How To Choose Best Electric Steam Sterilizer

Whether you are formula-feeding or expressing breastmilk, it is vital to keep equipment and your baby’s bottles clean and safe. Sterilising helps to protect your baby against germs and infection. A steriliser is a unit that allows you to do that job quickly and easily.

Harmful bacteria grow quickly in milk. That’s why it is recommended that you continue to sterilise bottles, teats, dummies, breast pumps and other feeding accessories until your baby is one year old.

If you decide to start feeding solids before your baby is six months old, you will also need to sterilise your baby's spoons and bowls. However, it is best to wait until your baby is six months old before introducing first foods.
What do I need to know about sterilisers?

There are three main types of steriliser on the market:

1. Cold water
2. Microwave
3. Electric

Each option has its advantages and disadvantages: 

Cold water sterilisers: >>  Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Microwave Steam & Cold Water Steriliser

To cold water sterilise your baby's equipment, you need sterilising tablets or liquid, along with a sturdy plastic container and a lid. Items are soaked in the solution for at least 30 minutes and will remain sterile if kept submerged in the solution for up to 24 hours.

The solution can be reused as often as you wish within a 24-hour period. Items must be rinsed in recently boiled water before use. However, even after rinsing, the sterilising solution may give off a peculiar taste or smell. This may be off-putting for your baby.






Microwave sterilisers:>> Tommee Tippee Microwave Steam Sterilizer 

Microwave sterilisers require no chemicals or rinsing. Instead, they kill bacteria using the heat from steam. Depending on the model you have, microwave sterilisers can keep items sterile for up to 24 hours if the lid remains closed. Some microwave sterilisers are also designed to double up as cold water sterilisers.

Sterilising takes three minutes to eight minutes, depending on your microwave’s wattage and the unit. Remember that metal items cannot be sterilised in a microwave.

Electric steam sterilisers :>>Philips AVENT 3-in-1 Electric Steam Sterilizer

Electric steam sterilisers require no chemicals or rinsing, and simply plug in at the wall. They kill bacteria using the heat from steam. Sterilising takes six minutes to 15 minutes. Depending on the model you have, items can remain sterile for up to 24 hours with the lid closed.

These sterilisers are often the most convenient way of sterilising, particularly if you have a lot of items to sterilise, and you don’t have a microwave.








What size steriliser should I buy?

Sterilisers have varying capacity, ranging from two bottles to eight bottles. Bear in mind that wide-necked bottles require more space than standard bottles. If you intend to fully formula-feed your baby, you will need to use a steriliser frequently.

Babies who are fully formula-fed require at least six bottles a day, so you will need a steriliser that holds at least this many bottles. If you're planning to breastfeed, you may not need a steriliser initially. However, if you want to express your milk, you will need a steriliser for breast pumps and bottles. Sterilisers are also handy for sterilising dummies.

Some sterilisers come with extra features that you may like to look out for, such as:

• an alarm to let you know when sterilisation is complete
• automatic sterilisation of contents every few hours, or after you remove or add a bottle
• extra bottles and sippy cups
• a signal to let you know when the steriliser is hot
• a water filter to control limescale
• an accessory tray
• tongs and bottle brushes

How do I know which method of sterilising is best for me?

Each sterilising method has its pros and cons. Here are some tips from other BabyCentre parents to help you decide what’s best for you:

Electric sterilisers: >>>Philips AVENT 3-in-1 Electric Steam Sterilizer

"My electric steriliser can sterilise six bottles in six minutes. It then keeps the bottles sterile for six hours if the lid is kept on. There is also a cycle that keeps the contents sterile for 24 hours. This will be handy when we start to drop night feeds."
Julie

"I have always used a plug-in steam steriliser. My microwave is quite small and I’m not sure if a microwave steriliser would fit in it."
Bella

"I’ve gone for an electric steriliser, but only because some bottles, breast pumps and so on can’t be used in a microwave steriliser because they crack."
Anna

"It’s best to buy a steriliser that matches the other products you have, such as the breast pump and bottles you use. They are designed to be used together, which makes life easier."
Liz

"I mainly use an electric steriliser, but I also have a microwave one. The microwave one is great for travelling and for just sterilising a couple of bits very quickly. It also doesn't need descaling!"
Sophie

Cold water sterilisation:  >>>Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Microwave Steam & Cold Water Steriliser

"I use cold water sterilisation. You add a steriliser tablet to the water and leave your bottles, cups, dummies and teethers in it until needed. You only need to change the water once a day. It takes 15 minutes to sterilise once you’ve changed the water, but then everything is sterile for 24 hours. You can just take out what you need, without waiting for things to cool down as you would for a microwave or steam steriliser."
Sue

"I use steriliser liquid. It is easier than tablets when you want to use it with different volumes of water. I found myself having to chop tablets in halves or thirds, depending on the volume of water I was using. Some sterilising liquids need to be rinsed off with cooled, boiled water, so we chose one that didn’t need rinsing off."
Danielle

"With my first baby we used cold water sterilisation, but she didn’t like the taste it left behind, and it also discoloured the teats. This time we’ve got a steam steriliser. It's much quicker than waiting for the cold water one to do its job!"
Shelly

