This system prevents gas, colic, and spit-up caused y the baby intaking extra air. The controlled flow helps your baby feed at the pace they feel comfortable, making digestion easier and causing fewer tummy problems for your baby. Score!
What parent doesn’t love their child experiencing less gas and colic? Dr. Brown’s bottles also create a vacuum-free effect that makes sure all of the nutrients in the formula or breastmilk are preserved. The unique system was designed by Dr. Brown to mimic the positive pressure flow of the breasts properly.
These bottles are the standard, straight size, and they do properly fit onto Medela pumps. So, you can pump directly into these bottles if you prefer. To make a complete system, Dr. Brown’s also makes a formula mixer, a bottle warmer and sterilizer.
Parents can purchase Dr. Brown’s bottles in starter sets. These sets include five bottles with two nipple types, a variety of caps, and cleaning brushes. For parents that prefer glass bottles, Dr. Brown’s bottles also come in a glass bottle variety. Also, there is a wide neck variety for babies who prefer that design. The glass bottles are pricey!
Specs |
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Available Sizes: Plastic: 2oz, 4oz, 8oz Glass: 5oz, 9oz |
Available Materials: Glass or Plastic |
Available Nipple Types: Traditional & Wide Nipples: Level 1 (newborns), Level 2 (3+ months), Level 3 (6+ months), Level 4 (9+ months or aggressive eaters) |
The Pros |
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Internal venting system to reduce gas, colic, and spit-u |
Controlled flow |
Variety of sizes available |
Fits Medela pumps |
Comes in plastic and glass |
The Cons |
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Several pieces to wash |
Tends to leak when shaken or mixing formula |
3. Baby Brezza Bottle
If you want a bottle with fewer pieces, the Baby Brezza only has two parts and an ultrawide mouth. For parents on-the-go, these features make washing a breeze. The only two parts are the bottle body and an integrated collar and nipple. The bottles feature an ergonomic shape that makes them easy to hold. The ultrawide mouth is wide enough for you to put your hand inside! That means you can reach all of the corners without a bottle brush.
The Brezza is a good choice for breastfed babies because it features a natural, wide, breast-like nipple with anti-colic vents. You don’t have to worry that your baby will gulp down air instead of his milk. Baby Brezza’s TruFlo Anti-Colic System makes sure the only thing swallowed is milk.
Brezza made their bottles with BPA-free plastic, and the bottles are available in four colors – charcoal grey, white, blue, and pink. Parents can pick between plastic and glass materials. The glass bottles are made with borosilicate glass that is a thermal shock resistant glass.
Specs |
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Available Sizes: 5oz, 9oz |
Available Materials: Glass or Plastic |
Available Nipple Sizes: Slow Flow (0+ months), Medium Flow (3+ months), Fast Flow (6+ months) |
The Pros |
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Fewer pieces to wash |
Anti-colic vents |
Wide mouth for easy washing |
Wide, breast-like nipple |
The Cons |
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Nipple can collapse |
Not microwave safe |
Hard for baby to drink final ounces of milk |
4. Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Baby Bottle
Another bottle that breastfed babies find appealing is the Tommee Tippee bottle. The nipple is soft, made with silicone, and has a breast-like shape that baby finds appealing with transitioning. Tommee Tippee used a soft silicone because it gently flexes, just like a mother’s breast so that a baby can latch on naturally. However, the nipple isn’t as wide as other bottles.
All babies benefit from the anti-colic vents to reduce air ingestion, ensuring your baby is always comfortable during feeding. There is only a single vent, which works well. However, depending on how you are holding your baby, the vent might be covered by the baby’s cheek, lips, or chin. If that happens, the bottle won’t vent well, and your baby could still experience stomach discomfort.
Parents like the curvy, but compact, design to the bottle, which makes it easy for babies and parents to hold. The wide design is easy to clean, but those curves can trap milk as your baby finishes the bottle.
