Every parent has to face this impossible choice – which baby bottle to buy? It’s tough to choose just one among hundreds of different models, especially when you’re a new parent and uncertain regarding what your baby needs. So, to make this choice easier for you, I prepared a simple, to-the-point buying guide.
When I was buying the first bottles for my little one, my only rule was that they have to be the best. Only the best for my baby. However, after spending an hour online in search for the best bottle, I realized that it’s not so simple. Plastic, glass, stainless steel – which material should I choose? Size? Handles? Wide-neck, angled? So many features, so many options… In order to make things easier for you and to spare you the hours I had to spend learning all of this, I present you with a guide that includes all the relevant variables.
Best Baby Bottles Buying Guide
Here are the features you must take into consideration when choosing the best bottle for your baby.
-Bottle Materials
There are three materials baby bottles can be made of – glass, plastic, and stainless steel.
*Glass – Completely smooth, these are really easy to clean, free of any chemicals, eco-friendly, and very durable. Unless you drop a glass bottle, it can last forever. However, if you do drop it, make sure to clean up the floors thoroughly, because broken glass is super dangerous for your baby. That’s why I bought removable silicone sleeves for my glass bottles.
*Plastic – Most widely used, this material is light, versatile, and inexpensive. It won’t break if you drop it (and from my experience, you will drop it at least a dozen times). These bottles don’t sweat, and as long as they are BPA-free, they are safe for your little one. However, they do have flaws – they can absorb unpleasant smells, are difficult to clean, and can get scratched and become unusable easily.
*Stainless Steel – This is the least popular material, but it has its advantages. It can keep cold liquids cold for a longer period of time, and hot ones hot. What I like is the fact that you can easily feel the temperature of the liquid inside – so if the formula is super hot, you’ll feel it in a second. It’s durable, scratch-resistant, easy to clean, and almost impossible to break. However, bottles made of stainless steel are also the most expensive.
-Bottle Types
Once upon a time, choosing a baby bottle was simple – there was only one type and only one material. Now, there are many different types, and each has its advantages and disadvantages.
*Classic – No special features, a simple bottle with a nipple and a lid. Some people refer to these as standard or straight-neck bottles. They are the cheapest, most widely available, and most versatile as they fit into every warmer, sterilizer, and carrier.
*Angled – Bent neck is the trademark of these bottles, and it is made to keep the nipple full of milk while stopping air bubbles from getting caught in there. These are easier to hold while feeding your little one, and your baby swallows less air with them.
*Vented – A vent in these bottles serves to prevent a vacuum from forming while your baby sucks, which in turn prevents trapping bubbles. Thanks to that, these bottles can prevent babies from swallowing air while sucking, thus preventing gas and colic.
*Wide-neck – With a significantly wider neck than the one a classic bottle has, this bottle’s nipple is more similar to a real nipple when it comes to the look and the feel of it. These bottles are best for mothers who want to alternate between nursing and bottle feeding.
*Disposable – I find these most useful when I’m on the go. You can buy entire disposable bottles or just disposable liners. Once you’re done feeding your baby, you don’t have to worry about cleaning them – just throw them in the trash.
– Handles
If you’re buying a bottle for a newborn, you don’t need to worry about handles just yet. However, if you have a baby that’s becoming more independent, you will need to get a bottle your little one can hold. Trainer bottles with handles are perfect for that, as your baby will be struggling to hold onto a round slippery bottle. Also, pick stainless steel or plastic bottles for this purpose, as glass will break all too easily.
– Bottle size
For small babies and preemies, take small bottles (up to 5 ounces), and for older babies, pick large bottles (up to 10 ounces). Once you know exactly how much your little one eats per feeding, picking the right size will be much easier. Also, if you’re buying a bottle sterilizer or a warmer, make sure to pick bottles whose size fits those devices.
– Measuring lines
You want to measure out each of your baby’s meals precisely, and that’s where these lines step in. Thanks to these, you’ll be able to measure the amount of formula or breast milk quickly. You can find these lines on most plastic and glass bottles.
– Parts
Some bottles have as many as ten pieces – and you need to clean each one properly, make sure you don’t lose it, and reassemble the bottle again. In my experience, when you’re in a rush to feed your little one, this is just too much to think about. So, if you want to keep your sanity while your baby is screaming for food, pick a bottle with as little pieces as possible. That way, you can’t go wrong while assembling it or lose any relevant pieces.
– Nipples
Shapes – you will quickly learn what your baby likes best – you can choose orthodontic or standard round ones.
Size and flow – it’s simple – stage one nipples are for newborns, stage two is for babies between 3-6 months, stage three for 6-9 months, and stage four for babies over 9 months.
Materials – you can choose latex or silicone nipples.
*Latex is soft, and it feels like a real nipple. It isn’t very durable, but it is cheap. The only problem lies in the fact that some babies are allergic to it, so it’s best to check first and buy later.
*Silicone nipples are firmer than the latex ones but are less likely to cause an allergic reaction. Furthermore, these are also more durable than the latex nipples.
Now you’re equipped to find the best bottle for your little angel – hope I helped!