"I like cold water sterilising because it’s simple and cheap. I just use a big plastic tub with a lid. You don’t need any fancy equipment."
Jen

Microwave sterilisation: >>>Tommee Tippee Microwave Steam Sterilizer

"We had a cold water steriliser with our first baby. It is simple but takes about 30 minutes. I bought a microwave steriliser for this time round as it only takes four minutes. I was so tired and disorganised with my first baby that many times when I got up to do the 2am feed, I found we had no bottles sterilised. Cue a very noisy and stressful 30-plus minutes!"
Heather

"I’m expecting my second baby and I plan to breastfeed again. I will still get an electric pump, a couple of bottles and steam steriliser, though."
Sam

"I have a microwave steriliser. It’s great as you can also use it as a cold water steriliser if you travel away somewhere and don’t have the use of a microwave. They are quick and easy to use and can be stored neatly in the microwave to save worktop space!"
Catriona

"I use self-sterilising bottles. You just put the bottle in the microwave for three minutes and you’re ready to go. No need for any other sterilising equipment."
Rachel

BPA-Free Baby Bottles: Medela, Philips AVENT and More

In recent months polycarbonate bottles have been under attack because they contain the harmful chemical Bisphenol-A, also known as BPA. With so many baby bottles on the market it is difficult to know which of the major brands are safe, and which you should avoid. Here is a rundown on some of the top brand baby bottle companies so that you can find out which offer bottles that are BPA-free and which you should stay away from.

Avent

All Avent bottles are made of polycarbonate plastic with the exception of the Via System, which is made of polypropylene plastic. Avent is a major competitor in the baby bottle market, and it is quite a surprise that only one system in its large product line is BPA-free.

Born Free

All of the bottles in the Born Free line are BPA-free as the plastic bottles in the Born Free line are made from polyamide and glass bottles are also offered. They are comparable in price and use to Dr. Brown's bottles as they have a venting system that helps reduce colic symptoms and middle ear infections.

Dr. Brown's

Dr. Brown's has been a longtime favorite among many parents, as they were among the first to distribute bottles to help reduce colic and middle ear infections. Unfortunately, their high-end bottles are all made of polycarbonate plastic. Fortunately on the Dr. Brown's website the company has addressed the issue of the polycarbonate plastic bottles, and states that "We are extending our product line to include other materials over the next year in order to offer moms and dads a choice."

Evenflo

Evenflo has offered a line of glass bottles for several years now, even before BPA became an issue. While the glass bottles from Evenflo are safe, the plastic bottles made by Evenflo are made of polycarbonate plastic.

The First Years

Unfortunately, there are no BPA-free bottles in The First Years product line.

Gerber

As far as major baby bottle manufacturers go Gerber seems to be ahead of the curve with a large number of BPA-free baby bottle offerings. They offer three lines that are BPA free, Clear View, Fashion Tints, and GentleFlow. Although they still have three lines that are made of polycarbonate plastics, NUK/1st Choice, Preemie, and Comfort Hold. This means that while Gerber offers PBA free bottles in some of their lines, parents really need to pay attention to which lines they are buying from in order to avoid the polycarbonate plastics.

Medela

Medela is another line that is completely BPA-free as all of the bottles in their line are made from polypropylene.

Review: Medela Breastmilk Bottle Set

Medela polypropylene breastmilk bottles are made without BPA, designed to retain breast milk's beneficial properties. Compatible with all Medela breastpumps, so you can pump, store and feed with one container. Great for long term storage. Dishwasher safe. Measure the exact amount of milk you're pumping with the colorful ounce and millimeter markers. Screw on lids for leak proof storage, travel and freezing. Travel cap keeps nipple clean.

• Silicone, Polypropylene
• Compatible with all Medela breastpumps, so you can pump, store and feed with one container
• Great for long term storage
• Dishwasher safe
• Measure the exact amount of milk you're pumping with the colorful ounce and millimeter markers
• Available in 5oz and 8oz bottles.

Customer Reviews:

I do not typically write reviews, but my recent experience warranted for one. My first son was exclusively bottle fed (breasmilk) since he was a lazy nurser and didn't gain weight. My second one who is one month old now is great on the breast but takes his time so if I ever wanted to get out of the house to run an errand I wanted to pump milk and have my nanny feed him. I bought the wide neck Dr. Browns for him, but they made him choke and gag, I think because they are too fast flow. He was also not able to latch onto the nipple which made him swallow a huge amount of air making him gassy and miserable during and after the feeding. Then I tried Tomme Tippee bottles as they were supposed to be closer to the shape of the breast, but maybe not mine as they were even worse than the browns. See, I believe the trick is in the right nipple, because if the nipple is not right for your baby, no matter how advanced venting system is installed in the bottle (dr. brown's) baby will suck in air due to incorrect latching. This is what happened to my baby at least. Desperate, I went to target and bought one of all of the main brands of bottles to try. I found the new medela bottles with the WIDE BASE nipple and since they can be attached to my medela pump I gave them a try first. It was amazing. My LO latched on right away and slowly and comfortably drank the whole bottle without choking or coughing up milk a single time and was happy and content afterwards drifting into sleep like he would on the breast. They work wonderfully.

