An Ultimate Guide For Choosing A Perfect Feeding Bottle For Your Baby
Watching my nephew grow up from a whiny newborn to a super charged-up toddler, I realized one thing about babies: They require extra care at every step. Even a task as simple as buying a bottle isn’t that simple when it comes to babies, especially for first-time parents. You will be glad to know that until your baby starts consuming solids, there’s a long road that can be covered smoothly with bottle feeding. However, once your baby is over six months of age and you wish to introduce top feed, it’s better to do your homework to buy the right kind of baby friendly bottle. After all, nestling your baby in the crook of your arm when you’re bottle feeding him is one of the best ways to bond with him. And we’re here to make sure that uniform buying decision doesn’t ruin this special moment for you and your little one. Plastic? Glass? Curved? Straight? Confused about the right material and shape of feeding bottle? Calm down, as all your queries are going to be answered in the next few minutes and by the end of this blog, you’ll become a baby bottle expert. But before that, let’s take a quick look at baby bottle parts. Also Read: Pacifier and Soothers: A complete Guide
Baby Bottle Anatomy
A feeding bottle generally comprises of four parts:- Bottle- The main body where milk is stored
- Nipple- A plastic or silicone bulb from which the baby sucks milk from the bottle
- Collar- A ring-shaped lid securing the nipple to the bottle
- Cover- A covering lid to prevent dust from coming in contact with the nipple. Majority of the feeding bottles have a cover.
How To Choose The Baby Bottle Material?
Years back when things were simpler, baby bottles were available only in glass. But now the times have changed. From glass to plastic and stainless steel, bottles are now available in various materials. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of various baby bottles to help you make an informed decision.#1. Glass Baby Bottles
Thanks to the BPA controversy, Glass Baby Bottles are making a huge comeback as parents are growing more conscious about the ill effects of plastic. BPA (bisphenol-A) is a chemical substance used in the making of plastic bottles, which often finds its way in the food through the container. Since glass bottles are completely BPA free, they’re enjoying a good reputation in mommy circles.
Pros of using glass baby bottle
- BPA free and toxin free
- Convenient for sterilizing and heating purposes
- Made without the use of petroleum based products.
- Eco friendly
- Recyclable
- Long lasting
- Easy to clean
- Easily breakable
- Heavier than plastic bottles
- More expensive than plastic bottles
- Restricted variety
#2. Plastic Baby Bottles
By far the most widely used material in baby bottles, plastic is affordable lightweight and can be moulded into different designs and shapes. Plastic baby bottles are so common that you can spot at least one in nine out of ten households with infants. However, the use of these bottles declined with the spread of awareness of BPA content present in them. You’ll be glad to know that in 2012, FDA banned the use of BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups. To make sure, you can also look for BPA-free label on the bottle. Also Read: How to identify allergies in children
Pros of using plastic baby bottle
- Lightweight
- Affordable
- Resistant to breakage
- BPA free available
- Easy to store
- Doesn’t sweat
- Cannot be used for boiling or heating purposes
- Hard to clean
- Soft material thus easily scratch-able
- Can absorb odour
- Made using petroleum-based products
#3. Stainless Steel Baby Bottles
Even though steel vessels are a common sight in the Indian household, this material isn’t very popular with the baby bottles, though some new companies have launched some limited range of stainless steel baby bottles.
Pros of using stainless steel baby bottle
- Insulating properties (keeps warm milk warm and cold milk cold)
- Most durable out of the three
- Easy to clean
- Difficult to scratch
- Limited designs
- Expensive
- Opaque material, difficulty in measuring the amount of milk left
- Might not necessarily manage temperature
How To Choose The Baby Bottle Type?
Once you have selected the right material for your baby bottle, it’s time to move on to advanced features. Gone are the days when bottles came in single shape or color. Modern baby bottles are as fascinating as it can get. The different types of baby bottles commonly available in the market are- Standard baby bottle
- Wide neck baby bottle
- Angled baby bottle
- Vented baby bottle
- Disposable baby bottle
- Small baby bottle- 4/5 ounces
- Large baby bottle- 8/9/10 ounces
#1. Standard baby bottle
If you were to imagine a baby bottle, then this is the design that would first come to your head. Also popularly called as straight-neck bottles, these bottles come with a nipple and a cover. Although optional, the cover makes sure that the nipple remains dirt-free. Thanks to their basic shape, standard bottles can easily fit in a regular bottle warmer or carrier. Pros- Affordable
- Widely available
- Simple design
- Easy to store
- Portable and easily fits into regular bottle carriers
- Might lead to swallowing of air and colic or gas build-up in the baby
- Does not contain innovative and exciting features
- Cheaper ones might be of bad quality plastic.
