Best Baby Bottles

A clear favorite among moms — the brand won a 2021 What to Expect Award — Dr. Brown's bottles have a special tubed venting system that's designed to help reduce gas and colic. The tube forces air into the base of the bottle, which keeps it from being reingested by baby during feedings. (Some parents don’t like the hassle of the tubing, but you don’t have to use the tubing if you find that they don’t make a difference for your baby.)

The nipple design on Dr. Brown’s bottles also slows the flow of milk, which can help prevent spit-up, burps and gas. We recommend the Dr. Brown's Options+ Wide-Neck Glass Baby Bottles, which are top-rack dishwasher and sterilizer safe, and available for purchase in 5- or 9-ounce sizes.

Dr. Brown’s is also recommended by a variety of experts. “These are the bottles speech-language pathologists recommend,” says Dr. Resnick. In baby’s early months, the palate is continuing to shape and they’re working muscles that will eventually prepare them for solid food and language development. The right bottle supports that process.

And if your baby has reflux, the Dr. Brown’s bottle could be a good choice for ensuring she gets the nutrition she needs, says Dr. Resnick (but it’s a good idea to check with your pediatrician to confirm).

Size: 5 or 9 ounces

The Smooth Flow nipple on these NUK bottles adjust their flow depending on your baby's speed. That makes for longer feeding times — and fewer upset tummies for babies who love to gulp down milk. Plus, there's even a built-in temperature monitor: The blue thermometer on the side of the bottle disappears when the milk is too hot becomes visible when it's safe to drink.

The asymmetrical shape is designed to support oral development while feeling more like mom’s nipple, so that baby is more comfortable taking it. Since these bottles hold about 5 ounces, they’re best for younger babies who are taking smaller, more frequent feeds. You’ll also like how the shape curves ever-so-slightly inward, making it easier for you to hold.

Size: 5 ounces

Moms love the easy-to-clean shape of these bottles. They're designed to make it easy for babies to switch back and forth between bottle-feeding and breastfeeding, thanks to a wide, flat nipple that feels similar to Mom's breast. Babies are also comforted by the fact that the nipple is also soft and flexible — several What to Expect parents say that their babies took to these bottles well. When baby is older, the shape allows for little hands to easily hold their own bottle.

The nipple also helps prevent air from mixing in with the milk as your baby eats, which in turn helps cut down on gas and upset tummies. This comprehensive gift set comes with four bottles (two 9-ounce and two 4-ounce), four nipples, a microwave sterilizer to help make cleaning easy, a bottle brush and two of the company's popular Soothie pacifiers.

Size: 4 and 9 ounces

These are the most interesting and uniquely designed bottles you can find. The removable bottoms on these angled bottles make cleaning a breeze (so does the fact that they can be safely washed on the top rack of the dishwasher). This set comes with three 6-ounce bottles so you'll always have a clean one on hand. What’s more, the angle of the bottle ensures that the milk will continue to flow to the nipple, decreasing the chance that your baby will suck down gas-causing air. A wider nipple keeps baby latched properly.

Each Playtex Ventaire bottle has a vented bottom to keep air away from the nipple and out of baby's stomach. While some other vented bottles draw in air from the nipple and direct it towards the base, the Ventaire pulls it in directly from the base so it doesn't come in contact with the milk or formula. That unique design has an added benefit: Many parents feel it's more comfortable to hold during marathon feedings.

Size: 6 ounces

The magic is in a cleverly designed nipple. After all, a good latch can make or break a feeding — if baby's latch on the bottle nipple isn't secure, he might be working too hard to get breast milk or formula, or he could be swallowing excess air. The accordion folds in LATCH nipples are more flexible compared to the nipples on other bottles and allow for more movement during feedings without breaking baby's latch — perfect for parents of curious little ones who might be moving their head around. Even cooler: When baby pushes her head forward, the pressure causes the nipple to release more milk (this is similar to what happens during breastfeeding). The anti-colic blue valve at the bottom also works to keep air bubbles out of the milk.

These bottles can even be used with pump attachments (sold separately), so you can pump directly into the bottles fuss-free. You'll get three 8-ounce bottles in a set, as well as slow-flow nipples and sealing discs.

