A baby bottle is usually one of the first baby items parents purchase. Even if mom is determined to breastfeed, there is a high chance she needs to use a bottle at a certain point. However, with so many types, styles, and shapes to choose from, it can be hard to know where to begin. This guide will help you find the best baby bottle for your little one, but remember, in the end, your baby is the one who will decide which one is best for him!
Best baby bottles
Baby’s Little Place Top Picks
Finding the right baby bottle for your little one is not a matter of your personal preferences, but more of a process of elimination. Yes, it can be hard to know which one will suit your baby’s needs, but you can prepare in advance.
Buy two or three different baby bottles before your baby arrives. Try them out, and your baby will ultimately decide which one works the best for him.
My personal experience and my favorite baby bottle
My newborn was a sleepy baby, so I had to pump to ensure enough milk supply. Having a baby bottle suitable for newborns was a lifesaver for me. After all, it is a small, inexpensive item, which can only make your life easier.
Anyway, I was using Philips Avent Natural Baby Bottle, and I couldn’t be happier with it. By using their breast pump, you can pump directly into the bottle. That saved me so much time and hassle.
Another feature that I like is the bottle’s nipple. It resembles the mother’s breast, so it doesn’t confuse babies. I was able to switch between breast and bottle feeding without any problems. (Find more about it in the baby bottle buying guide below.)
According to our research, this is, in fact, the best baby bottle on the market. Philips AVENT is also the #1 brand recommended by moms worldwide. Moms who already used their products (including me) highly recommend it!
Our Top-Rated Baby Bottles in 2023
Best overall:
Philips Avent Natural baby bottle
- Type: wide-neck bottle
- Material: Polypropylene, BPA free
- Nipple: natural nipple shape, with a venting hole
- Flow: it is compatible with replacement nipples of all flows
- Size: 4oz or 9oz
Why we love it:
The Philips Avent Natural baby bottle’s design enables easy switching between nursing and bottle feeding. A breast-shaped nipple promotes a natural latch and mimics the breast feel. As such, it is the most natural way to bottle feed, perfect either for nursing babies or exclusively bottle-fed babies.
Everything on the bottle imitates the mother’s breast. It has a short, wide-neck, and an ultra-soft nipple. The embedded comfort petals on the nipple contribute to a natural movement while the baby feeds. And the overall design prevents colic and discomfort, which is excellent.
Philips Avent Natural baby bottle grows with your baby. It’s compatible with nipples of a range of flow rates and is available in two different sizes.
You can choose between three colors, natural, pink, and blue. The bottle is simple to assemble, easy to clean, and compatible with Philips Avent products. You can mix and match the breast pump, bottle, and cup parts to create a product that works for your baby at a particular age.
Other Philips Avent products that I find very useful:
I was using all of them, and I would use them again! I can’t imagine how I would cope with all the pumping, nursing, bottle feeding, … without them.
Baby bottles are compatible with Philips Avent Electric Breast Pump. You can pump breastmilk directly in the bottle, which is great. Bottles fit into their Microwave Steam Sterilizer for easy sterilization, and you can warm them in a Philips Bottle Warmer.
Best Silicone baby bottle:
Comotomo baby bottle
- Type: wide-neck bottle
- Material: 100% safe hygienic silicone
- Nipple: natural, vented nipple
- Flow: slow flow nipple (compatible with replacement nipples of all flows)
- Size: 5oz or 8oz
Why we love it:
The Comotom is a cute baby bottle available in two sizes, and with a green or pink outer ring for diversity.
The whole bottle is made of hygienic silicone, which ensures a high-temperature resistance and flexibility that other baby bottles don’t have. Medicine silicone is a very safe material! It is 100% free from chemicals like BPA, PVC, and Phthalate!
The silicone is soft, skin-like, and squeezy. That offers a better grip and resemblance to the mother’s breasts, making babies more relaxed.
The Comotomo is the best bottle for babies with bottle rejection issues! Its shape allows for easier passage from breast to bottle, and most babies who reject other bottles take the Comotomo baby bottle without any problems.
