When choosing the right bottle, look at features such as the material it’s made out of, how comfortable it is to hold and feed from, and the design of the nipple. “Choose smaller bottles for breastfed babies (2 to 4 ounces) and larger bottles may be more appropriate for formula-fed children due to the need to increase formula volume as baby ages,” Cindy Scott, RD, CLC, tells Verywell Family. We carefully considered design, ease of cleaning, value, and material when reviewing products. To help you find the best one for your needs, here are the best baby bottles on the market. With a combination of flexibility, affordability, and ease, the Tommee Tippee bottles earned our top pick and are some of the best on the market for bottle feeding. They’re BPA-free and ergonomically designed, making for an easy clean for parents and an easy latch for babies. Tommee Tippee bottles are also curved, allowing babies to hold onto them easily on their own, while their rims are small enough that brushes don’t get caught on the sides. They come in either a 5-ounce or 9-ounce size so you can choose an option that works for your feeding needs. And because they only have a few parts, cleanup is low-maintenance and straightforward. Price at time of publication: $20 Material: Glass | Capacity: 5 or 9 ounces | Age Range: Newborn and up Every NUK bottle set includes nipples with various flow rates, so you don’t have to worry about matching your baby’s preferences. Multiple holes in the perfectly angled NUK nipples mimic the shape of Mom’s breast and provide different flow rates. Price at time of publication: $22 Material: Plastic | Capacity: 5 or 9 ounces | Age Range: Newborn and up For example, the nipple is designed to stretch, pump, and release milk just like a breast, and they’re compatible with many leading breast pumps, including Medela, Lansinoh, and Evenflo pumps, so you can save a step and pump breast milk directly into them. This starter set includes two four-ounce and two eight-ounce bottles with accompanying nipples, as well as a pacifier, cleaning brush, pump adapters, and sealing disks. Material: Plastic | Capacity: 4 or 8 ounces | Age Range: Newborn and up The bottles come in both 4- and 8-ounce sizes and have a wide array of parts, but the Dr. Brown’s bottle sets come with their own pipe cleaners, so you don’t have to purchase them separately. Plus since they have a lot of parts the size is large, so fitting in a diaper bag or cooler can be a bit of a challenge. Price at time of publication: $25 Material: Plastic | Capacity: 4 or 8 ounce bottles | Age Range: Newborn and up The bottles are simple to assemble and clean, and easy to toss into a diaper bag on the go, as the lids are low-profile and don’t tend to leak or take up too much space. The one notable drawback is that it doesn’t have a curved hourglass shape, which makes it a bit harder for babies to hold on their own. Price at time of publication: $63 Material: Plastic | Capacity: 9 ounce | Age Range: Newborn and up Meanwhile, the Evenflo venting system keeps trapped air and milk bubbles in the bottle, where they belong, and the angled shape allows babies to feed in an upright position—crucial to prevent overfeeding and reflux. Evenflo bottles have only three parts, unlike many other bottles designed for babies with acid reflux, and are dishwasher-safe and BPA-free. Material: Plastic | Capacity: 6 or 9 ounces | Age Range: Newborn and up There are only two parts—the nipple screws directly onto the bottle rather than a base—making this bottle parent-friendly as well as baby-friendly, although the rubber nonstick base may come off a bit too easily. And if your baby suffers from acid reflux, colic, or gas, the integrated venting system on mimijumi bottles could help without having to resort to pricier or more parts-heavy options. Material: Plastic | Capacity: 4 or 8 ounces | Age Range: Newborn and up Comotomo bottles are also simple to clean by hand without ever reaching for a bottle brush. Their super-wide necks make them easy to rinse and lather up without missing any nooks and crannies. They’re heat-resistant and can be sterilized in the microwave or boiling water without risking any damage. Price at time of publication: $28 Material: Plastic | Capacity: 5 ounces | Age Range: Newborn to 24 months Since glass is heavier than plastic these bottles will be harder for babies and parents to hold, and there is always a fear of them breaking but they are made of thick glass which is durable to drops. The nipples on these are also designed to mimic breastfeeding so for those who combo feed, these will work for you. Price at time of publication: $67 Material: Glass | Capacity: 4 or 9 ounces | Age Range: Newborn and up This set comes with 10 nine-ounce bottles that are marked with measurement lines, so you can see how your baby is eating. They’re great for airplanes, car trips, or any time you need a bottle in a pinch. Price at time of publication: $20 Material: Plastic | Capacity: 10 ounces | Age Range: 3 months old and up On the other hand, glass and stainless steel bottles are a little more sturdy and will last longer. If glass breaking is a concern for you, check out silicone bottle sleeves for added protection should an accident happen.
Shape
The shape of your baby’s bottle can help to customize and enhance their feeding experience. For babies who are prone to gas or acid reflux, reaching for an angled bottle could offer some much-needed relief. Angled bottles can aid in feeding your baby in an upright position which may help prevent any discomfort. Additionally, bottles come in many different sizes, typically from four ounces to nine ounces, and the size you need can depend on many factors. Consider if they will fit in baby’s diaper bag and how old your little one is since as they get older, they will consume more milk.
Nipple Design
Not all baby bottle nipples are made the same, so it’s important to understand the types of designs on the market: orthodontic, vented, and angled. While all three may sound self-explanatory, they each have their own unique features that only your baby will be able to determine what they like. For example, orthodontic nipples are designed to mimic a breast by being more flat but some babies tend to suck on them incorrectly. There are also vented nipples, which allow air into the bottle to prevent gas and colic from taking place, however, they can be a pain to clean for parents/caregivers. The final nipple design, angled, is just as it sounds, meaning the nipple is already angled, or slanted. Nipples also come in different sizes, like preemie (designed for preemies), newborn to six months (non-preemie newborns to six months old), and 6 months + (safe above 6 months old). “When buying a baby bottle, look for a slow flow nipple with a gradual taper. If the baby is formula-fed, you may want to increase the nipple flow rate depending on their efficiency of suckling at the bottle,” Scott recommends. “Breastfed babies may stay on slow flow throughout their first year of life to prevent bottle preference.”
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Laura Dorwart is a freelance writer specializing in pregnancy, parenting, and mental health. She lives with her husband and daughter in Ohio. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the bottle for how to best sanitize. If your dishwasher has a sanitizing setting or uses hot water with a heat drying cycle, you can put the bottle in the dishwasher and don’t need to sanitize again. Most bottles and nipples can be sanitized in a pot of boiling water or a microwave steam bag. For the boiling water method, disassemble parts in a pot of water and boil for five minutes. Dry on a clean dish towel, paper towel, or bottle drying rack. Lainey Younkin, MS, RD, LDN is a registered dietitian and toddler mom who’s done extensive research on the pros and cons of plastic and glass baby bottles for both breastfed and formula-fed babies. She interviewed her trusted colleague, Cindy Scott, RD, CLC, registered dietitian and certified lactation consultant, who specializes in feeding babies, for evidence-based bottle recommendations for both breastfed and formula-fed babies.
