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Baby bottles are a definite registry must-have, but with so many options on the market, it can be hard to figure out where to start.

Take a tip from experienced parents, and buy a few different types of bottles, then test them out with your baby. Different babies prefer different shapes, sizes and textures, and it can be hard to know which one will work for you until you actually use it.

“Once you find a bottle that your baby has taken to, you can stick to that bottle,” says Micah Resnick, M.D., a board-certified pediatrician at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and member of the What to Expect Medical Review Board. Give each bottle a couple of weeks before declaring it a failure. “Sometimes babies will learn coordination by struggling and muddling through the process,” Dr. Resnick says. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re deciding which bottles to try.

Here’s a breakdown of the various types of baby bottles and how they compare.

Baby bottles usually include nipples, but nipples can also be purchased separately and come in a variety of shapes and types, which is especially helpful for babies with special feeding needs. Try a few different sizes and styles of nipple to see what works best for your baby.

In the beginning, smaller is better. Most newborns will drink up to 4 ounces in a single feeding, so the smaller bottles are a great fit, with a Stage 1 slow-flow nipple (meant for preemies and newborns) to control how fast milk is released.

As baby grows, she’ll graduate to a faster-flow Stage 2 nipple, and 8-ounce or larger bottles, drinking more milk at less frequent feedings. Some babies do just fine with Stage 2 nipples indefinitely, but by around 6 months, if your baby seems to be pulling hard on these nipples, she might be ready for Stage 3.

When it came to choosing bottles, we focused on a wide variety of bottles in different sizes and shapes — and for different needs.

Bottles also had to provide something extra for parents, be it easy cleaning or a convenient design that allows for simple storage, among other perks. Nipple shape and feel also really matter when it comes to baby’s successful transition to a bottle, so the nipples that came with the bottles needed to be designed to encourage secure latching.

Here are the best baby bottles to try with your little one.

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).

"The anti-colic system works wonders for my little one, and my breastfed baby has no issue with the nipples."

"Tried and true! You won't be surprised to see mommies and babies everywhere using Dr. Brown’s."

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.

"I love the [NUK Smooth Flow]. The baby controls the flow of the formula as they suck"

"Some people do not like them because it’s a tri cut nipple but they work wonderful for us"

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.

"We loved them! My daughter took right to them and we never needed to change. They were very easy to clean! I highly recommend."

“We have tried a few different bottles and our favorite is Avent. Our LO likes them, they are easy to clean and don’t leak.”

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.

"I only use these bottles and love them so much I give them as gifts to people! I don't know why everyone doesn't use them. They are amazing!"

“I had Ventaires with my first and loved them so much that I’m buying new ones for my second. We found they really reduced how much air baby takes in during feeding so that cut down on the gas.”

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.

"These bottles are great, they are much slower than another bottle we've tried and the flex neck is awesome!"

“I love these bottles and they are all we use!”

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.

"The only bottle my son accepts. No confusion going between boob and bottle. They are quite soft and my LO loves squeezing them which seems to calm him down but then again every baby is different. Very easy to clean."

“I love ours. They are SO easy to clean! And our son loves trying to hold them. Plus the nipples come in different “flow” sizes/strengths.”

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.

"I have them, my little girl is 3 months now and we’ve used from from birth with her.. they are soooo good!! ... I can safely say TT anti colic are the business! Never had any wind issues with our daughter. They are fantastic."

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.

"I always ended up back with the MAM until I finally just started using them all the time. I breast and bottle fed. Never any issue. And that self sterilization thing in the microwave? Genius!"

“I absolutely love the MAM bottles. My baby was using [other] bottles up until about a week ago. She always had some issues latching on that bottle and when we switched to MAM it made all the difference! They only leak if the bottom is not sealed correctly. Just make sure it is put on right and it’s good to go!”

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.

“I've been using these since my lo was 2 months and they've been great. Really easy to pump straight into and fridge or freeze. They also have bags but haven't tried them yet. Warms up real quick in the warmer bowl it comes with and my dh feeds lo like he's breastfeeding lol and he loves it. Been really easy to go back and forth, so I can keep breastfeeding. Definitely recommend!”

“I had a couple of these that we used with our last babe when I went back to work. I’d just put pumped breast milk directly into them, and warm it with a hot water bath before feeding time. I had zero complaints about the bottle...easy to use, easy to clean, my baby took it well and could hold it just fine.”

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.

“I love Kiinde. It is super convenient and much simpler. Baby can hold the bottle very easily. [Bags] are recyclable and there’s no annoying and sometimes nerve-wracking milk transferring. The bag is the bottle. We haven’t had any spills yet where baby yanks off the nipple. 5 stars.”

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.

“??I'm a big advocate of glass bottles because of BPS, but they're also easier to see that they're clean and overall great. We used Lifefactory and loved them. Never broke one.”

"I have used them for my first child and now my second. I love the [Lifefactory] ones, they are really durable since they are covered with a silicone sleeve."

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The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff. This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. © 2022 Everyday Health, Inc