You’ll also want to look at how the formula is designed to flow through the bottle. Babies can get frustrated if the flow is too slow or choke if the flow is too fast. To combat this, some bottles have an internal vent system that works in sync with the bottle’s silicone nipple to flow at the baby’s pace. Simplemost Media The Philips Avent Natural Glass Baby Bottle earned our top spot because of ease—it’s easy to clean, easy to feed, and easy to interchange the nipple on the bottle. The wide, silicone nipple is shaped like the breast to help promote a natural latch and make it easy for babies to latch on, especially breastfed babies who switch between bottle and breast. What’s unique to HEVEA is that their bottle nipples are made from 100% natural rubber instead of silicone. The rubber is plant-based and harvested in Malaysia from the “Hevea Brasiliensis” trees. The material is free from BPA, PVC, phthalates, and plastics. Research shows that bottle and nipple shapes and sizes influence milk intake, gas and indigestion, oral development, and your little one's ability to regulate consumption. Given the importance of finding the perfect baby bottle, pediatricians recommend trying several different styles of bottles and nipples to see which one is best suited for your baby.

Newborn babies feed about 8 to 12 times per day. If you're using a bottle for even half of those feedings, you want to make sure it's not going to cause gas, stomach upset, spit-up, or colic. You also want to make sure the bottles promote a good latch and prevent lazy feeding, do not exacerbate nipple confusion, are free of harmful chemicals, and are easy to clean and use. The best baby bottles can do all of this and more! What the Experts Say: "I exclusively breastfed my son for his first three months and then began supplementing with formula when I returned to work, since my supply couldn't quite keep up with his appetite. We used these bottles and didn't have any nipple confusion. He nursed with ease in the morning and at night and took expressed milk and formula during the day with them without issue. The wide opening makes cleaning easy, and I appreciated how few parts these bottles have." Along with the bottles, this product comes with slow-flow nipples and bottle caps. Any of the Philips AVENT Natural nipples will work with these bottles, and you can interchange any of Philips Natural bottles and nipples as your baby gets bigger. These glass bottles are BPA-free and made from borosilicate glass, a durable glass that is heat resistant. However, the bottles are a bit heavy, and they can leak if not properly assembled. Glass baby bottles are also a great alternative because they are naturally free of chemicals. "Despite the ban on BPA in infant feeding bottles, the AAP continues to recommend the use of alternatives to plastic, when possible, due to concerns of other lesser talked about harmful chemicals leaching from plastic—even those that don't contain BPA,” explains Cindy Scott, RD, CLC. When babies are born, their tummies are only about the size of a cherry and can hold about 1 to 1.5 teaspoons of milk. Therefore, during the first month of life 1 to 3 ounces of milk per feeding is adequate. If you plan to continue breastfeeding, it’s best to breastfeed as much as possible during that time and not introduce a bottle until four to six weeks.

Overall Take

Do good for your baby and the environment with HEVEA glass baby bottles. These bottles are made in Germany from the highest quality borosilicate glass, which can not only withstand extreme temperatures but is also highly hygienic and doesn't leach chemicals. Three brands that receive consistently high marks from parents and experts alike are Dr. Brown's, Comotomo, and Philips Avent. These bottles have venting systems to reduce colic and gas, mimic the shape of a breast, and are great for moms who are transitioning between nursing and bottle feeding." -ChatGPT-4

Start by examining what material the bottle is made from. If the bottle is created from plastic, you’ll want to look to see that it is BPA, PVC, lead and phthalate-free. Other bottles are made from glass, which is recyclable and environmentally friendly. That means you won’t have to worry about any toxic chemicals seeping into the baby’s formula. Simplemost Media Glass bottles are heavier, but most are made from a stronger type of glass that is heat- and shatter-resistant. Glass bottles are easy to clean and are naturally free from harmful chemicals. They can also double as food-storage containers, and most can move seamlessly from freezer to boiling water. The downside is that they cost more and are heavy. We don't always agree with robots, but they are definitely onto something! We've been reviewing baby bottles for over 10 years, and if we made our own, here is what it would look like: In our testing, we fill the bottles up, hold them upside-down, warm them, freeze them, feed newborn babies and infants with them, clean them by hand and dishwasher, sterilize them, and test the various nipple flows. Here are the Best Baby Bottles of 2023! 1. Comotomo Natural Feel Baby Bottles.The pouches fit right into the bottle, and before attaching the nipple, you can squeeze the pouch to remove excess air to reduce gas. The Kiinde Twist Squeeze pouches hold 6 ounces, which is excellent for breastfed babies who typically consume no more than 3 to 5 ounces of milk per feeding. The same goes for sippy cups, which can also include harmful chemicals in their parts, though it is even harder to find glass sippy cups than it is to find glass baby bottles. We also want to make sure you realize that BPA-free does not mean that the plastics used will not leach estrogenic chemicals into milk, particularly when the materials are stressed (like heated or microwaved). In fact, a recent study published in Environmental Health demonstrated that several BPA-free products, including BPA-free baby bottles, still leached harmful chemicals. For example, some studies demonstrate that the plastic used in Nalgene water bottles (called Tritan) leaches estrogenic chemicals. Of course, nobody knows the short- or long-term consequences of this, but it is worth considering. In comparison, the study found no evidence that two particular plastics, COC and COP, leach these chemicals. It is important to sterilize and clean your baby bottles properly before feedings. Sterilizing the bottles with boiling water should be done before the first use and again every so often if you have well water. After the first sterilization, you can take the bottles apart and either wash them in the dishwasher or soak them in a sink full of hot soapy water. Always rinse away any soap residue before using. These glass bottles are made from borosilicate glass, so they can be moved from heat to cold without a problem. A potential downside of these is they are harder to clean with the removable venting system, especially if you don’t have a dishwasher.

