Alexandra Ramirez
1. Dr. Brown’s
Best Overall Baby Bottle
5/5 Product Rating
The positive pressure flow provides vacuum-free feeding that is most like actual breastfeeding.
There is no nipple collapse and air is channeled from the collar of the nipple through the vent system that is located at the back of the bottle. Air never mixes with the breastmilk or formula. The benefit to this design is that oxidation never occurs. Essential vitamins such as C, A, and E remain rather than being lost. Air bubbles are also eliminated which reduces any feeding problems like spitting up, gas, colic and more.
These bottles are BPA, PVC, lead and phthalate free, making them perfectly safe for your baby. This Newborn set includes 3- 8 oz standard bottles, 2- 4 oz standard bottles, 2 extra, level two silicone nipples, 2 storage and travel caps, 3 cleaning brushes that are inside the bottle.
– Linda Krantz
2. Philips AVENT
Best Overall Baby Bottle – Runner Up
4.8/5 Product Rating
It flexes to allow air into the bottle which prevents air from getting into your baby’s stomach. The other benefit to this flexing design is that it adapts to the baby’s feeding rhythm so the milk flows at the speed the baby is drinking.
This reduces overeating and spit ups that are caused from overfilling the stomach. The extra soft nipples are made from silicone and are available in different flow rates so it fits babies of all ages.
Cleaning these bottles are easy, due to the fact that there are fewer parts, rounded edges and wide necks which make cleaning much simpler.
This is an important feature because ensuring that the baby’s bottle is thoroughly cleaned inside is very important. It is recommended that only the Classic+ nipples are used with the Classic+ bottles.
– Linda Krantz
3. Playtex
Best Budget Baby Bottle
4.5/5 Product Rating
The Playtex VentAire Advanced Wide Bottles have the micro vent technology that reduces the chances of mixing air with the baby’s formula or breastmilk.
This reduces the amount of air the baby swallows and makes colic and cramps less prevalent.
The wide, natural shaped nipple is textured and designed to be like the breast so the baby latches on easier and does better. The angled bottle makes semi-upright feeding positions much easier which helps reduce the incidence of ear infections.
Included in this package are 5 VentAire advanced wide bottles (3- 6 oz and 2- 9 oz) extra nipples, both slow and fast flow, bottle caps, and vent disks. These bottles are BPA free and designed to help the baby with reduced gas, colic, and other discomforts.
– Linda Krantz
Baby Bottle Buying Guide
What is a Baby Bottle?
Choosing the best baby bottle for your baby is something that some parents spend a lot of time thinking about and other parents seem to just grab the closest and least expensive bottle they can find and use that.
If you have a newborn and you need bottles either because you’ve chosen not to breastfeed or to supplement when you are away from baby, you want to be sure to choose a bottle that will be the best for them and not cause gas or colic problems.
There are several things that you will want to look at when you start searching for the best baby bottle for your little one. We have them listed below.
Materials Used for Baby Bottles
Most baby bottles are made from either plastic or glass. Plastic was the prevalent material used up until 2012 when the Food and Drug Administration banned a material that was being used in the bottles, called bisphenol-A. This ingredient isn’t allowed in the manufacturing of any baby bottle or sippy cup designed for children.
When this came out, parents turned to glass bottles as a means of keeping their babies safe. Glass contains no BPA. The plastic bottles and sippy cups of today contain no BPA which is why it is important to never use old or hand-me-down baby bottles. Purchasing new ones assures them that the bottles are BPA free.
Other than the BPA issue that has been resolved, the decision of plastic or glass is personal preference. Plastic bottles are much lighter than their glass counterparts, making them much easier for the baby to hold on their own. Plastic also comes in a variety of colors and patterns that appeal to both parents and babies. Plastic will deteriorate over time and will need to be replaced.
Glass bottles are more expensive and heavier but they are much easier to clean thoroughly than plastic. They do not break down like plastic bottles do and unless they get cracked, chipped or broken, they will last indefinitely.
