When it comes to choosing a baby bottle, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed. With dozens of brands, bottle types and nipple sizes, it’s enough to make anyone’s head spin. But even with the seemingly never-ending options, there is one brand that stands out among the rest for its versatile products and top-notch quality — Dr. Brown’s.
Dr. Brown’s offers a wide range of products to meet the various feeding needs of infants. Here we review several of their top baby bottle and infant feeding products, so you can weigh the pros and cons and make the best choice for you and your little one.
In this article:
- Overview of Dr. Brown’s bottles
- Best for midnight feedings: Dr. Brown’s formula pitcher
- Best for babies with colic: Dr. Brown’s natural flow bottles
- Best sippy: Dr. Brown’s sippy bottles
- Best Dr. Brown’s nipples: Multi-nipple size set
- Best for natural-minded mom: Dr. Brown’s glass bottles
- Best for warming bottles: Dr. Brown’s Deluxe bottle warmer
- Before you buy
- Final verdict
- FAQs
Dr. Brown Bottles Reviews Rave About This Beloved Bottle Brand
Dr. Brown bottles are touted by parents as the best option on the market to help soothe babies with colic and gas. After experiencing colic with his second child, family practice physician Craig Brown, MD, set out to design a bottle that would eliminate the air bubbles that got into the milk during feeding.
After a few failed attempts, Dr. Brown was able to put together a revolutionary bottle design with an internal venting system that prevents air from coming into contact with the liquid and not entering babies’ stomachs. This helps prevent digestive issues that may lead to colic, like gas, burping and spitting up.
Dr. Brown went on to design other infant feeding products, like a specialty feeding system for premature and sick babies. Today, Dr. Brown bottles are used in hospitals around the world and the brand continues to come up with innovative products to make the lives of parents easier.
Chances are, you’ll find a Dr. Brown’s bottle that will meet your baby’s needs, but if you need some recommendations wading through, here are some of the most popular Dr. Brown bottles and products we love.
Best for Midnight Feedings
Dr. Brown’s Formula Pitcher
Every formula-feeding parent knows there’s nothing worse than stumbling through the kitchen in the middle of the night trying to make a bottle while your infant screams in your arms. But with Dr. Brown’s formula pitcher, you don’t have to. This pitcher quickly and evenly blends formula for up to eight bottles at once and can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours, making those 2 AM feeding sessions as simple as pouring already made formula into a bottle.
Mix it Real Good
For formula-feeding families, Dr. Brown’s formula pitcher will simplify your life. Its unique mixing blade quickly blends and dissolves up to 32 ounces of formula with no leftover clumping. You can always count on Dr. Brown’s to feature innovative designs that help reduce gas and colic and this product is no different.
The pitcher’s adjustable stopper keeps the mixing blade from rising above the liquid, reducing the amount of air in the formula so there’s ultimately less air in your baby’s tummy. The lid also locks so it won’t spill and the no-drip spout makes pouring less messy (especially with one hand!). Plus, all parts are easy to take apart and can be cleaned in the dishwasher on the top rack.
Must-know details:
- Dishwasher safe (top rack)
- BPA free
- No-drip spout
- Dimensions: 5.10 x 5.00 x 8.40 inches
Real-life review:
“This Dr. Brown Formula Shaker Pitcher is perfect for making formula milk. This jug works great throughout the day. It is easy to use, just add water and the amount of formula for the number of bottles you want to prepare and press the handle to stir. This technique helps remove air bubbles and makes the formula great for my kids. You do not feel gas or burp after drinking this formula. I highly recommend it!” —Walmart.com review
Keep in mind:
A formula pitcher is a life-saver for preparing food before your baby is screaming in hunger, but keep in mind the formula is only good for 24 hours in the fridge. A bottle of formula left at room temperature must also be consumed within an hour or stored in the fridge.
