The Best Bottles of 2024, According to Parents, Experts and Picky Babies

Pros:

• Can help reduce gas & colic
• Popular parent + pediatrician pick
• Can be used with or without venting system

Cons:

• Lots of parts to clean
• Some parents say they leak
• Longer nipples may cause gag reflex for some babies

Over two-thirds of parents—38%, to be exact—named Dr. Brown’s as their favorite bottle in our Best Baby Products survey. They’re also the bottles I used and loved daily for four years with my two boys, one of whom was a preemie with latching issues, and the bottles we think are the best choice for most babies.

Dr. Brown’s claim to fame is their patented venting system. Designed to mimic breastfeeding, it limits your baby’s air intake while drinking, helping to reduce burping, gas, spit-up and even colic in some little ones. Are they a magical solution for every fussy baby? Sadly, no. (But we’ll let you know as soon as we find one.) But enough parents tell us they see a noticeable difference when using Dr. Brown’s that we stand behind their claim. “My three-week-old has not thrown up once, spit up or had bad gas,” one mom noted in our Best Baby Products survey. Dr Brown’s bottles are “the only ones that worked for my baby for the first six months,” another said.

Lactation consultants love Dr. Brown’s bottles because of their consistent flow. “As opposed to some other bottles, Dr. Brown’s uses a laser to create the hole in the nipple,” says IBCLC Spaeth. This differs from other nipples on the market that are made using a needle, she explains, which can lead to inconsistent flow rates. This precise, consistent cut is a big reason she thinks lots of babies take these bottles so well.

The two biggest negatives of these popular bottles are ease of cleaning (or lack thereof) and potential leaking. The first, unfortunately, is unavoidable; the bottle’s venting system has multiple parts, some of which are pretty tiny, and cleaning them does indeed take some time. The upside is that the Options+ system lets you remove the internal venting system as baby develops, leaving you with only a bottle, nipple and a collar to clean. The second issue, leaks, can be solved by a few different methods depending on the reason for the leak. You can check the brand’s FAQ section for solutions, but my biggest learnings from years of use is to remember to always use the Travel Disc and keep the bottle upright when on the go and loosen the collar before warming the bottle to reduce the pressure.

The popular starter set shown here comes with a selection of bottles, nipples, caps and cleaning brushes. And if you’re not into plastic, Dr. Brown’s makes glass bottles, too.

Real Parent Reviews

“The only bottles that help my [baby’s] colic. Bought them in 2016, and still have them in 2023! Bought some new ones recently and still love them. Hate cleaning them though!” — Abbey

“The best bottle ever for newborn! I tried others & they led to gas, switching to these has been amazing and has made bottle feeding so much easier and more comfortable for my little one!” — Lovedreams23

“I love these bottles for avoiding a colicky baby, wonderful. I haven’t had any issue with colic so far, however, they leak if they aren’t standing upright. They’ve leaked in my diaper bag, they’ve leaked in my pocket. How in the world can you have a leaky baby bottle? That is enough to make me give a low rating. It’s sad because they’re great bottles but the fact that they leak is extremely annoying.” — B8923

Additional Specs

Pros:

• Lets you try 5 popular baby bottles before committing
• Includes plastic & silicone options

Cons:

• No glass options (Babylist Glass Bottle Box sold separately)
• Can’t select nipple size

Featuring five of the most popular bottles, the Bottle Box lets baby (and you) try out a variety of bottle shapes and styles before committing to a particular brand, solving the all-too-common issue of registering for a whole set of bottles only to realize your baby won’t take them.

“Babies can be opinionated creatures,” Dr. Fradin, a pediatrician, says. And while she assures new parents that this “isn’t worth pre-worrying about” too much, we hear the same sentiment from many new parents—which is why the Bottle Box is so genius and why I think every parent-to-be should add one to their baby registry.

“Babies are unpredictable,” says one Best Baby Products respondent. “The Bottle Box allows you to try multiple brands/types of the product…[because] you’ll have no idea what your baby will like.” Another parent told us how happy they were that they decided to register for the box despite being unsure at first. “I had no idea these were going to come in handy when my youngest wouldn’t take the bottle,” she said.

