Bottle-feeding your baby happens for many different reasons. For instance, some parents choose a combo feeding method that combines both formula and breastfeeding. Some breastfeeding moms might appreciate that a bottle gives you the option to let someone else take over feeding now and then. And of course, if you’re formula feeding, bottles are an obvious necessity.
But with so many different sizes and styles, it can be hard to know where to start. Plus, every baby is different. Some babies may prefer one bottle brand over another. Sometimes, trial and error is the only way to figure out what your little one likes best. To help you sort through your choices, we’ve broken down some of the best bottles out there from popular brands like Dr. Brown, Munchkin, and Avent.
Here are our top choices for the best baby bottles and feeding accessories.
- How Many Baby Bottles Do I Need?
- Best Dr. Brown's Starter Set: Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Options+ 17-Piece Complete Infant Starter Set
- Best Phillips Advent Bottle Set: Philips Avent Natural Baby Bottle Newborn Starter Set
- The Best Silicone Bottle: Boon Nursh Silicone Pouch Bottle
- Best Squeezable Baby Bottle: Comotomo Baby Bottle Bundle Gift Set
- Best Hybrid Baby Bottle: ChiccoDuo Newborn Hybrid Baby Bottle Starter Gift Set with Invinci-Glass
- Best for Babies who Combo Feed: Munchkin Latch Bottle
- Best Bottle Brush Set: Cacti Bottle Cleaning Brush Set
- Best Countertop Drying Rack: Boon Lawn Countertop Drying Rack
- Munchkin Latch Microwave Sterilizing Bag
- Best Space-Saving Bottle Rack: Oxo Tot Space Saving Drying Rack
- Best Bottle Brush: Munchkin Bristle Bottle Brush
- Best Bottle Warmer: Shine Stainless Steel Bottle Warmer
- Best Nipple for Newborns: Dr. Brown's Original Wide-Neck Nipple, Level 1 (0m+), 6-Pack
- Best Anti-Colic Nipple: Avent Anti-Colic Nipples
- Best Overall Nipple: Dr. Brown’s®
- Bottle Nipple Compatibility
How Many Baby Bottles Do I Need?
The number of baby bottles you need depends on your baby’s age and whether you plan to bottle-feed or breastfeed exclusively. If you’re mostly bottle-feeding, you’ll want 8-10 bottles. If you’re mostly breastfeeding, 3 or 4 bottles is enough.
This feeding chart from Pampers gives a good glimpse at how much and how often your baby should feed depending on their age. The younger the baby, the more often they’ll need to eat. And that ratio can help determine how many bottles you need. As babies get older, they need more breast milk or formula, but they need it less often. So, the number of bottles will lessen.
Pro tip: When trying bottles for the first time, buy cautiously until you know which brand your baby prefers. Purchase one or two in a few different brands to test them out before getting the entire set.
Other Factors to Consider
Daily Routines: Are you sending your child to daycare or a babysitter’s house? If your baby will be somewhere other than home, you may want to purchase extra bottles. This is especially true if you plan to leave the bottles with your secondary caregiver.
Cleaning: If you can clean bottles immediately after each feeding, you may not need as many. However, this isn’t always an option for parents. Many choose to buy extra bottles so they can clean and sanitize them as they have time.
Preparing Ahead: Some mamas choose to prepare bottles ahead of time to store in the fridge so they can grab and go. If this is you, you’ll want to have a few extra bottles just in case.
Best Baby Bottles
Best Dr. Brown's Starter Set
Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Options+ 17-Piece Complete Infant Starter Set
In our humble opinion, Dr. Brown's bottles are #1. They have everything from bottles for premature babies to specifically for babies with colic. And this set gives you literally everything you could need for bottle feeding, with 4 oz. and 8 bottles, two different level nipples, pacifiers, brushes, a formula dispenser and travel caps. You just can't go wrong with this set!
Best Phillips Advent Bottle Set
Philips Avent Natural Baby Bottle Newborn Starter Set
This starter set comes with everything you need, including two 9-ounce bottles and three 4-ounce bottles, two pacifiers, and a cleaning brush. The flexible silicone nipples on these bottles mimic the feel of the breast and allow for comfort and natural movement as your baby drinks. The design and ergonomic shape of these bottles also make them easy to hold and grasp for older babies. These BPA- free bottles are also dishwasher-safe (top rack only) so they’re easy to clean and the accompanying bottle brush is good for getting those hard to reach spots.
The Best Silicone Bottle
Boon Nursh Silicone Pouch Bottle
If you're looking for a silicone bottle that also may help with colic, the NURSH™ Silicone Pouch Bottle features a 100% silicone pouch that collapses as your little one drinks, squeezing out excess air. Plus, this bottle is revolutionary because the entire thing can be boiled, sterilized, microwaved, and frozen. The set includes: 3 shells, 3 nipples, 3 collars, 3 silicone pouches, and 3 caps.
Best Squeezable Baby Bottle
Comotomo Baby Bottle Bundle Gift Set
Comotomo Baby Bottles are award-winning, thanks to their soft and squeezable design that mimics natural breastfeeding. The bottle design lets older infants hold the bottle themselves and the wide-neck makes cleaning much easier than trying to cram a bottle brush through a tiny opening. The bottles also have dual vents that might help prevent colic and the entire bottle can go in the dishwasher, microwave, freezer, or in boiling water. Having owned a Comotomo, the only thing you'll want to be aware of is that they can be hard to fit into an insulated diaper bag pocket if the bottle is fall, because they are so squeezable.