Size: 8 ounces

Comotomo's unique bottle design is easy for baby to adjust to and easy for parents to clean. The wide mouth and collapsible sides mean you don't need a special brush to de-gunk these bottles by hand, and all parts are microwave-, dishwasher- and sterilizer-safe, too.

Since the silicone is squishy and soft, older babies like holding and squeezing these bottles during feedings, which can keep them engaged in the matter at hand. You’ll also appreciate the vents at the top of the nipples to release air outside — instead of going into baby’s belly.

The bottles themselves are also easy to put together and take apart, so you're spending less time making baby's bottle. This set comes with two 5-ounce bottles.

Size: 5 ounces

Tommee Tippee bottles help avoid gas with a special tube insert that drives air bubbles to the back of the bottle. The wide-necked design also helps baby maintain a good latch during feedings.

The texture and shape of the nipples are similar to a real nipple, so it's easy to switch from bottle to breast. And if you're a nervous new parent, you'll also love that the anti-colic tube has a temperature check to let you know if your baby's bottle is too warm for comfort. (It turns pink if things are too hot, a signal you’ll notice no matter how sleep-deprived you are.) The bottle shape is narrower at the bottom and wider at the top for easy handling, allowing the bigger bottles to be shorter (and easier to drink from) compared to comparably sized bottles. The 5- and 9-ounce sizes are great for preparing 4 or 8 ounces of formula, as they give you room to shake up the formula.

Talk about having it all: This five-bottle set includes three in the 9-ounce size and two that hold 5 ounces, as well as one bottle brush, two nipples, two formula dispensers, a set of removable handles, two pacifiers and a travel bottle warmer.

Size: 5 and 9 ounces

Parents love that these bottles can be easily sterilized in the microwave with just a little bit of water or in the dishwasher, cutting down on time spent at the sink hand-washing. They open at both the top and bottom so you can clean nooks and crannies more easily.

Another bonus for moms on the go? The bottle cap can act as a measuring cup for formula mixing. MAM's nipples are also uniquely flat to make it easier for babies to switch back and forth between breast and bottle. This set comes with two 9-ounce bottles, and as an added bonus, each has a lovely design (like these two dinosaurs performing a stunning) running along the side.

Some parents in the What to Expect community say that these were often the only bottles baby would take. Bonus: When you hold these from the bottom, the textured design prevents slipping.

Size: 9 ounces

Designed for breastfeeding moms, you can pump directly into these silicone bottles and then stash the Nanobébé bottles in the fridge, where they are designed to cool quickly in order to prevent bacterial growth. They warm twice as fast, too, so you won’t have to keep your hungry baby waiting. Another perk: This won’t scorch your milk, which may support nutrient preservation.

The breast-shaped bottle, which holds 5 ounces, makes it easy for baby to switch back and forth from breast to bottle and encourages self-feeding. That’s because the silicone material is nice and soft for gripping and the squat-sized bottle isn’t intimidating for tiny hands. This starter set also comes with a warming bowl, two Flexy pacifiers, two breast pump adapters, four nipples and more.

Size: 5 ounces

These well-designed bottles take the drop-in bottle approach to the next level. The kit comes with pump attachments that allow you to pump straight into Kiinde Twist pouches, which you can stick directly into the freezer when they're full.

From there, you can warm up the pouch, snap it into the bottle and attach the nipple to the mouth of the pouch. If your baby has a specific nipple they prefer from another brand, you can keep using them with the included adapters. Parents also love the fact that you can wash these bottles less often, since the milk is encased in the freezer bag. Breastfeeding moms in the What to Expect community love this bottle, especially when it comes to late-night feedings.

Size: 6 ounces per pouch

Glass bottles are becoming increasingly popular because they are easy to clean, last a long time and are environmentally friendly. These Lifefactory bottles come with a silicone sleeve to protect the glass from breaking if it’s dropped or thrown. The entire bottle, along with the sleeve, can be placed in the dishwasher.

This bottle comes with a Stage 1 slow flow nipple, ring and stopper. The bottles are BPA-free and can be placed in the freezer to store breast milk.

Size: 4 ounces