Types of Baby Bottles
There are several basic types of baby bottles on the market. We have outlined each type, including information about each so you will have the necessary knowledge to decide which type appeals to you and that fits your baby’s needs.
-
Standard Bottles – There are two basic sizes of the standard bottle: 4.5 ounce and 9 ounce. This classic shape is straight or slightly curved. It is available in glass, plastic and non-polycarbonate plastic. Sometimes, depending on the brand, it will be available in 7 or 11 ounce sizes.
Standard baby bottles can be extremely inexpensive and most often come with a protective cap to keep the nipple clean. Standard bottles are easy to fill, easy to hold and can be reused over and over. They are also simple to clean. The majority of breast pumps and bottle warmers fit the standard baby bottle shape and size.
Depending on the brand, some bottles have a valve on the bottom and vents in the nipples that are reported to minimize the air that the baby takes in while they are drinking.
-
Angle-Neck Bottles – This design has a straight bottle with a bent neck. This makes them easy to hold in a semi reclining position. The shape of angle-neck bottles causes formula or breast milk to collect in the end of the bottle. This causes less air to be taken in as the baby drinks.
This is a great bottle for feeding the baby when they are semi upright. This position also reduces the risk of fluid collecting in the baby’s ears which is a cause of ear infections in babies. The bottles are a little awkward to fill but it is not insurmountable and just takes a little maneuvering.
-
Wide Bottles – Wide necked baby bottles are usually shorter and broader than the regular standard bottle. There are some brands that offer wide neck bottles in both plastic and glass. They can be used with a variety of nipples as long as they fit the wide neck of the nipple ring. If you breast and bottle feed, you may find that wide necked bottles mimic the breast most closely.
Wide necked baby bottles are available in 4, 5, 8 and 9 ounce sizes. They are available in both glass and BPA-free plastic. The nipples for these wide necked bottles are available in a variety of flow speeds: slow, medium, fast flow and Y-cut. Wide necked bottles will cost more than standard plastic bottles.
-
Disposable Liner Bottles – This type of bottle has a plastic outer holder that disposable liner pouches or baggie fits into. The breastmilk or formula is poured right into the liner. The liner is held in place by the ring and nipple. As your baby drinks, the baggie collapses, reducing the amount of air that babies swallow.
Liners are available in 4 and 8 ounce sizes and are BPA free as well. Cleanup of disposable bottles is super easy, just throw the baggies away, wash the nipple and that’s it. It would not hurt to occasionally rinse or sterilize the liner holders.
You will need to keep buying liners which can increase the cost but some parents really like the easy cleanup and sterilization factor that disposable bags afford.
-
Natural Flow Bottles – A natural flow bottle has a two piece straw like system that is located in the center of the bottle. It is a vent system designed to eliminate the vacuum that can be created when the baby is feeding.
There are no air bubbles due to the elimination of the vacuum and this reduces the colic and gas that babies can get.
-
Glass Bottles – There are many choices available in glass bottles. If you are concerned about BPA despite the claims that all plastic bottles have had it removed, you may opt for glass.
There are some models of glass bottles that have a sleeve that fits over the glass bottle in the event of breakage. All the glass is contained rather than being allowed to fall wherever. Glass is easier to keep clean and sterilized as well.
Conclusion
There is no such thing as the perfect baby bottle that every baby is going to love and that completely eliminates all colic or gas. As technology develops and pediatricians learn more about these issues, manufacturers are designing and re-designing baby bottles to keep up with the new findings.
We have explained all the different types of baby bottles and what they are supposed to offer in terms of feeding for your baby. In some cases, you may have to try a few different types of bottles to find the one that works the best for your baby.
Start with the one that sounds like it will be the best for your baby, feeding choices and budget and go from there. With the information in this buyer’s guide you will have the knowledge you need to make the best choice for your baby.