You won’t be able to customize your nipple size with this sampler pack—all bottles come with level one slow-flow nipples. And there’s no glass option included. But you can try the Glass Bottle Box if you prefer to give glass baby bottles a go over plastic.

Real Parent Reviews

“Great concept for a first-time mom like myself who has no idea what to buy. There are so many options out there and it’s tough to go based on reviews since every baby is different. I loved this bottle pack, and just 2 weeks in I know which ones work best for my family. I would recommend this to any first-time mom. Give this a try!!!!” — Rachel L.

“It is a great way to try a variety of bottles since babies will usually choose the one they want and refuse the rest.” — Shari

“Just a quick warning against this box if you’re a brand new parent — twice I found myself hysterically crying over the sink trying to match nipples and bottles and lids. Y’all, there’s 5 completely different bottles in here and it was HARD. In the first days of parenting when you have no idea what you’re doing, this was a puzzle my brain didn’t have space for. We had to come up with an elaborate ordering system for drying so we could put them back together easily. That being said, found some favorites from here but definitely shed a lot of tears in the thick of it.” — Lindsay G.

Additional Specs

Pros:

• Recommended by lactation consultants
• Nipple designed to mimic the real thing
• Helps reduce gas & colic

Cons:

• Doesn’t include sealing discs (storage caps)
• Flow may be too fast for younger babies (slow flow nipples sold separately)

When choosing a bottle for a breastfed baby, lactation experts recommend focusing on the shape of the nipple. “A tapered shape helps get more of the bottle into the baby’s mouth and promotes a deeper latch,” similar to what baby experiences on the breast, says Spaeth. She, along with other lactation experts we’ve spoken to, all recommend the Lansinoh bottle as a top pick.

With over 50 years of research behind it, the Lansinoh bottle’s NaturalWave nipple is ergonomically designed to mimic a breast, allowing baby to use the same sucking motion so they’ll be able to transition easily between breast and bottle. There’s a venting system to reduce air intake and a vertical groove on the nipple to prevent collapse. And there are only four pieces and no tiny parts, so cleaning won’t take forever, a feature most tired parents (myself included) appreciate.

These eight-ounce bottles come with medium-flow nipples, which many parents say are too fast for younger babies. The Lansinoh Five Ounce Bottles come with slow-flow nipples, or you can purchase the nipples separately.

Real Parent Reviews

“We love our Lansinoh bottles. We exclusively breastfeed and have bottle-fed about 1 bottle a day since my milk came in…Our son has had no trouble going from bottle to breast. Pros: no nipple confusion, easy to clean parts, no leaking, it’s easy to see teat through bottle and baby’s mouth on the teat to assure for a successful feed…Cons: my only con is the bottles don’t fit perfectly with the spectra pump. Despite that we have no cons to share.” — Rebecca

“I received several bottles. These felt less bulky. My son had to see a specialist as a newborn. He had all 4 mouth ties and latching was difficult. They were about to pull out their bottle recommendation when they saw mine and said these are the best for breastfed babies and pulled out the same bottle…I would recommend these.” — Thomas23

“These are really great for breastfed babies. The nipple is soft and pliable. Easy for baby to latch on. The cap is easy to take off with one hand. Affordable. Just a great brand overall. This was the only bottle that my son would feed from other than my breast.” — Latoyaw12

Additional Specs

Pros:

• Adaptive flow nipples let baby control the flow of milk
• Innovative nipple shape and placement minimize bottle rejection
• Reduces air intake

Cons:

• Pricey
• Four parts to clean
• Heating milk or formula in the bottle is tricky
• Collapsing silicone insert makes it tough to determine amount consumed

Designed and made in Spain, I was introduced to this bottle earlier this year and was impressed from the start. I was even more impressed after Brittney, a member of the Babylist team, took it for a test drive with her new baby—and raved about it.

“I wasn’t expecting to like it so much,” she said. “I’ve never had problems with bottles in the past, but now comparing it to my experience with the Suavinex, I realized how much milk would dribble out of my son’s mouth and how he had significantly more burps or spit-ups. Even my nanny noticed a big difference and specifically requested to use these bottles.”