Another advantage of soft silicon and the bottle’s wide-neck design is easy cleaning. You can clean it by hand without even using a brush! Due to high-temperature resistance, it’s also microwave and dishwasher safe and can be sterilized in boiling water or sterilizers.
Most babies experience colic or gas at a certain point. The Comotomo baby bottle doesn’t have built-in vents. But it does have a vented nipple, which eliminates unwanted air intake and reduces colic, spit-up, and gas equally good. I think that’s a great and helpful feature for any parent!
Best for fussy babies:
Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow baby bottle
- Type: narrow, anti-colic bottle
- Material: Polypropylene, BPA free
- Nipple: natural nipple shape & a Dual anti-colic vents
- Flow: consistent, natural flow (different flows available)
- Size: 2oz, 4oz, and 8oz
Why we love it:
Dr. Brown’s Options+ baby bottle is one of the top-rated vented baby bottles on the market. Its internal venting system works perfectly, that’s why I am not surprised that it is the #1 pediatrician recommended baby bottle in the U.S.
A specifically designed vent prevents bubble formation in the nipple and eliminates the vacuum effect. That helps reduce spit-up, colics, burping, and gas.
Dr. Brown’s is a narrow baby bottle, with a nipple that offers a natural and consistent flow. The nipple is soft, made of silicone, which helps the breastfed baby latch naturally.
I like its convertibility and that it grows with the baby. Because of this, there is no need to introduce a new bottle, which is great!
When your baby doesn’t need a vented bottle anymore, remove the vent, and use it as a regular bottle. As Dr. Brown’s bottle nipples feature their own venting system, it remains vented like any offers nipple-vented bottle anyway.
Dr. Brown’s Options+ baby bottle has interchangeable nipples with different flow rates. It is available in two different sizes, but you can also opt for a third, mini size if you have a premature baby.
Best all-in-one choice:
Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic baby bottle set
- Type: wide-neck bottle, anti-colic bottle
- Material: BPA-free and phthalate-free Polypropylene
- Nipple: breast-like shaped, anti-colic nipple, with a skin-feel
- Flow: extra slow flow and slow flow (different flows available*)
- Size: 5oz and 9oz
*Don’t use Tommee Tippee’s Closer to Nature nipple on the Advanced Anti-Colic bottle. It must say anti-colic on the nipple! Using the wrong one can reduce the effectiveness of the anti-colic system and may cause your bottles to leak.
Why we love it:
Tommee Tippee has put together the perfect set for a smooth bottle-feeding start. It includes essentials for bottle feeding and soothing a newborn baby.
Tommee Tippee’s Advanced Anti-Colic baby bottle Complete Feeding Set is also one of the best gifts for expecting moms. Who wouldn’t be happy with a present that can make your job so much easier?
Tommee Tippee Set includes:
- 2x 5 oz. Advanced Anti-Colic bottles with extra slow flow nipples
- 2x 9 oz. Advanced Anti-Colic bottles with slow flow nipples
- Bottle warmer
- Microwave sterilizer
- Insulated bottle bag
- Bib
- 2x storage lids
- 0-6 pacifier
- Pacifier holder
- Bottle cleaning brush
The included Advanced bottles are designed with breastfed babies in mind, but they are excellent for formula-fed babies as well. The new baby bottle model is impressive and proven to reduce colic symptoms, gas, and reflux. I suggest considering buying only bottles if you don’t need the whole set.
The Tommee Tippee Advanced Bottle has an anti-colic venting system, which draws air bubbles away from the nipple during feeding. The nipple is smooth, flexible, and stretches naturally for a good latch.
Another bottle’s unique, and in my opinion, really cool feature is a heat-sensing strip, which shows if the milk is too hot.
The microwave sterilizer fits most home microwaves, and it’s big enough to hold up to 4 bottles plus nipples or a mixture of bottles and baby feeding accessories.
