If you’re breastfeeding, a bottle gives you the option of letting someone else take over feeding every now and then, and 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 and some babies may prefer one brand of baby bottle 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, however, we’ve broken down some of the best bottles out there from popular brands like Dr. Brown, Playtex, and Avent. Here are our top choices for baby bottles and feeding accessories.
In this Article:
Best Overall Baby Bottle: Dr. Brown’s Baby First Year Transition Baby Bottles
Dr. Brown’s baby products are known for their high quality and these baby bottles don’t disappoint. This glass bottle set includes three different size bottles to use as your baby grows, so it’s perfect for your baby’s first year. Since these bottles are made out of glass, they are heavier and more bulky than plastic options, but this set does come with a silicone sleeve that helps with gripping the bottles.
These bottles can be used with or without the venting system, and this set comes with different levels of nipple flow so you can adjust how fast the breast milk or formula comes out. These are also some of the best bottles for combo or breastfed babies since the bottles fit most breast pumps, so you can pump directly into the bottle. We have several Truly Mamas on the team who swear by Dr. Brown’s bottles, and love that they can be used with interchangeable nipple sizes for preemie babies to toddlers.
Best Starter 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.
Best for Breastfed Babies: Playtex Baby VentAire Anti-Colic Anti-Reflux Baby Bottle Newborn Set
This is a great option if you’re a breastfeeding mama who wants or needs to pump, or as a way to have someone else feed your baby. The silicone nipples are designed to mimic the breast and encourage proper latching so your baby can easily switch between breast and bottle feeding.
The unique design on these Playtex baby bottles also helps prevent air bubbles in your baby’s tummy, which can reduce gas, reflux, fussiness, and discomfort. The venting system keeps air at the back of the bottle, preventing it from mixing with milk as your baby eats. These plastic bottles are also made with BPA-free plastic, so you know they’re safe for your little one.
Best for Colic: Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic Newborn Baby Set
This set is a little bit more expensive than some of the other options, but the Tommee Tippee design makes these some of the best baby bottles for managing colic. Babies can take in a lot of air when drinking (hence why burping them is so important!), but for some babies, this can create significant discomfort and fussiness.
The venting system in these bottles works to draw air away from the milk, meaning less air bubbles in your baby’s tummy and less discomfort. The breast-like nipples featured on this design also make for easy latching and the built-in heat-sensing strip turns pink when the milk is too hot, so you can make sure the breast milk or formula is the right temperature when you feed your baby.
Best Accessories
Bottle-feeding means a lot of accessories—you need things like a drying rack for storing clean bottles, bottle brushes, cleaning options on-the-go, and of course, nipple options for babies who like choices.
Best Dishwasher-Safe Bottle Drying Rack: Munchkin Bottle Drying Rack
Whether you intend to hand wash your bottles or toss them in the dishwasher, a bottle drying rack can come in handy. Even if your bottles are dishwasher safe, your dishwasher may not get them completely dry and using a dish towel to dry them may transfer germs to the bottles. This bottle drying rack is specifically designed to allow air to flow through all the parts and the reservoir at the bottom collects extra water so your countertops stay dry. The rack folds down for easy storage and is dishwasher safe on the top rack, making it easy to clean.
Best Hand-Wash Bottle 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
For on-the-go cleaning, this Munchkin Latch microwave sterilizing bag is a must-have. Whether you’re spending the night away from home, or just forgot to pack a clean bottle in the diaper bag while visiting Grandma’s, it’s incredibly easy to toss one of these bags in the diaper bag so you have it handy at all times. One bag (the pack comes with 6!) is good for 180 uses, so you’ll literally never run out. We chose this bag because it zippers shut, making it a no-brainer to get a good seal, which is essential for sterilization.
Best Dr. Brown Bottle Rack: Dr. Brown’s Baby Bottle Folding Rack
If you’re a Dr. Brown devotee, this bottle drying rack from Dr. Brown’s is made specifically to fit all Dr. Brown’s bottles and accessories and folds down for easy storage. This drying rack is versatile and the different sizes and placement of posts make it a good choice for bottles, nipples, and pump parts.
Best Silicone Bottle Nipple: Playtex Baby Silicone Bottle Nipples
Some babies are a bit picky when it comes to bottle nipples, and these silicone nipples from Playtex provide your little one with flexibility and comfort. These slow flow nipples are perfect for newborns with small mouths and the slightly sloped nipple design mimics the breast so you can easily switch between breast and bottle feeding.
Best Nipple for Colic: 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 Bottle Brush: Playtex Baby SmartBrush
With bottle feeding comes a lot of cleaning and sanitizing bottle parts. Many bottles are dishwasher-safe (typically on the top rack), but even then, you dishwasher may not be able to fully clean all the nooks and crannies of your bottles and nipples, which is why this Playtex bottle brush is a must-have. Its 360° design has bristles on all sides, so it can clean every crevice and curve of your bottles and nipples.
Best Brush for Pump Parts: 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.
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