Specs |
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Available Sizes: 5oz, 9oz |
Available Materials: Plastic |
Available Nipple Types: Slow Flow (newborn), Medium Flow (3+ months), Fast Flow (6+ months), Variflow (0+ months or thicker liquids) |
The Pros |
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Anti-colic vents |
Silicone, soft nipples |
Easy to clean |
Affordable |
Great for breastfed babies |
The Cons |
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Bottle leaks easily |
Liquids get trapped in curves |
The vent can be covered |
5. Medela Breastmilk Bottles
If you are breastfeeding mother who pumps, the Medela bottles are the perfect selection. Why? Because they are compatible with all Medela pumps! So, you don’t have to pump into a bottle and pour the milk into another bottle, leading to double the bottles. Who wants to wash extra bottles? Not busy parents, that’s for sure!
On the side of the bottle, you will find convenient milliliter markers, allowing you to count the milk your baby consumes accurately. The bottles come with additional caps that are for storage, so you can freeze these bottles full of milk instead of using milk storage bags.
Medela bottles are dishwasher safe, and you don’t have to worry about any internal parts to clean. There is just the bottle and nipple. It doesn’t get any simpler than that! Unfortunately, Medela only offers their bottles in plastic, so glass bottle loving parents might be disappointed. Their plastic bottles are BPA free!
Specs |
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Available Sizes: 5oz, 8oz |
Available Materials: Plastic: BPA-free |
Available Nipples: Wide-base Slow Flow (0-4 months), Wide-base Medium Flow (4 to 12 months), “Calma” Vented Nipple (one size) |
The Pros |
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Compatible with all Medela pumps |
Accurate measurements |
Budget-friendly |
Air-reducing, vented nipples |
Leakproof design |
The Cons |
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Not a breast-shaped nipple |
No option for glass bottles |
Nipples have a fast flow. |
6. MAM Anti-Colic Bottles
If your baby loves the MAM pacifiers, a MAM bottle could be a perfect choice. MAM features a patented, vented base that ensures the milk flows evenly. You never have to worry that your baby ingests too much air. Unlike other bottles, the MAM vent is located at the base of the bottom. The results work well, and leaks rarely happen.
MAM uses ultra-soft silicone that even the smallest babies find comfortable. MAM uses an advanced SkinSoft nipple that is texturized to help the baby keep the nipple in their mouth. It is a great innovation because nipples easily slip out of a baby’s mouth, causing milk to leak everywhere. That won’t happen with these nipples!
A unique feature of the MAM bottles is that they self-sterilize in the microwave for three minutes. All you have to do is add water. Parents like the bottle itself because MAM added a texture to help the baby (and parents) hold it comfortably.
The one negative is that there are extra parts to clean. You must wash the bottle body, the nipple, nipple ring, and vented base. Four parts to wash is a lot if you use six or more bottles per day! To assemble the bottle, you must screw the base onto the bottom of the bottle, put the nipple on top of the bottle, and screw on the nipple ring.
Specs |
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Available Sizes: 5oz, 9oz, 11oz |
Available Materials: Plastic |
Available Nipple Types and Sizes: Slow Level 1 (0+ months), Medium Level 2 (2+ months), Fast Level 3 (4+ months) |
The Pros |
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Anti-colic features |
Self-sterilizing |
Texturized, silicone nipple. |
Easy to hold |
The Cons |
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Multiple pieces to wash |
Complicated to put together |
7. Evenflo Classic Glass Bottle
Evenflo is a brand that is trustworthy and dependable for parents. Their Classic Glass Bottle is comfortable for parents to hold, with an ergonomic twist design. Evenflo used FDA-approved food-grade materials, and tempered glass is great for sanitizing.
Evenflo updated the design of their bottle to feature micro air vents that increase air circulation and prevent nipple collapse. Their system is called the ProFlo Venting Technology, designed for easy and leak-free feeding. The soft, silicone vent quickly, pushing air into the bottle, not your baby’s stomach.
Moms love that the standard neck size allows you to pump directly into these bottles with many breast pumps. That is convenient for pumping mothers. The side of the bottle features molded millimeter measurements that won’t wear off over time. You’ll always be able to track your child’s feedings.