The bottle warmer is easy to use and heats breast milk, formula, or baby food in just 4 minutes.
Our favorite glass baby bottle:
Philips Avent Natural glass baby bottle
- Type: glass bottle
- Material: borosilicate glass and BPA free silicone
- Nipple: natural nipple shape, with a venting system
- Flow: Newborn flow nipple (it is compatible with replacement nipples of all flows)
- Size: 4oz
Why we love it:
This baby bottle is the same as our top pick, the Philips Avent Natural baby bottle. Of course, if we put the glass aside.
The glass bottle takes the same, breast-shaped, ultra-soft nipple as the plastic Philips Avent Natural baby bottle. That, together with a flexible spiral design, mimics the feel of the breast and promotes the natural latch. It also helps reduce colic, and it’s overall one of the best baby bottle nipples on the market.
You can read more about its features above. I would rather focus on the feature that makes them different, the material of the bottle.
Philips Avent Natural Glass Baby Bottle is made of pure, pharmaceutical-grade glass. This is a safe, fully recyclable, borosilicate glass, which is heat and thermal shock-resistant. You can safely store the bottle in the fridge or warm it in a bottle warmer, but do not use it in the freezer.
The bottle has a wide neck, so you will easily reach all its internal parts. It is also dishwasher and microwave safe, which I find very useful. Although all parts are dishwasher safe, rather put them on the top rack, where there is less chance for damages.
Best angled baby bottle:
Evenflo Feeding Angled baby bottle
- Type: angled bottle
- Material: Polypropylene, 100% free of BPA, polycarbonates, PVC, and phthalates
- Nipple: soft silicone vented nipple
- Flow: slow flow (compatible with the medium and fast flow)
- Size: 6oz and 9oz
Why we love it:
Angled baby bottles promote a semi-upright feeding position. Such a feeding pose helps reducing colic, reflux, gas, and earaches, which makes your baby comfortable and less fussy.
I also like Evenflo’s patented Proflo Venting Technology on the nipple. It keeps air bubbles in the bottle and further reduces fussiness. You will get a slow flow nipple with a bottle, but you can also purchase medium and fast flow nipples.
Angled baby bottles are often harder to clean, but that’s not the case here. Easy cleaning is definitely something that puts Evenflo angled baby bottles on the top of its kind.
The bottle has only three pieces, which are easily assembled and disassembled. It can be easily and thoroughly washed, despite the angled neck. And it is also dishwasher safe, making your busy life a little easier.
Best baby bottle for pumping moms:
Medela Breast Milk Storage bottles
- Type: standard bottle
- Material: Polypropylene, 100% free of BPA
- Nipple: silicone nipple (NOT vented)
- Size of the bottle and nipple flow: 4oz (slow flow nipples included) or 8oz ( with medium flow nipples)
Why we love this baby bottle:
Medela’s mission is promoting breastfeeding, not influencing mothers to switch from nursing to formula feeding.
In fact, promoting formula over breastmilk is not the goal of any reputable baby bottle manufacturer. Everyone wants to provide bottles that fit both breast or formula-fed babies.
But with this line, Medela wants to focus only on pumping moms. This line helps moms successfully breastfeed their babies as long as they want, not the other way around.
The biggest benefit of the Medela Breastmilk Bottle is its versatility. You can pump directly in the bottle, secure it with an included lid, and store it in the fridge. It can be even frozen, so it’s appropriate for long-term storage as well.
When it’s time for feeding, warm the milk in the bottle, and replace the lid with a nipple. The bottle withstands high temperatures without any problems, and it is microwave and dishwasher safe.
Bottles are made of safe plastic and compatible with all Medela breast pumps. Plastic is BPA-free and designed to retain breastmilk’s beneficial properties. As such, you can easily store your breastmilk for a long time without losing its nutritional value.
The Medela Set includes three 5 ounce breastmilk bottles, three solid lids, three slow-flow silicone nipples, wide base collars, and travel caps.