There are two things about the Suavinex bottles that make them stand out from the crowd and especially good for newborns just beginning to drink from a bottle. The first is the nipple. It’s available in a range of skin-tone hues and is off-center, which Brittney immediately noticed was “similar to what it would be like if he were nursing.” It’s also adjustable flow, which means no matter the angle (even upside-down), milk flows only when baby is sucking. This mimics breastfeeding and allows baby to control the flow of milk, making for a more consistent feed.

The second is the silicone bag inside the bottle that holds the milk or formula. It collapses as baby sucks, which reduces air intake and can help with gas, fussiness or colic. “The silicone insert allows no bubbles,” Brittney told me. “I legit didn’t see any!” Just note that the insert can make it tough to tell how many ounces your baby drank.

The two biggest downsides of these bottles are ease of cleaning (it can take some time because of the numerous parts) and bottle shape (the wide base doesn’t fit in all bottle warmers). There’s also the semi-hollow base to consider when warming. “My warmer couldn’t accurately heat it up to the appropriate temperature,” said Brittney. And ease of use can be a challenge for some caregivers. “My nanny is at the age of a grandparent, and it took her a while to understand how the silicone insert worked and to correctly face the nipple,” Brittney told us. “I had to walk her through it several times. Eventually, she got it and now she loves it.”

Real Parent Reviews

“We tried a few bottles (Phillips, Medela, Chicco…). Some had too much flow, some were not comfortable for the kid, some made him swallow a lot of air. This one is perfect flow, no extra air and the kid adapted after one session. We could not breastfeed, but this has been really helpful for him to workout suction strength and to avoid colic.” — Daniel

“Excellent teat and very slow flow, so comfortable in mixed breastfeeding for the first few days. The significant flaw is that the plastic of the external bottle is not very transparent, combined with the internal anti-colic bag, it makes reading how much milk is in the bottle really difficult, especially at night when I don’t light up the rooms during the day it’s really difficult. Moral: I use it less and less, preferring other models that are always anti-colic and slow-flowing but that [I can] read.” — Giada_Marco (Translated from Italian.)

“This bottle literally saved me! My 6-month-old daughter who is exclusively breastfeeding refused all bottles, I was totally desperate because I have to go back to work. But I was advised [to try] this bottle and miraculously she accepted it without problems! I am absolutely thrilled. The only downside is that it’s a real hassle to clean it but otherwise it deserves 5 stars.” — Saudemot (Translated from French.)

Additional Specs

Pros:

• Great value (<$1.60 per bottle!)
• Lightweight and narrow for tiny hands
• Long, narrow nipple promotes deep latch (also works with Dr. Brown’s nipples)

Cons:

• No anti-colic vents
• Measurements are tough to read
• Can leak easily

The most affordable bottles on our best-of list by far, these Evenflo Feeding Classic baby bottles are an incredible value, especially considering their features and the overwhelmingly positive reviews from parents.

The most affordable bottles on our best-of list by far, these Evenflo Feeding Classic baby bottles are an incredible value, especially considering their features and the overwhelmingly positive reviews from parents.

They check almost all of the boxes for what we like in a baby bottle. The narrow shape, light weight and twisted surface design make them easy and comfortable for baby to hold. Lactation consultants love the nipple shape—it’s gently sloped, which can help encourage a deep latch. They come in multiple colors, a nice-to-have if you’re using bottles with more than one child. And they’re also super easy to clean, with only three pieces.

They do lack a venting system, which may or may not be an issue depending on your baby. And a universal complaint is that the measurements can be tough to see. But considering the price, we still recommend them.