Read ReviewBest Hybrid Bottle
ChiccoDuo Newborn Hybrid Baby Bottle Starter Gift Set with Invinci-Glass
As a glass-loving bottle mom myself, I think the design of the ChiccoDuo is pure genius: it has a glass interior (so the part the milk actually touches is glass) and a plastic outer shell to reduce the likelihood of breakage. It's the perfect mix of both. The set includes 2 5 oz. bottles, 2 9 oz. bottles, and a total of 6 nipples and 2 pacifiers.
Best for Babies who Combo Feed
Munchkin Latch Bottle
The LATCH can be especially helpful for combo feeders who transition back and forth from the bottle to breast, because the LATCH nipple features an accordion-style nipple that stretches like the breast (breastfed infants latch so the nipple reaches the back of the throat. Additionally, flow of the nipple mimics the breast because more milk is released when the baby pushes against the nipple's base. The bottle also has anti-colic features, including decreased air ingestion with the accordion nipple and a special anti-colic valve at the bottom of the bottle.
Best Bottle Cleaning + Storage Accessories
Bottle feeding means a lot of accessories. You need things like a drying rack for storing clean bottles, bottle brushes, on-the-go cleaning options, a hands-free bottle holder, and of course, nipple options for babies who like choices.
Best Bottle Brush Set
Cacti Bottle Cleaning Brush Set - White/Green
For bottle-feeding parents, clean-up can be a big pain--pulling it off successfully really depends on having the right tools in place. And this Cacti cleaning set includes four cacti iof different sizes to fit all different kinds of different sizes of bottles, straws, sippy cups and breast pump parts. Plus, when you're done cleaning, you can store them right in the vase to drain out the water.
Best Countertop Drying Rack
Boon Lawn Countertop Drying Rack
This countertop drying rack is great for bottles, breast pump parts and small baby items like pacifiers. This one is not dishwasher safe, but its two-piece design makes it easy to clean and the lower tray keeps water contained. You can fold this drying rack up or take it apart for easy storage, and it’s PVC-free, so it’s better for the environment than other types of plastic products. You can also feel good about this product’s safety since it’s made with phthalate-free and BPA-free plastic.
Best Sterilizing Bag
Munchkin Latch Microwave Sterilizing Bag
The Munchkin Latch Microwave Sterilizing Bag allows you to remove 99.9% of bacteria from anything your baby pputs in their mouth. This includes bottles, nipples, pacifiers, teethers, small toys and breast pump accessories.
Best Space-Saving Bottle Rack
Oxo Tot Space Saving Drying Rack
If you're short on space but big on the number of bottles and cups that need to be dried and stored, the Oxo Tot Space Saving Drying Rack is the solution you've been searching for. It features a unique elevated and vertical design that not only helps facilitate quick drying, but also saves space. It even fits under cabinets, so it can be tucked away when you don't use it. And to make cleaning easy, the top and bottom trays are removable.
Best Bottle Brush
Munchkin Bristle Bottle Brush
The best feature about this brush is its suction cup base, so you can stick it to the counter, keeping it upright for fast-drying. The non-slip handle helps you grip the brush and the nylon bristles are sturdy enough to tackle buildup but gentle enough for both plastic and glass bottles. Not only is this brush ideal for cleaning baby bottles, but you can use it to clean pump parts, valves, and other small baby accessories too.
Best Bottle Warmer
Best Bottle Warmer
Shine Stainless Steel Bottle Warmer
For bottles that need to be made quickly (or in the middle of the night when you're half-week), having an electric bottle warmer can be a life-saver. This version by Shine features a stainless steel warming chamber that can quickly and easily warm a bottle in as little as 3 minutes. Plus, it has a universal fit to accommodate almost all bottles. It beeps when the bottle is ready and will auto shut-off too. Comes with a 1-year limited manufacturer warranty.
Best Bottle Nipples
Best Nipple for Newborns
Dr. Brown's Original Wide-Neck Nipple, Level 1 (0m+), 6-Pack
Dr. Brown's nipples come in several different "levels" that feature different levels of milk flow from the nipple, as well as sizes that fit both small neck and wide-neck bottles. This 6-pack comes in Level 1 nipples that fit small-neck bottles that are ideal for normals. Plus, it features a anti-colic valve to help reduce excess air and prevent colic in your baby.
Best Anti-Colic Nipple
Avent Anti-Colic Nipples
These nipples let your baby control the flow of milk, which may help keep your little one from overeating. The valve flexes on this design can also help reduce air bubbles, gas, and colic. This choice is best for babies at least three months or older since they include three holes for a medium flow. These are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning and they can be sterilized by placing in boiling water for five minutes.
Best Overall Nipple
Dr. Brown’s Nipples
Dr. Brown’s offers several different types, shapes and sizes of nipples. Some are meant to mimic breastfeeding and others are specifically designed for premature babies. They also offer six different flow levels so as your baby grows and becomes a more efficient eater, you can size up and adjust the flow of milk. Plus each nipple is made with soft and flexible silicone so baby can easily latch.
Bottle Nipple Compatibility
Sometimes, certain nipples work better for babies for several reasons. Some bottle and nipple brands are compatible, so you don’t have to buy a completely new bottle set to try out a different nipple. Below is a chart of some of the brands we’ve reviewed with bottle and nipple compatibility.
Dr. Brown's Wide Neck Bottles
Evenflo Classic Baby Bottle Plastic, Glass and Twist
Lansinoh Baby Bottles
Phillips Avent Baby Bottles
Lansinoh Nipples
Dr. Browns Regular Nipples(not wide neck)
Dr. Browns Wide Neck Nipples
Dr. Browns Wide Neck Nipples
Lifefactory Nipples
Joovy Boob Nipples
MAM Bottle Nipples
Phillips Avent Nipples
Phillips Avent Nipples
MAM Baby Bottle Nipples
Lansinoh Baby Bottle Nipples
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