I am not surprised that it is the #1 Physician recommended Breastmilk Storage Product in the U.S.
Best stainless steel baby bottle:
Pura Kiki stainless steel bottle
- Type: wide neck, anti-colic Stainless Steel bottle
- Material: stainless steel
- Nipple: soft silicone, vented nipple
- Flow: medium flow (you can opt for a slow flow)
- Size: 9oz
Why we love it:
Pura Kiki is the best baby bottle for those who do not trust plastic or fear the dangers of broken glass.
Don’t get me wrong, all baby bottles, including plastic and glass models on the list, went through rigorous testing to meet all safety standards. However, some don’t feel comfortable using them anyway.
If you are one of them, a stainless steel baby bottle like Pura Kiki might be the right one for you.
My favorite Pura Kiki bottle’s feature is its patented lid system, which allows bottles to evolve with the changing needs of your family. You can replace the silicone top as your child grows. Because of this feature, Pura Kiki bottles can be used for years instead of months.
This one is a 9oz insulated anti-colic infant bottle, with a medium-flow nipple. You can also opt for a 5oz infant bottle with a slow-flow nipple, but I would rather choose this one
Why? Because it easily transitions from infant bottle to sippy cup, straw bottle, sports bottle, or snack container. Yes, all these silicone tops fit 5oz bottles as well. However, this one is bigger, so it is more suitable for later use. It is compatible with a slow-flow nipple, so you can use it that way too!
If that it’s not enough, here are other great Pura Kiki Infant bottle’s features:
- It has an anti-colic nipple and a wide neck to prevent nipple confusion in nursing babies.
- Double-wall vacuum insulation keeps liquids warm or cold for up to 24 hours.
- It is made of food-grade stainless steel with a medical-grade silicone nipple. It contains no BPA, BPS, EA, PVC, phthalates, or other toxins.
- You can choose amongst different bright-colored, interchangeable SWIRL sleeves.
Baby bottle buying guide
The first baby bottle was large, made of glass, with a large nipple on the top. Today, there are several baby bottle types to choose from, with various features meant for different situations. Baby bottles differ in size, material, and shape of the nipple at the top.
By picking the right one, you won’t just make the feeding process more comfortable, but also help your baby to overcome various issues, such as colics, gas, or reflux. Of course, each type has its pros and cons, but which one is the best depends mainly on your baby, your family’s lifestyle, and how you plan to use it.
It is a long road before eating solids, so the decision for a baby bottle is the right one!
If you are still not sure which of our best baby bottles is the right one for your family, check up our baby bottle buying guide. Provided with additional information, you will find it easier to choose your favorite.
Which material is best for a baby feeding bottle?
The variety of plastic baby bottles is by far the largest. It is followed by glass and silicone models, while the assortment of stainless steel baby bottles is a lot smallest.
All materials used for baby bottles are safe and tested, but most parents decide on plastic or glass baby bottles. However, the silicone bottle is also becoming more and more popular, and will probably soon overtake the glass model.
Although it has its advantages, parents have yet not quite accepted a stainless steel bottle as an option for a newborn too.
Glass Baby Bottles
A glass bottle is suitable mostly for newborns and younger babies who are not yet holding it on their own. It can fall and break, which could lead to injuries.
Today’s glass baby bottles can’t burn your baby! They are also heat- and shock-resistant, and often extra protected with a silicone sleeve.
PROS:
- long-lasting bottle
- sturdy
- usually microwave, dishwasher, and sterilizer safe
CONS:
- heavier
- more expensive
- shatter risk
Babies who can already hold the bottle on their own should have a plastic, silicone, or stainless steel bottle. They are lighter, can not shatter, and are more suitable for small hands.
Plastic Baby Bottles
Plastic baby bottles are typically made of Polypropylene. Parents are often worried if plastic is harmful to their babies.
If you buy a new one, you shouldn’t worry about it. Since 2012, are plastic baby bottles standardized and continuously tested to meet all required safety standards. All of them must be BPA-free (bisphenol A), as the FDA no longer permits the use of this chemical.