These bottles are easy to clean and assemble, so you don’t have to worry about dozens of pieces to wash. There is the bottle body and a one-piece integrated nipple and vent system. That’s it! You don’t have to worry about cleaning or losing extra parts.
Of course, the Evenflo Classic Glass Bottles are a sustainable and recyclable choice for parents who care about green-living!
Specs |
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Available Sizes: 4oz, 8oz |
Available Materials: Glass |
Available Nipple Types: Slow Flow (0-3 months), Medium Flow (3-6 months), Fast Flow (6+ Months), Pro Flow X Cut (3+ months or thickened liquids) |
The Pros |
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The glass is chemical free |
Air vents to reduce colic and gas |
Connects to pumps |
The Cons |
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Heavier than average bottles |
Older infants need to be monitored with a glass bottle. |
8. Philips Avent Natural Bottle
The Philips Avent Natural Bottle is a good choice for breastfed babies who are skeptical about taking a bottle. Avent uses a petal-design on their wide nipple, creating a soft and flexible feel for babies, reminding them of a mother’s nipple. The design of the nipple allows for a baby to naturally latch without nipple collapse.
Avent uses their Airflex vent system that is part of the nipple, and it reduces colic and stomach discomfort. All air is vented away from your baby to the bottom of the bottle.
Avent doesn’t have a dozen parts inside, making it easier for parents to get things clean. Assembly is easy, with only a few parts. The wide neck allows for easy cleaning, but you still might need to use a bottle brush. The size is great; your baby will be able to hold his bottle as he gets older.
You can purchase the Philips Avent Natural Bottle in sets or as a single bottle. The sets come with five bottles, two sets of nipples, two pacifiers, and a bottle brush. That is a fantastic deal! Avent also offers these bottles in glass and plastic! The plastic bottles are made from polypropylene, which is a BPA-free material.
The Natural Bottle is part of the entire Avent line. You can use this bottle with their breast pump and cups to complete a line that grows with your baby.
Specs |
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Available Sizes: 2oz, 4oz, 9oz, 11oz |
Available Materials: Plastic or Glass |
Available Nipple Types: Newborn Flow, Slow Flow ( 1+ months), Medium Flow (3+ months), Fast Flow (6+ months), Variable Flow (3+ months or for thickened milk) |
The Pros |
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Soft, flexible nipple |
Easy to clean |
Variety of sizes and nipple types |
Available in sets |
Design curbs colic and gas |
The Cons |
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Slow flow nipple is too fast. |
Higher price than other brands. |
9. Lifefactory Glass Baby Bottle
Lifefactory is a great choice for the best glass baby bottle. Many parents are concerned about the chemicals found in plastic products, so glass bottles are on the rise.
Lifefactory is a newer company dedicated to providing parents with a safe, glass bottle for their baby. Safety is a concern for parents who are considering the switch to glass. A glass bottle that breaks easily is not a good choice for an infant. Lifefactory includes a colorful, silicone sleeve that prevents the bottle from breaking when dropped.
Unlike other glass bottles, Lifefactory uses borosilicate glass which is sturdier than other glass. Borosilicate glass withstands extreme temperature changes making this bottle a fantastic choice for freezing breast milk. The bottles won’t be damaged if you place in hot water for reheating.
These bottles are a traditional, standard sized baby bottle with a silicone nipple. The nipple has a traditional shape. Many babies love this design, but a breastfed baby may gag and dislike the nipple shape.
Parents can turn this bottle into a sippy cup with a purchase of sippy caps. Also, it is much lighter than other glass bottles!
Specs |
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Available Sizes: 4oz, 9oz |
Available Materials: Glass |
Available Nipple Sizes: Stage 1 (0+ months), Stage 2 (3+ months), Stage 3 (6+ months) |
The Pros |
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Durable, strong glass |
Included silicone sleeve |
Lightweight |
Leak-proof |
The Cons |
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Doesn’t mimic breast shape |
Expensive |