Best baby bottles

These wide bottles have soft, flexible nipples that feel like a breast and may appeal more to babies who are breast- and bottle-fed. The Philips Avent Natural bottle also has a specialized valve located in the nipple that vents air to help prevent colic. Parents like that these inexpensive bottles are simple to use and easy to clean, with only three parts to deal with (four if you count the cap). The nipples come in various flow rates that are easy to figure out based on your baby's age. And these bottles come in glass as well.

Heads up

Some parents say the bottle can leak if the parts aren't completely dry and aligned correctly when assembled.

Parents say

"We just introduced the Philips Avent Natural Baby Bottle to my 4-week-old and had zero problems. He took the bottle from Daddy like a champ and then nursed two hours later, no problem!"

"Bottles that have nipples with a wide base are usually good for breastfed babies. Philips Avent Natural bottles worked really well for my son."

"These have very few pieces, are super easy to clean, and allowed me to switch back and forth between breast and bottle for nine months with no issues."

Specs

• Polypropylene or glass bottle with silicone nipple
• Anti-colic valve in nipple
• Available in 2-, 4-, 8-, 9-, and 11-ounce sizes

Pura Kiki bottles are truly multipurpose – they transition to a sippy cup, cup with straw, or a snack container once your child is past the bottle stage. As bottles, they come with a medium-flow silicone nipple and are compatible with nipples and lids from many other leading brands. Because they're stainless steel, these bottles don't have BPA, BPS, EA, PVC, phthalates, or any chemicals that can leach into your baby's meal – and they can go in the dishwasher, too.

Heads up

This bottle is expensive – but will last forever.

Editors say

"Unlike glass bottles, these are lightweight and allowed at daycare. And they won't leach chemicals."

Specs

• Stainless-steel bottle and silicone nipple
• Nipple has anti-colic vent tube
• Available in 5-, 9-, and 11-ounce sizes

For a bottle that actually feels like a breast, look no further. The Comotomo is made of soft, squeezable silicone (both the bottle and the nipple), which makes it a hit with many breastfed babies. Silicone is free of BPA, PVC, and phthalates, and won't leach chemicals into your breast milk or formula. The Comotomo nipples come in slow, medium, fast, or variable flow speeds and have double vents to help reduce colic, gas, and spit-up. The bottles are simple to assemble and their wide-neck design makes for easier cleaning.

Heads up

The silicone body isn't as rigid as a glass or plastic bottle, and it can tip over.

Parents say

"I'm exclusively breastfeeding, and these bottles are the only ones my baby didn't have a hard time with. We tried other brands, and all were either leaking, having too fast of a flow, or causing lots of gas. As a last resort we tried Comotomo and fell in love! I highly recommend these!"

"My son loved the Comotomo! The only thing was the bottle would tip when I put it down on the couch to burp him. I solved the problem by putting the bottle on my phone instead of directly on the couch."

"Comotomo bottles are amazing! They're the only bottles my daughter would take!"

Specs

• Silicone bottle and nipple
• Dual vents on nipple to help prevent colic
• Available in 5- and 8-ounce sizes

The Dr. Brown's Original Bottle is made with an internal venting system that's designed to make babies happier by preventing colic, spit-up, burping, and gas. They come with slow-flow silicone nipples. The bottles can attach directly to many models of breast pumps, making for easy pumping and feeding.

Heads up

This bottle has more parts to assemble and clean, which some parents don't appreciate.

Parents say

"We used them with my son and really liked them. I didn't think cleaning them was a pain. My son went back and forth easily between breastfeeding and these bottles."

"The Dr. Brown's bottles are tedious to clean but worth it if you have a baby with acid reflux."

"We used Dr. Brown's and I successfully breastfed my son for 13 months, no issues at all."

Specs

• BPA-free plastic or glass bottle with silicone nipple
• Internal venting system to help prevent colic
• Available in 2-, 4-, and 8-ounce sizes

MAM is a European brand that's less commonly seen in the United States, but some parents here are big fans of MAM bottles. The bottles have a vented base to reduce gas and colic, and come with three slow-flow silicone nipples. The nipple's design is elongated to more closely resemble a mother's breast and reduce nipple confusion. A handy tip: By adding water to the bottle's base, you can sterilize MAM bottles in the microwave.

Heads up

Finding additional nipples to purchase can be a challenge.

Parents say

"I found the MAM bottles today and they made a night-and-day difference! No choking and no excessive spit-up. So far they're fantastic!"

"Once I tried the MAM with my daughter she wouldn't drink out of anything else. She drank more and had less gas and acid reflux."

"I love the MAM bottles. They helped with my son's colic. Also, they can be sanitized without any special equipment in the microwave in three minutes. It's really nice for when you forget to run the dishwasher."

Specs

• BPA- and BPS-free plastic bottle and silicone nipple
• Detachable base with vents to help prevent colic
• Available in 5- and 9-ounce sizes

Tommee Tippee put a lot of thought into the silicone nipples on these bottles. They're designed to look and feel like a breast and are "the most breast-like nipples ever," the company claims. The nipples are flexible and pliable, and are also vented to help reduce colic and discomfort for babies. You can choose among six different flow rates: extra slow, slow, medium, fast, variable, and a Y-cut version. The bottle's curvy shape is intended to make it easier to hold.

Heads up

Some parents say that the nipples collapse while their baby is drinking from them. Others say that the "slow flow" nipples the bottles come with are too fast for newborns, and that because of confusing labeling it's difficult to find the "extra slow flow" nipples.

Parents say

"Tommee Tippee worked like a miracle for us when we were trying to leave my son for the first time to go to a wedding. At first he refused any bottles, but then we gave my mom this bottle to feed him. I left the room completely and he took to it no problem."

"I just switched to Tommee Tippee bottles this week and I love them so far. They're so much easier to clean and so much lighter."

"These are the only bottles my baby likes. I like all the colors, too!"

Specs

• BPA- and phthalate-free plastic bottle and silicone nipple
• Venting anti-colic valve in nipple
• Available in 5-, 9-, and 11-ounce sizes