Real Parent Reviews

“My picky daughter loves these bottles. They’re lightweight and simple [to] set up compared to other brands. Only would wish for better measuring labels as you have to be in good lighting and align with bottle to see what is poured.” — BBSJ

“I like these bottles because they are BPA free, easy to use but most of all, they’re colorful! You can remember who’s bottle is who’s if you have more than one child. These do not leak, break or deteriorate in any way. Very good product, I have many of these bottles that I use for my 4-month-old son. Great quality bottles.” — AJsMom14

Additional Specs

Pros:

• Made of durable food-grade silicone
• No small parts to clean
• Inner pouch minimizes gas & colic
• Transitions to sippy cup

Cons:

• Don’t fit in all bottle warmers
• Pouch can refill with air if baby takes long breaks during feeding
• Some parents complained of slight leaks

Silicone bottles are softer and squishier than plastic or glass options. Many parents choose them because they can be easier for baby to hold, feel more like a breast and are free of some of the chemicals plastic bottles contain. Boon’s Nursh bottles are our top silicone pick. Their colorways can’t be beat (so fun!), but more importantly, they’re straightforward to use and can help tiny tummies.

Like the Suavinex bottles, Boon Nursh bottles tackle the concept of a venting system with a silicone pouch that collapses as baby drinks. This results in less air in baby’s tummy, which can help reduce gas, colic and overall fussiness. It also eliminates tiny parts to clean, a nice perk. And unlike some silicone options, these bottles have a sturdy base, preventing any tip-overs.

And because I’m always a fan of any multi-use baby product, these bottles get extra credit in my book for their ability to transform into sippy cups with the easy addition of a straw conversion top, extending their useful life for years. “I originally bought the Boon Nursh bottles because I loved the look (don’t judge me!) and because they seemed really easy to clean (we are dishwasher parents),” Maddie, a Babylist team member, told me. “But I ended up loving them because of the way they transition from bottle to sippy to straw cup. We bought the straw cup attachments when our kid was ready to transition away from bottles, so we’ve been using our Nursh system for over two years now and they are still in great shape.”

Dont-love-it aspects of the Nursh include their awkward fit in certain bottle warmers and that some parents say that if the baby breaks the latch on the bottle, air will flow back into the collapsible pouch—but that wasn’t the case in our testing.

Real Parent Reviews

“I switched to these at around 6 months because the bottles I was using leaked everywhere. I love these! The silicone collapses as baby drinks so there’s no air (which means less spit up and less gas), the nipple is nice and wide, and it’s sturdy so there’s no nipple collapse, the neck is the same width as the rest of the bottle so it’s SUPER easy to clean, and the sturdy case makes it tip-proof and super cute. I will be buying more! Highly recommend!” — Kate S.

“We love these bottles! My baby has only ever used Boon bottles and took to them right away. For me, the beautiful colors make middle-of-the-night feedings more pleasant. The wide neck design makes these bottles easy to clean (especially with the Boon Cacti Cleaning Brush Set). We appreciate that they are lightweight and easy to pack around. The silicone pouches and nipples are durable and nipples are available in 0-3 sizes (extra slow flow to extra fast flow) for babies of different ages. There are also sippy cup lids available to convert the bottles into sippy cups.” — Erynn P.

“These bottles are great at helping prevent gas because the pouch collapses to keep air from refilling the bottle. They are easy to clean and so much easier for my daughter to hold onto. I like how there aren’t ridges on the inside of the nipple which makes it easier to get milk cleaned off them. They are quality-made bottles. The only downside I found is they do leak slightly more than other bottles.” — Reddogmom

Additional Specs

Pros:

• Pharmaceutical-grade glass (heat and thermal shock resistant)
• Included silicone sleeve improves grip and reduces risk of breaking
• Adjustable-flow nipples + anti-colic venting system

Cons:

• Heavy
• Breakable
• Included nipples (sizes 1 and 2) are meant for newborns and may not work well for older babies

Glass baby bottles are having a moment. About a third of the parents we surveyed in our Best Baby Products poll told us they use glass bottles to feed their babies, calling out their durability and that they’re free of the chemicals used in plastic bottles.

These bottles from Philips Avent have all of the components parents love about the brand’s plastic bottles—a wide, flexible nipple, an advanced anti-colic system and few parts to clean—in glass instead. The glass is thermal-shock resistant, so it can transition between hot and cold without issue, and the twin-valve design reduces colic and discomfort by venting air into the bottle, not your little one’s stomach. They’re also ultra durable. “Since they’re glass I was able to save them from baby to baby…without concern of the plastic being too old,” one mom told us in our Best Baby Products survey.

