The Best Baby Bottles of 2024
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Baby bottles have evolved over the years, and they remain a staple on baby registries. Whether you plan on breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or a combination of both, it’s helpful to have bottles on hand. Our list of the best baby bottles can help you decide which bottle brands, nipple flow rates, and bottle sizes will work well for your little one.
Buying bottles for your baby can be difficult when so many brands on the market claim to be the best. You can use our list to help you get started, but keep in mind that each baby’s needs and preferences are different, so don’t worry if you need to try more than one type of bottle.
A favorite of babies and parents alike, the Philips AVENT bottle has a Natural Response nipple that gives your baby control over the flow of milk . You can find this style in 4, 9, or 11 ounces and six different colors.
Made with breastfeeding babies in mind, this bottle provides an easy -latch nipple to reduce bottle rejection. The venting system lessens the amount of air being swallowed as your baby drinks. The Comotomo bottle features a wide neck that’s easy to clean in a 5 or 8-ounce size.
Known for helping colicky babies, Dr. Brown’s bottles have an internal anti-colic vent that keeps air bubbles out of your baby’s tummy. Even with an extra piece to wash, these bottles are easy to clean with a bottle brush and are dishwasher-safe. Dr. Brown’s offers 2, 4, and 8-ounce bottles to use through all stages of development.
Evenflo Feeding proves glass baby bottles are popular again with this environmentally friendly choice. Many parents love the sturdiness of the tempered glass and the unique twisting bottle shape that provides more grip. These bottles are compatible with all Evenflo Feeding breast pumps, so moms who express their breastmilk can conveniently pump directly into a 4 or 8-ounce bottle.
Chicco combines purity and durability with a glass bottle surrounded by a plastic shell. Your baby’s milk never touches plastic in the Duo Hybrid bottle , but it’s still lightweight and easy to hold. You can buy these in singles, two-packs, or gift sets with 5 and 9-ounce bottles.
This is an affordable bottle made of BPA-free plastic and a soft silicone nipple. The extra-wide neck of the Natural Start bottle gives your baby a breast-like experience while feeding and is designed with an anti-colic valve. Tommee Tippee bottles are leakproof and dishwasher-safe.
Lansinoh offers bottles specifically designed for breastfed babies with NaturalWave nipples that prevent nipple confusion and limit air intake to avoid gassiness. These BPA-free plastic bottles can be cleaned in the dishwasher and only have four pieces for quick and easy assembly.
Your baby may take their first bottle without any fuss or you may find yourself trying out a few new brands. No matter what type of bottle you choose, you can spend all your feeding time in a glider or rocking chair from Nurture&.
Our collection features spacious seating designed with parents in mind. After feeding your baby, you’ll enjoy being nap-trapped in a Nurture& chair with features like power recline and a built-in USB port.
Before buying bottles for your little one, there are some factors you’ll want to take into consideration.
BPA-free plastic bottles are some of the most popular. These are generally affordable and designed to be handled by parents and babies.
Glass bottles are making a comeback with parents looking for a safe and sustainable bottle.
Silicone is typically used in the bottle’s nipple, but a silicone body of the bottle is a newer idea. A silicone bottle is soft and lightweight which may be appealing to your baby as they learn to hold their bottle on their own.
The size of a bottle is measured in how many ounces of breast milk or formula it can hold. You can find baby bottles anywhere from 2 ounces to 11 ounces. All babies have different feeding needs, but generally, the size of the bottle will depend on your baby’s age and how much they eatat one time . Your child’s pediatrician can help you decide on the feeding schedule that suits your baby’s growth and development.
The size and shape of the nipple will impact how your baby drinks from the bottle as well as the flow rate of the nipple. The flow rate is how fast or slowly milk is released from the nipple when your baby is suckling.
Newborns require a slow-flow nipple as their swallowing reflex develops. Most baby bottle brands offer two or three types of nipples to accommodate an older baby’s ability to drink faster. Nipple flow rate recommendations can be presented in a wide age range and consulting your pediatrician can help you decide when to switch.