PROS:
- lightweight
- unbreakable
- inexpensive
- versatile
- most of them are dishwasher, sterilizer, and microwave safe
- some can be even frozen
CONS:
- it can wear out faster
- it can quickly scratch during cleaning
- you should replace plastic baby bottles every few months
Stainless Steel Baby Bottles
Stainless steel bottles are the best option for trips and long walks during winter. They are usually insulated and can keep milk at your baby’s preferred temperature for a longer period.
PROS:
- very durable, and rarely need replacing
- insulated
- sturdy
- smooth
CONS:
- more expensive
- harder to get
Silicone Baby Bottles
These apply to baby bottles made of food-grade silicone, which is safe and non-toxic. Food- or medical-grade silicon is one of the safest materials available. It is free from BPA (and BPS or F), PVC, or Phthalates.
PROS:
- smooth
- flexible
- heat resistant
- usually microwave, dishwasher, and sterilizer safe
- free from BPA
- scratch-resistant and shatter-proof
CONS:
- expensive
Baby Bottle Shapes
Baby bottles come in a variety of shapes, and each design is meant for a specific baby’s need. Choose the bottle shape that best suits your baby’s needs, not the one you like!
Standard bottles:
The standard baby bottle has a traditional design with a straight neck. Most babies accept them fine. Particularly babies who are bottle-feeding exclusively usually do not have problems with this shape.
You can get them almost anywhere, and are available in plastic, glass, or stainless steel.
Because of their basic shape, standard baby bottles fit into most bottle warmers and sterilizers without a problem as well.
Wide-neck bottles:
Wide-neck baby bottles are smaller and wider than the traditional model. The purpose of their design in preventing nipple confusion. As such, they are perfect for nursing babies who switch back and forth between breast and bottle feeding frequently.
A wide opening on the top allows the use of a wider nipple, which hand-in-hand with the bottle, mimics the mother’s breast. Most of such nipples are also vented to reduce colic and gas.
The wide neck makes cleaning easier than the traditional bottle.
Angled bottles:
Angle-neck bottles have a curved neck, which prevents air bubble formation in the bottle’s nipple. Because of this, your baby swallows less air, which leads to a less gassy baby.
Angle-necked baby bottles promote feeding in a semi-upright position and are more comfortable for the parent to hold. Such a feeding pose prevents ear infections, which is good to remember if it happens in the future.
Because of its bent neck is cleaning and filling this type of baby bottle is a little more challenging, but you will get used to it.
Vented baby bottle:
The shape of this baby bottle is designed to reduce colic, gas, and reflux. A vented baby bottle has an internal vent, which looks like a tube or straw. The vent eliminates the vacuum and reduces air bubble formation in the nipple. The air won’t mix with the milk, so your baby won’t swallow it, which leads to less fussiness.
Vented baby bottles have extra parts, so they are usually a little harder to clean.
Baby Bottles with Disposable Liners:
Baby bottles with disposable liners are handy when you are away. They are designed to take a specially designed disposable liner. These are pre-sterilized, individually wrapped, ready-to-use liners, meant for one-time use only. That way, you can have a fresh and clean baby bottle anytime, anywhere.
What type of baby bottle nipple is the best?
The bottle cannot serve its purpose without a nipple. You can choose from different materials, sizes, and styles.
Do not save on buying a quality nipple. A good nipple has an additional opening that allows air to pass through. That is important for equalizing the pressure in the bottle.
You will know if it works well by rushing bubbles from the nipple upwards when your baby drinks from the buttle.
Material
They are usually made of silicone or latex.
Silicone nipple for a baby bottle:
You will recognize the silicone nipple by the fact that it is transparent, with a silky feel. A silicone nipple is also firmer and does not lose its shape. Although it is more durable than latex, you should replace it every few months anyway.