Baby bottles usually come in plastic or glass. The pros of plastic are that it’s lightweight, making it easier for your baby to hold, and easier for you to tote around in your diaper bag. They cost less, too. However, there are concerns about some of the compounds in plastic, such as bisphenol A (BPA). Look for BPA-free bottles if you opt for plastic. Dr. Brown’s bottles are specifically designed to reduce colic, spit-up, burping, and gas with their internal vent system. The filter is an additional green insert that works to send air through the vent and away from the milk. Flipsi Baby Bottles. We liked the easy-clean design, nipple shape, and all-silicone surfaces of these bottles, but they are either impossible to find or simply discontinued. ConclusionsBaby Brezza Bottles. We liked the sleek design of these bottles, the nipple shape and feel, and the compatibility with other Baby Brezza products. However, they seem to have been discontinued. It seems counterintuitive to give a baby something made out of glass, but more moms are opting for glass baby bottles over plastic for various reasons. One of those reasons is concerns over the controversial bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA, a known endocrine disruptor. BPA and other materials, like phthalates and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), are compounds in plastic that can leach into food and then into the body. Studies show that ingesting these chemicals may lead to several adverse health outcomes. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends discontinuing the use of baby bottles by the time your child reaches 18 months of age. By then, you’ll want to switch to a sippy cup. This is important because the longer a toddler uses a bottle, the higher their chance of tooth decay.

Evenflo glass bottles are made from tempered glass, which is stronger than regular glass, and if it breaks, it will shatter more safely into small pieces. The tempered glass is also recyclable. Both the Evenflo bottles and nipples are free of BPA, polycarbonates, PVC, and phthalates and are made of FDA-approved food-grade material. This could look like a bottle with a slow-flow newborn nipple, which is closest to the typical breastfeeding flow, or a bottle with a specially designed nipple that mimics a human's so the baby has an easier time latching, according to our experts. Since every baby is different, expect some likely trial and error. To simplify your routine even further, you may choose a bottle that connects directly to breast pumps, so you'll spend less time transferring the milk and won't risk losing a single drop. The bottles come with a flat cap so you can convert the glass bottle into a storage container for milk or food. If you breastfeed, you’ll love that most pumps attach directly to Lifefactory bottles and you can freeze the milk in the bottle versus transferring it to a bag. Lifefactory bottles are BPA- and phthalate-free. These bottles are made of silicone, which is BPA-free and can safely go in the dishwasher and microwave. The silicone also gives these a super-soft grip that babies enjoy holding onto.For toddlers, most parents transition away from a baby bottle to a sippy cup or straw cup. We recommend skipping the sippy cup entirely and going straight to the straw cup. The suction required to successfully use a straw cup is great for the development of lip, tongue, and cheek movement and control, and there is some research suggesting that this benefits speech production. Some great options for first sippy cups and straw cups can be found in our best sippy cups review. The nipple is designed to provide a consistent, steady flow of milk similar to breastfeeding. At an affordable price, Dr. Brown’s bottles come with an internal vent system that helps air escape, reducing gas discomfort for babies. As your baby becomes more established at feeding, the vent can be removed. Studies show that chemicals like BPA can leach from plastic infant feeding bottles that are filled with warmed breastmilk or formula due to the high temperatures, exposing the infant to unwanted chemicals. Limiting the use of plastic infant feeding bottles by purchasing infant feeding bottles labeled as ‘BPA-free' and avoiding plastics with a recycle code of 3, 6, or 7 is desirable and recommended by the AAP. Despite the ban on BPA in infant feeding bottles, the AAP continues to recommend the use of alternatives to plastic, when possible, due to concerns of other lesser talked about harmful chemicals leaching from plastic—even those that don't contain BPA.” — Cindy Scott, RD, CLC Why Trust Verywell Family Whether you plan on pumping breast milk so your spouse can feed your little one or you prefer to use formula, you’ll need a good set of baby bottles. With several different types of bottles on the market, it’s a good idea to do a little research before you choose one. Simplemost Media Glass bottles are a common alternative to plastic that leave less residue behind, don’t absorb odors or stains, and are environmentally friendly, multi-purposeful, and easy to clean. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends using alternatives to plastic whenever possible. And as far as durability is concerned, most are made from tempered or borosilicate glass, which is stronger than standard glass and can withstand high heat.