Bottle-fed babies can receive all the health benefits of breast milk when it’s expressed in a bottle. Many moms choose to pump breast milk into bags to refrigerate or freeze for later, but pumping directly into a bottle can be a convenient way to prepare feedings for your baby.
Some brands of plastic and glass bottles offer specific breast pumps that are compatible or they may require an adapter to ensure the right fit for your pump. Silicone bottles are less versatile and usually cannot attach to a breast pump.
When you're trying out a new baby bottle for the first time, you can test out these different areas of use to make sure this bottle works well for your family.
Newborn babies may eat 8-12 times a day and the bottle needs to be cleaned after each feeding. That’s a lot of cleaning no matter how many bottles you have. You’re likely to become frustrated with a bottle that isn’t easy to clean—especially in the first few tiresome weeks with a newborn. A bottle that has a wide neck makes it easy to clean by hand and dishwasher-safe options make for quick clean-ups.
A bottle that can stand up to repeated, everyday use is a must. Check the features of the bottle before you buy to make sure it’s rated for use in a bottle warmer and sterilizer if you plan to use them regularly. Consider conducting a drop test to see if the bottle cracks when it’s knocked off the counter or your baby’s highchair.
The size of the bottle is measured by the number of ounces it can hold. A small bottle that holds 4 ounces can be more manageable when feeding newborns, but after a few months, your little one will be hungry for larger amounts.
The grip and weight of a bottle will determine how well you can hold it while your baby is eating. Some brands of bottles boast an ergonomic design that’s easy for both parents and older babies to hold. Take notice of how heavy the bottle is when it’s empty and when it’s full.
A leaky bottle upside down on the floor or in your diaper bag will leave you with a mess and wasted milk. You can test the neck ring and nipple for leaks by filling the bottle with water and holding it upside down over the sink. Shake it and tip it side-to-side while you watch for drips. Be sure to check for leaks while your baby drinks from the bottle, too.
Comfort is crucial to properly positioning your baby while they drink their bottle. When you and your baby are both comfortable and relaxed, feeding time is an enjoyable bonding experience.
The best feeding positions for you and your baby might look like these:
Small newborn or preemie babies can comfortably learn to drink from a bottle when you support them on their side as they lay belly-to-belly with you across your body. Use a pillow on your lap to elevate your baby’s head while your non-feeding hand keeps their back and shoulders straight.
Holding your baby upright with their back against you in a supported sitting position can help slow the milk flow from the bottle. This can be especially helpful if you have a little one who tends to drink too quickly . Keeping your baby in a sitting position for a few minutes after they’ve finished their bottle can help reduce reflux and spit ups.
Sleepy babies may be most comfortable in a cradled position while they drink from their bottle. Similarly, a baby who isn’t yet tired can become more relaxed and ready for nap time or bedtime when they’re held in the crook of your arm while you feed them.
You can sit with your knees bent and your baby in your lap with their back resting on your legs. This gives you and your baby some face-to-face time while they enjoy their bottle. It can also give you enough space between the two of you to pump simultaneously and prepare the next bottle.
With the amount of time you’ll spend in one of these feeding positions, having a designated feeding chair will help you stay comfortable every time. Nurture& offers functional seating for new parents’ needs and is designed with a modern look that fits in with your nursery or living room.
The Glider Plus features a wide seat with power recline and lumbar support for your custom comfort settings. The adjustable headrest helps couples of different heights both maintain proper posture and positioning when using the glider. You can also try our new Rocking Chair !
For added relaxation, pair your glider with the Gliding Ottoman to kick your feet up while you snuggle up with your little one. Whether you’re bottle-feeding or breastfeeding your baby, the Feeding Pillow and Lumbar Pillow are supportive additions to create a cozy feeding spot for you and your baby.
