Baby Bottles: How to Choose the Right One for Your Little One
Materials: Glass, Plastic, or Silicone?
Plastic bottles (polypropylene) are the most commonly used bottles. They are lightweight, inexpensive, and unbreakable, which makes them suitable for everyday use, daycare, and on-the-go. The majority of bottles from manufacturers such as Tommee Tippee and MAM fall in this category.
Glass bottles are heavier than plastic bottles and need to be handled with extra care. Glass is also less prone to retaining odors and staining compared to plastic. Many parents will opt for glass because it gives them more comfort when considering long-term material deterioration.
Silicone bottles have been introduced more recently and are a more specialized type of bottle. Silicone bottles are soft and heavy-duty and are often sold as an eco-friendly option.
Teat Shape and Flow Rate
The general shapes of bottle nipples have evolved into primarily two nipple shapes, wide-neck/breast-like nipples, which offer a better fit for the mother’s nipple during combination feeding, and narrower-neck, traditional nipples, which are generally lighter and may be cleaner.
The flow rate of the milk through a nipple will have a greater effect on a baby than many new mothers anticipate. Most bottles are labeled with stages of use: slow flow (0-3 mos.), medium flow (3-6 mos.), and fast flow (6+ mos.). The slow-flow nipple is intended to match the newborn’s feeding speed and help prevent gulping and/or choking. The medium-flow nipple is used for babies that are feeding more effectively. The fast-flow nipple is used for babies six months old or older who feed rapidly and do not require the lower flow rates.
If you provide an infant with a nipple flow rate that is faster than their developmental needs, it may result in gulping, gas, and spit-up. Gulping, gas, and spit-up may be misdiagnosed as colic symptoms when they are merely due to the use of a nipple flow rate that does not meet the infant’s nutritional needs.
Anti-Colic Characteristics
Most current bottles have anti-colic characteristics built-in to them. These characteristics are usually in the form of internal venting system(s). When the baby sucks milk out of the bottle nipple, some of the air enters the bottle along with the milk. When this occurs, the baby swallows the air, and this swallowed air can enter the stomach, where it causes discomfort and gas. A well-designed internal venting system will greatly minimize the amount of air that is allowed to enter the bottle when sucking milk out of the nipple. Internal venting systems are one of the best ways to reduce gas, wind, and what is perceived to be colic in infants. Because this is such a large subject area, I’ve written a separate article about how anti-colic bottles work. See my “Anti-Colic Bottles Explained” article for additional information.
Shape and Size of Bottle Nipples
Most bottles are available in sizes ranging from 5 oz (150 ml) to 11 oz (330 ml). Since newborns eat less per feeding session, they usually need smaller-sized bottles (about 5 oz – 6 oz / 150 – 160 ml), whereas babies over three months old tend to prefer larger-sized bottles (7 oz – 11 oz / 240 – 330 ml) because their feeding sessions become longer and less frequent.
Some bottles are angled or “anatomically shaped,” which are designed to decrease air intake and make it easier for the parent to hold the bottle during feedings, especially during nighttime feedings in low light.
Cleaning and Sterilising Considerations
Consider just how many components your bottle includes. The greater the number of valves and inserts present on an item (a common feature of some anti-colic systems), the more thorough the cleaning will need to be after every feed. A wide-necked bottle is generally going to be much easier to clean by hand as opposed to a bottle with a narrow neck where the inside may be difficult to reach.
There are also several types of bottles (i.e., some of the MAM model series) designed specifically so that they can be self-sterilized in a microwave. This can significantly reduce the time spent when preparing multiple bottles daily. Please see our detailed practical guide on feeding and sterilizing for all details relating to the overall sterilization process.
How many bottles will you really need?
When providing an exclusive diet of formula via bottle, the majority of parents will want 6 – 8 bottles. This allows for enough bottles for a complete day’s worth of feedings without having to wash and sterilize between each individual feeding. When using both breast and bottle feeding, a good starting point would be to purchase 3 – 4 bottles.
Practical recommendations:
Instead of purchasing one large quantity of bottles initially, many parents find it beneficial to buy 2 – 3 bottles in one design prior to testing those out over the course of a couple weeks. Once you have determined whether your baby has a preference for that type of teat and flow, you can add additional units to your collection. Some babies are surprisingly picky about what they like, and this approach will save you money.
The Bottom Line
The “best” baby bottle is the one that matches your baby’s age, feeding style, and any sensitivity to gas or reflux, not necessarily the most expensive or most heavily marketed option. Start with a small trial set, pay attention to flow rate as your baby grows, and don’t be afraid to switch brands if something isn’t working. For a deeper look.