Like all glass bottles, these are heavy, and there’s always a risk of breakage if dropped (the silicone sleeve will help protect from this, though). This set includes five glass bottles (three four-ounce and two eight-ounce) and two silicone bottle sleeves.

Real Parent Reviews

“My husband and I looked for plastic alternative bottles. These bottles are perfect. Our daughter loves them, it is easy to upgrade nipples, easy to read the markers, and they warm up quickly. We also like the glass as opposed to the silicone since the silicone nipples tend to collapse.” — Angelina

“We love the peace of mind that comes with using glass. We used these four years ago with our first son and will be using them again. You can even purchase disks to use in place of the nipple which works great for storing/transporting milk. Post-weaning, we used the sealing disks to store homemade baby food in these bottles. I’ve read reviews from other users about the nipple leaking. This happens when the nipple is not assembled correctly. There are a few YouTube videos that explain how to place the nipple into the piece that screws onto the bottle to solve this problem.” — Jessie O.

“Love Avent and their products! I bought these as a first-time mom because I was thinking glass would be nicer than plastic. Double think it for your needs. I find glass is heavy and gets annoying to hold on little ones and have since switched to the Avent plastic ones! Just something to think about!” — Sara L.

Additional Specs

Pros:

• Made from Tritan, a durable plastic as clear as glass and free from most toxins
• RealFeel nipples reduce bottle rejection
• Transitions to a straw cup (attachment included)

Cons:

• Pricey
• Only includes 1 straw attachment
• Can’t sterilize with a steam sterilizer

Quark is another new addition to this year’s best-of bottles list. I personally tested the bundle and sent it to an IBCLC friend to try with her new baby, and immediately after trying it,I knew it deserved a spot in our guide. The bottle system is inventive, beautifully designed and—most importantly—makes feeding your baby a little easier.

The most innovative thing about Quark bottles—and likely the first thing you’ll notice—is the material. Made from an engineered plastic called Tritan, the material is lightweight, resists cracking and breaking and is extremely durable. It doesn’t leach harmful chemicals. And it’s also crystal clear; if you looked but didn’t touch, you’d think it was glass. (I’ve been using mine for months and it’s still as clear as the day I took it out of the box.)

The nipple is another exceptional feature. The gentle slope—the nipple shape lactation experts recommend—was the first thing my IBCLC friend, Rebekah, noticed when she saw the bottle. It flexes like the real thing and has two texture zones to replicate the nipple and areola. It was also one of only two bottles her newborn would take. “This baby has thrown me for a loop and refused all pacis from birth, so I was curious how bottles would go,” she said. “I tried a bunch, and Quark and Dr. Brown’s with the preemie nipple were the only two she took well. She got a great latch.”

Like Boon Nursh, Quark bottles will stick around longer than your average baby bottle. Just pop off the nipple and add the straw top insert instead (the conversion set comes with this bundle) to use the bottle as a straw cup for years.

Note: you won’t be able to sterilize these bottles using a steam sterilizer, as the brand recommends against this method. (A dishwasher or boiling the bottles is fine, though.) And they’re expensive—the price breaks down to about $20 per bottle.

Real Parent Reviews

“These bottles are beautiful in their design and functionality. The top snaps on easily and tightly. It won’t come off unless you intentionally take it off, and in that case it comes off easily and quickly. The size and shape of these bottles make it perfect for an older baby or toddler to hold…The most important thing—the nipple—is shaped as nature intended with good pliability. The various sizes of nipples included are such a great idea and just one of the many details about this brand that shows they really have an outstanding product…A major feature of this bottle is that it is made with Tritan…It’s as clear as a crystal, exceptionally durable, shatterproof, and lighter than glass.” — Everly M.

“These bottles are really nice, don’t get me wrong. The plastic is high quality and they feel like better quality than the ones you buy at Target, Walmart, etc. However, I think it is overpriced ($80 at time of posting) for what you get. That is basically $20/bottle. I do like that they grow with your child and can transition into a sippy lid. Anti-colic feature is also nice. Free from many toxins. Overall ,they are great and my baby likes them.” — Leah M.

Additional Specs