The market for baby products is constantly changing, and most of the recent updates are all about convenience. Accessories for baby bottles aren’t all necessary, but this type of baby gear can make preparing, using, and cleaning baby bottles less overwhelming for new parents.
Formula bottles made with room temperature water may suit some babies just fine, but others may be more finicky about the temperature of their milk. Breastfed babies who are used to drinking breast milk at their mother’s body temperature may refuse a bottle of milk that feels too cold. A bottle warmer can help you safely and quickly heat your baby’s bottle without creating hot spots in the breastmilk or formula.
Keeping your baby’s bottles clean is a must. Sterilizing all new bottle parts before giving it to your baby for the first time and regularly after that will help keep your little one healthy. A steam sterilizer may be faster and more convenient than waiting on a dishwasher cycle, and can also clean other items like breast pump parts, pacifiers, and baby feeding spoons.
The size of the bottle will usually determine what kind of nipple the bottle comes with. A 4-ounce bottle may have a slow-flow nipple ideal for newborn babies, and an 8-ounce bottle might come equipped with a medium or fast-flow nipple for older babies. The nipple shape and size will vary from brand to brand, but some nipples can fit a different bottle other than the brand it was made for.
Once your baby is old enough to hold a bottle on their own, a silicone sleeve can help your little one get a good grip. A sleeve with handles can also help your toddler begin to make the transition from a bottle to asippy cup .
Drinking from a bottle for the first time is a learning process for any baby. It’s best to make your first attempt when your baby is neither too hungry, nor too full . For example, a baby who has just finished a full breastfeeding session won’t be interested in a bottle and an overly hungry baby may be too fussy to try something new.
Remember that patience is the key. Right after birth, a newborn baby will need time to learn how to latch, suckle, and swallow while using a bottle. It might take several attempts at offering a bottle before they are able to drink it completely.
Getting a breastfed baby to drink from a bottle can be a little more tricky. Breastfed babies will naturally associate their mother with the comfort and nourishment that comes with breastfeeding , so it can help to have a caregiver other than Mom offer the bottle for the first few times.
A breastfeeding mom who is looking to shift to formula may find it easier to express breastmilk while the baby gets used to drinking from a bottle before offering formula.
Baby bottles can be made from several different types of materials:
Glass bottles are made from sustainable tempered glass, but may be too heavy for a baby to hold comfortably on their own.
Plastic bottles are generally BPA-free and lightweight, although the outer markings may fade and the bottle may discolor after long-term use and cleaning.
Silicone bottles are soft and flexible, making them able to withstand drops, but may be prone to leaks when squeezed.
Baby bottle sizes are based on how many ounces they hold. You can find a variety of bottle sizes depending on the brand.
Small 2-ounce bottles may be best for babies who were born prematurely.
Full-term newborns do well with 4 or 5-ounce bottles.
As your baby gets older they may drink an 8 or 11-ounce bottle in one sitting.
The number of bottles you need depends on how often you’ll bottle-feed your baby and how often you want to clean bottle parts. Generally, six to twelve bottles will allow you to exclusively bottle-feed your baby and only wash them once a day.
Having three or four bottles may be enough if you plan to supplement bottle-feeding with breastfeeding.
You should clean your baby’s bottles after each feeding. Hot water, mild soap, and a bottle brush can be used to hand-clean bottles, and most baby bottles are top-rack dishwasher-safe. Your baby’s doctor can help you determine the best way to clean the bottles if your little one has certain health concerns that require further cleaning techniques.
Finding the best bottle for your baby might take some trial and error, and that’s okay! Take the time to read reviews on the top brands of baby bottles to hear other parents’ thoughts on how the bottle stacks up—and don’t forget to add your review after you’ve tried a new bottle.
Nurture& strives to provide you with resources and premium baby products that enhance your parenting journey. Visit our online store to shop our collections of carefully designed nursery furniture made for parents, by parents. You can also find more tips and advice in Our Journal .