Latex nipple for a baby bottle:
The latex nipple has a yellow-brown color. It is more flexible and has a pliable feel. Because the material is softer, you can increase the size of the hole for greater flow by yourself. But it deteriorates quicker and has to be replaced frequently. Babies can also be allergic to latex.
Baby bottle nipple sizes
On top of the nipple is a hole, which regulates the fluid flow. The size of the hole defines how quickly or slowly the liquid flows. You must choose the right size to prevent your baby from feeding too fast, too slowly, or swallowing too much air.
Baby bottle nipple sizes are only guidelines. You should watch your baby’s sucking style to see if it’s time to adjust.
| Preemies | Extra Slow Flow |
| Stage 1 Slow-flow | Size-one nipple has a small hole for a slow flow. In general, babies use this stage from newborns up to 6 months. |
| Stage 2 Medium-flow | Size-two allows for quicker flow. Most babies use this size after 6 months of age. If the milk is flowing too fast, stay on the size one a little longer. |
| Stage 3 and 4 Fast-flow | Some babies go directly on a size 3, right after the first stage, some are just fine with the size two. You will notice if the baby is sucking hard and getting frustrated because the milk flow is too slow for her. In such a case, try a nipple with a larger hole. |
What style of the baby bottle nipple is the best?
The one that works best for your baby. If a particular style doesn’t suit him, experiment, and you will find the right one sooner or later.
Traditional Nipples:
These are the basic version of nipples, which are available in silicone or latex material and come with most baby bottles. They have the shape of a bell and a narrow tip. Because of a slow milk flow are a good choice for small babies. If your baby doesn’t experience any problems while feeding, and she is not fussy, then there is no need for searching a specially shaped baby bottle nipples, as a traditional shape is perfectly fine.
Anti-Vacuum or Vented Nipples:
This type of baby bottle nipple is perfect for babies with a poor sucking mechanism. Babies with a weak sucking mechanism gulp a lot of air along with milk, which causes digestive problems.
Anti-vacuum nipples have a small hole or vent, which prevents vacuum formation in the bottle during the feeding. As such, it limits colic and gasses in babies with those problems.
Orthodontic Nipples:
Using the right kind of nipple is extremely important, especially during the first months. The wrong one can cause long-lasting problems in their gums and teeth.
The orthodontic nipples’ shape is designed to fits perfectly into the baby’s palate and gums. They are flat on the bottom side and bulged on the top.
Orthodontic nipples are perfect for babies with delicate gums or those who are entering the teathing phase.
Naturally Shaped Nipples
Because of the shape, which mimics a mother’s nipple, is the transition from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding much smoother. The nipple is designed similar to a mother’s breast. It has a broad base, with a flexible and softer top.
Multi-flow nipples:
Different liquids have different densities, and as such, they do not flow the same through the same sized hole. While one can flow nicely, others can flow too fast or too slow, or even clog the opening.
Multi-flow nipples have adjustable holes that provide multi-stage flow in the same nipple, so there is no need to buy nipples with different size holes.
- breastmilk, milk, or tea flow better through small holes
- medium-sized holes are better for formula
- natural juices with lots of fiber flow better through large holes
Disposable nipples:
These are sterilized and individually wrapped, ready-to-use nipples. Disposable nipples come in very handy during travel. But you have to throw it away after use, so they are costly if you use them every day.
What size baby bottle do I need?
You need a small-size baby bottle for a smaller baby and a larger size for older babies. It is as simple as that.
However, if you want to save some money, you can go with a larger bottle from the beginning. But pick the one where you can change nipples, and don’t forget to choose the first-stage nipple with a slow flow for a newborn.
Baby bottles generally come in two different sizes, where a small baby bottle takes 4 or 5 ounces of liquid, and a large one 8, 9, or 10 ounces.
Baby bottles come in several shapes, styles, and materials. Some have two handles, others one or none. They differ in size and functionality. Some are better for nursing babies, others for formula-fed babies.
What I am trying to say is that the market is huge. I think we have managed to combine the best baby bottles of different types, where each in its own way helps you and your baby.