#2. Wide neck baby bottle
Wide neck baby bottle comes with a neck that is wider than that of a standard bottle. The nipple that attaches to this bottle is also wider and resembles the female nipple. This helps in preventing nipple confusion and makes a great choice for moms who want to regularly switch between breastfeeding and bottle feeding. It’s also easier to clean this bottle. Pros- Imitates breastfeeding
- Avoids nipple confusion
- Super easy to clean
- Expensive as compared to standard baby bottles
- Cannot be used with standard nipples
#3. Angled baby bottle
As the name suggests, angled baby bottles come with a bent neck to keep the nipple filled with milk and to prevent air bubbles from getting trapped. The special design aids in minimum swallowing of air by your baby, preventing colic pain. What’s more? This design promotes feeding babies in a semi-upright position, which is often recommended by doctors. However, filling and cleaning this bottle can be quite a task until you get the hang of it. Pros- Prevents ear infection
- Prevents swallowing of air
- Promotes breast-feeding in semi-upright position
- Expensive as compared to standard baby bottles
- Not available widely
- Difficult to fill and clean
#4. Vented baby bottle
When your baby sucks on a baby bottle, a vacuum is created. This vacuum causes air bubbles to get trapped inside the nipple. This increases the chances of air being swallowed by your baby, leading to gas or colic. This is where a vented baby bottle steps in. A vent stops the air from becoming trapped by letting air bubbles go back towards the base of the bottle. These bottles are also popularly called as natural flow bottles or anti-colic bottles. If your little one is restless and often experiences gas or colic, then it’s best to settle with this option. Pros- Helps prevent colic and gas build-up
- Prevents swallowing of air
- Useful for babies who are restless after feeding
- Not easy to clean, fill and pour
- Expensive as compared to standard bottles
- Not easy to hold for the baby
#5. Disposable baby bottle
Disposable baby bottles are curated for use during travelling or other cases where you are not able to clean your standard baby bottle. These bottles are of two types- one in which you discard the entire bottle after use and the second one in which only the inside plastic lining of the bottle is discarded.
Pros
- Useful while traveling
- Convenient to use
- Do not require cleaning
- Might be affordable
- Not eco-friendly
- Requires you to repeatedly purchase bottle
- Can be expensive
How To Choose The Nipple Type?
Nipple is a crucial part of your baby bottle as this is where baby sucks the milk from. Having the correct baby bottle with an incorrect nipple is as good as gifting specs to a blind man. Generally, it is advised that the nipple should be of the same brand as your baby bottle. This helps in avoiding leakage.Nipple Material
Baby bottle nipples are available in two kinds of material, which are as follows #1. Latex nipple Latex nipples are often favoured by babies as they closely imitate the feel of a real nipple (thanks to their flexibility & softness). These nipples are opaque and come in a brownish golden color. However, these nipples are less durable than the one made from silicone. Thankfully, these nipples are affordable and won’t burn a hole in our pocket when you frequently need to replace them. Please note- Before using latex nipples, make sure that your baby doesn’t suffer from a latex allergy. #2. Silicone nipple A commonly used material in the latest baby bottle nipples, silicone is transparent and firmer than latex. Silicone is also less likely to cause an allergy in your baby. What’s more? Baby bottle nipples curated from silicone usually last around four times longer than a latex nipple. Also Read: 5 Best soaps for babies (Gentle and Harmless)Nipple Shape
After you’ve selected the right material for your baby bottle nipple, your next dilemma will be selecting the right shape. Baby bottle nipples are available in two shapes, which are as follows #1. Round-shaped baby bottle nipple This is the most commonly seen baby bottle nipple and prevalent since decades (nostalgia, anyone?). It’s an affordable pick and does the job fairly well. #2. Orthodontic nipple This more expensive pick looks as if the nipple just melted away. However, some doctors suggest that this nipple promotes better oral development in babies.Nipple Size
Once you’ve decided the nipple material and shape for your baby bottle, make sure to select the right size of the nipple. The size of the nipple will determine the amount of milk that will flow out from the bottle.
While a newborn will start with the smallest size nipple, you will have to keep switching to the next size as your baby progresses through the age chart. Look for the recommended age on the nipple before buying it.
Here’s an age-nipple size recommendation chart for your reference.
| AGE | NIPPLE SIZE |
| Birth to 4 weeks | Newborn Flow |
| 1 month to 3 months | Slow Flow |
| 3 months to 6 months | Medium Flow |
| 6 months and older | Fast Flow |
Most Popular Baby Bottles In India
Let’s get real, there are a million baby bottles out there. Even if you’ve learnt the how’s and why’s of baby bottles, it can get overwhelming to decide on one from so many. To make it easier for you, we’ve rounded-up a list of the best baby bottles in every category, based on genuine amazon ratings by other parents like you. So what are you waiting for? Hop on the ride and take your pick.