Best for Babies with Colic
Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Bottles
Featuring Dr. Brown’s original anti-colic design, these natural flow bottles may just be the answer to soothing a colicky baby. This bottle’s internal vent system offers vacuum-free feeding to mimic breastfeeding and reduces air bubbles traveling from the bottle to baby’s tummy. The nipple design also provides a consistent, natural flow so your baby doesn’t get too much or too little milk at once. Plus, this bottle’s soft silicone nipple helps baby latch.
Feel the Flow
Dr. Brown bottles are the #1 pediatrician recommended bottle in the U.S. and it’s easy to see why. Newborn bellies are sensitive and air bubbles that get trapped can be difficult for them to pass on their own.
The unique design of Dr. Brown’s natural flow bottles is a lifesaver for parents of fussy babies who seem uncomfortable after eating. The internal vent system in these bottles reduces air bubbles and the slow flow nipples ensure your baby gets just the right amount of milk.
Must-know details:
- Anti-colic vent system
- Decreases spit-up, burping and gas
- Aids in digestion
- Dimensions: 2.30 x 6.80 x 8.80 inches
Real-life review:
“We bought the Dr. Brown’s standard bottles shortly after switching over to formula. Ever since the switch we noticed a drastic difference. He was far less fussy, not spitting up as much and didn’t need to burp as often. We love the product so much we would recommend them to everyone and have been.”—Walmart.com review
Keep in mind:
Some parents claim these bottles leak worse than others, especially when placed on their side, so they may be messier to deal with if they fall down in the diaper bag or get knocked over by an older sibling or pet.
Best Sippy Bottle
Dr. Brown’s Sippy Bottles
When your baby is ready to transition from bottle to sippy cup, Dr. Brown’s has you covered there too. Using the same internal vent system as Dr. Brown’s bottles, the sippy straw bottle can also reduce air bubbles and gas if your little one still has a sensitive stomach beyond the newborn days. This sippy cup also comes with a weighted straw that stays in place even while the cup is tipped.
Sip on This
Just like their bottles, Dr. Brown’s sippy cups do not disappoint. The soft silicone straw is flexible and easy for little ones to manipulate. Plus, the weighted bottom portion of the straw keeps it in place. The sliding cap keeps the straw from dripping when not in use and offers spill-proof protection when traveling or stashing the sippy cup in a diaper bag.
The best part about this sippy bottle is that the straw cup and the silicone handles fit all Dr. Brown’s 8 oz bottles, so you can easily transfer the straw to clean bottles while washing the dirty ones.
Must-know details:
- 100% silicone straw
- Straw cap and silicone handles fit all Dr. Brown’s 8 oz bottles
- Spill-proof when closed
- Silicone handles for an easy grip
Real-life review:
“My 7-month-old was able to use this sippy cup so easily since he didn’t have to tip it back to get the water and could just suck from the straw. This is our favorite sippy cup so far!”—Dr. Brown.com review
Keep in mind:
The sliding cap is meant to lock in place so the bottle is spill-proof but also slide easily off so your toddler can get to the straw. However, the cap may be difficult to open for younger babies with smaller fingers, so you may need to assist your little one in using this sippy bottle until they can maneuver the cap on their own.
Best Nipple Selection
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.
All the Right Sizes
All Dr. Brown’s nipples are designed to accompany the anti-colic internal vent system and offer vacuum-free feeding to reduce air bubbles. While some babies prefer faster milk flow as they get older, each baby has their own preference and you may need to try out different nipples to find which one works best.
Regardless of flow level, each Dr. Brown’s nipple provides a consistent flow within that level so your baby always knows what to expect. And these nipples are dishwasher-safe on the top rack, so you don’t have to clean each one by hand.
Must-know details:
- Offers a consistent flow
- BPA free
- Fits all Dr. Brown’s narrow bottles
- Preemie nipple is the smallest and best for premature or newborn babies
Real-life review:
“Dr. Brown’s narrow nipple really helped my baby to feed well. The slow-flow nipple works with the internal vent system for paced feeding. Each nipple has the same consistent flow rate, so my baby knows what to expect.” —Walmart.com review
Keep in mind:
These nipples tend to leak more than others on the market, but this could be due to not choosing the right flow, so try out different ones if you’re struggling with leakage. On that note, trying out different nipple flows can become expensive, so you may want to consider that before trying Dr Brown’s nipples.