#1. Best baby bottle for breastfed babies - Comotomo Natural
Comotomo Natural Feel Baby Bottle makes switching from breastfeeding to bottle feeding easier as it closely imitates the look and feel of a natural breast. With this baby bottle, it’s time to bid goodbye to bottle feeding problems like- nipple confusion or bottle rejection. Besides, this baby bottle is super easy to clean and provides air ventilation to prevent colic or gas. A little on the higher end, this bottle will be worth the price if your baby is fussy, addicted to breastfeeding, or suffers from colic or gas. Amazon Rating for Comotomo Natural Feel Baby Bottle 4.0/5 Price Rs 1832 Why this bottle?- Designed to closely imitate the breastfeeding experience
- Designed to reduce bottle rejection and nipple confusion
- Curated with a soft and squeezable material so that your baby’s little fingers can easily hold it.
- Prevents spit-up, gas, burps and colic (thanks to its dual anti-colic vents)
- Free of BPA, PVC and other chemicals harmful for babies
- Can be cleaned with boiling water, without any damage
- Easy to clean (no more sticky residues)
#2. Best BPA free affordable baby bottle- Philips Avent Feeding Bottle
If you’re looking for the perfect baby bottle that won’t break the bank, then search no more. Popular amongst mommy circles across the globe, Philips Avent Feeding Bottle is available in three sizes- 125 ml, 260 ml and 330 ml. With BPA free material, ergonomic shape, and advanced anti-colic valve, this baby bottle is the ultimate deal. However, this bottle is not dishwasher safe. Amazon Rating For Philips Avent Feeding Bottle 4.1/5 Price Rs 711 Why this bottle?- Devoid of BPA which has been proven harmful for babies
- Designed in a comfortable shape that is easy to hold even for the babies
- Designed to promote natural latching
- Designed to reduce colic and gas
- Can be combined with breastfeeding
- Contains ml and oz. marking so that you can correctly measure the level of the formula
- Easy to clean
#3. Best baby bottle for colic and reflux- Dr.Brown’s Natural Flow Feeding Bottle
Another popular pick in India, Dr.Brown’s Natural Flow Feeding Bottle features a patented two-piece venting system that prevents the air from mixing with the formula, leading to fewer chances of spit-up, gas, colic or burps. This baby bottle is available in two sizes- 120 ml and 240 ml. It’s definitely worth the price. Amazon Rating For Dr.Brown’s Natural Flow Feeding Bottle 4.8/5 Price Rs 656 Why this bottle?- Designed to produce a positive pressure flow that mimics breastfeeding
- Prevents fluid in the ear
- Prevents feeding issues like gas, spit up or colic
- Prevents oxidation of important nutrients
- Prevents nipple collapse
- Free of BPA and PVC which have been proven to be harmful for babies
- Easily connectible to most breast pumps
- Easy to clean and dishwasher safe
#4. Best glass feeding bottle- Pigeon glass feeding bottle
With a high rating and happy customers, Pigeon glass feeding bottle comes with double layered borosilicate glass that can be easily cleaned (unlike plastic), thus leading to a reduced likelihood of stomach infections. What’s more? It’s super affordable. However, this bottle is not dishwasher safe. Amazon Rating For Pigeon Glass Feeding Bottle- 4.7/5 Price Rs 559 Why this bottle?- Designed to minimize air intake
- Designed to fit perfectly with baby’s tongue
- Contains peristaltic silicone nipple
- Easy to clean
- Easy to hold
- Curated from high quality, durable glass
- BPA free
#5. Best stainless steel baby bottle- Klean Kid Stainless Steel Infant bottle
Made from high quality, food grade stainless steel, Klean Kid Stainless Steel Infant bottle is completely BPA free and comes in an hourglass shape for better hold. What’s more? Its silicone nipples feature a double-venting system to prevent colic. Amazon Rating For Klean Kid Stainless Steel Infant Bottle 4.0/5 Price Rs 2999 Why this bottle?- Designed for easy filling, pouring and cleaning
- Designed to promote proper latching
- Designed to promote easy hold
- Features double venting system to prevent colic and gas
- Features wide base and long adjusting nipple to promote healthy teeth and correct oral development
- Consists of slow-flow nipple suitable for babies up to 6 months of age
- Free of BPA, lead & phthalates that are harmful for babies
- Can be cleaned in a dishwasher
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