Best Glass Bottle
Dr. Brown’s Glass Bottles
If you’re trying to cut down on your plastic use or would just prefer a glass bottle option, Dr. Brown’s glass bottles are hard to beat. These bottles come with the same internal venting system as the plastic options, but are easier to clean and sanitize. Plus, glass bottles are designed to last and don’t develop the film you might see on a plastic bottle after months of use. These bottles are a great investment anytime, but especially if you plan to have more children.
Fits Like a Glass Slipper
If the thought of babies and glass sounds a bit dangerous to you, rest assured that glass bottles have come a long way in recent years. Some parents still prefer glass over plastic, for its natural components and no worries of dangerous plastic chemicals.
Many, including Dr. Brown’s, are made with pharmaceutical-grade borosilicate glass that is heat and thermal shock-resistant so you don’t have to worry about the breaking with temperature changes. Plus, these bottles are incredibly sturdy and likely to hold up if knocked off a table or thrown from a stroller.
Must-know details:
- Dishwasher-safe (top rack)
- Fits most breast pumps
- Dimensions: 2.40 x 5.00 x 9.90 inches
Real-life review:
“My baby always had a hard time with every bottle out there but once I gave my baby this one baby took it right away with no problems.” —Walmart.com review
Keep in mind:
Glass bottles are often more expensive than plastic bottles, but they also last longer. You’ll also need to plan for a little more heating time if you heat the entire bottle up, as glass is thicker than plastic. We used glass bottles exclusively and found it was much faster to eat the breast milk in a freezer bag, then pour it into the bottle.
Best Bottle Warmer
Dr. Brown’s Bottle Warmer
Dr. Brown’s deluxe bottle warmer quickly and safely warms bottles of all different types and sizes. This bottle warner also doubles as a sanitizer that uses steam heat to disinfect. With many different settings and combinations, you can program this bottle warmer for any bottle type and temperature setting. This warmer will also work with baby food jars and has an audible alarm to alert you when it’s done.
The Perfect Temperature
No more running warm water over a bottle in the middle of the night. The Dr. Brown’s deluxe bottle warmer will warm your baby’s milk to the perfect temperature with the touch of a button.
The electronic memory button also allows you to save the settings just how you want them without having to reprogram the warmer every time you want to use it. This warmer works with all Dr. Brown’s bottles and fits many other brands too. Plus, it doubles as a sterilizer for bottle parts, nipples, teethers and pacifiers.
Must-know details:
- Made of metal and plastic
- Large water reservoir
- Wipe clean
- Dimensions: 6.5” L x 6.5” W x 13.5” H
Real-life review:
“Great for those half-asleep nights, busy mornings and all day honestly! With other kiddos, work and life sometimes it’s easier to get a gadget that helps.” —Walmart.com review
Keep in mind:
This bottle warmer comes with a large water basin, but some parents have had problems with it leaking, so be sure not to overfill it.
Before You Buy
Dr. Brown’s bottles are some of the best rated and highly recommended bottles on the market, especially for babies with tummy issues or colic. However, that doesn’t mean they are a great fit for everyone.
Dr. Brown’s bottles run a little more expensive than some other options and the venting system also means more parts to clean. But for parents looking for ways to reduce their baby’s gas or calm an upset stomach, these bottles just might do the trick.
Final Verdict
There’s no denying Dr. Brown’s bottle are uniquely designed for comfort and ease. These bottles are definitely worth trying, especially if your little one has bouts of colic or seems uncomfortable after eating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Doctor Browns bottles so good?
Dr. Browns bottles are specifically designed to help soothe colic, reduce gas and aid in digestion. Their internal venting system prevents air from coming into contact with liquid, which helps prevent digestive issues that may lead to colic, like gas, burping and spitting up
Which Doctor Browns bottles are best for newborns?
Any Dr. Brown’s bottle will work for newborns, but you will probably need a preemie or slow-flow nipple.
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