Here is the summary:

- BPA FREE, FYI... Medela stuff has always been bpa free, just now they make sure it's written on all of their stuff just like other companies do, who have just switched to bpa free plastic. Don't believe me? Check their website.

-In addition to being great bottles the ring and nipple attaches to all other (older) pumping bottles too so I didn't have to buy any more. (all medela stuff has ALWAYS BEEN BPA FREE) This saves money and time too as you don't have to wash as many bottles; you use the same ones for pumping and feeding. Just buy more nipples and rings. Great idea!

- Simple construction, only 3 pieces plus a cap vs. 6 pc for dr browns.

- There is no venting system, but I believe it is overrated and mostly used for justifying the high price. My LO was very gassy from the dr browns even with the complex venting system.

- The nipple is just the right size, not too wide which can be hard to latch onto (tommee tippee) and not too narrow (dr. brown's standard) which can cause nipple confusion.

- The slow flow nipple could be a bit slower, although it didn't cause a choking problem. I'm hoping LO will not refuse the breast in hope for the convenient bottle. Will give an update later on this.

- Cannot comment on durability as we have just started using them. Will update on this too. My older bottles are very durable, hoping these would be too.

Finally... Breast and babies come in different shapes and sizes so what works for me may not work for you. I hope this review helps you to choose, but ultimately it will your baby who makes the final decision. : )

By J. Lukashevich

Since I started working again I had to pump my milk. I have used the Lansinoh bags so far (and those work great by the way!) but the idea of transferring the milk for the bottles to the bags and then back to the bottle for feeding my baby was something I started thinking was taking too much time (wash the bottles every time, danger of lose the milk with all these transfers, and more risks of contamination) and producing too much waist.

I just got these bottles. I LOVE the fact they have NUMBERS WRITTEN IN DARK characters so that while you pump you can see where the level of the milk is. Also they come with a cute cap each and with a slow flow nipple and its own cap...each. So you have three complete sets of bottle+cap+slow flow nipple+nipple cap.

They come in a nice box so you can also give them as a present to a future working mom. She might not realize it now but she will use them a lot.

By Pao

>>See all 314 customer reviews

Review: The First Years 3 Pack Breastflow Bottle

Breastflow's patented 2-in-1 nipple lets your baby control the flow of breast milk or formula as naturally as breastfeeding. By using, both suction and compression motions, your baby is able to regulate the flow of milk unlike any other bottle. Plus, Breastflow is designed to help prevent colic. Moms who participated in an independent in-home bottle feeding research study said their babies experienced reduced colic symptoms such as less gas, spit-up or fussiness when using Breastflow. Whether you choose to feed your baby breast milk or formula, Breastflow provides a unique bottle feeding experience unlike any other for a satisfied baby and happy mom.

• Perfect for breast milk and formula
• 88% of moms surveyed in an independent in home bottle feeding research study said their babies experienced less gas or less spit up or less fussiness
• Breastflow is the only feeding system that requires both suction and compression, just like breast feeding
• Soft outer nipple mimics the feel of the breast, allowing babys tongue to stay in the same position as breastfeeding
• Patented inner nipple allows your baby to control the flow naturally like breastfeeding whether you use breast milk or formula.

Customer Reviews:

The 2 most important things for me were reducing air swallowed and easy transition between breast and bottle. I tried Adiri and Avent bottles, but the both, even with slowest flow nipples, choked my son with too much milk. With the Breast flow he controls how much or how little he gets in his mouth. Also my son would grasp the tip of my nipple instead of my whole areola following use of either the Avent or the Adiri...ouch, which he does not do with the Breast flow bottles! The Avent would be my second choice, they are a slower flow than the Adiri and because the Adiri bottles have no lip around the nipple so when my son released the nipple milk spills all over the bottle and you have a sticky mess! plus if you don't get the bottom on just right it ends up everywhere and the valve doesn't work correctly...there are 3 pieces but it really is not that much trouble...and we don't have a dish washer...

By Katy E

I have been very happy with the performance of the BreastFlow bottles. I too had started out using Avent bottles after hearing rave reviews of them when I was still pregnant. However, I found that the Avent nipples basically poured and dumped the milk into my daughter's mouth; she would go through 4 ounces in 4 minutes, wearing about half an ounce on her bib. Then when she returned to breastfeed later, she'd have a very disorganized suck from nipple confusion.

These BreastFlow bottles and their unique (though uncomplicated) nipples mimic breastfeeding so much better that she'll even take a bottle from me. We have no more problems alternating between breast and bottle. It now takes her about 10-12 minutes to finish a 4 oz bottle, sometimes up to 15 minutes, which is about the same duration she spends breastfeeding. She doesn't end up wearing most of her meal, either.

Overall, I would recommend this to any breastfeeding mother who has to offer her baby a bottle. Even the caregivers at my daughter's daycare were impressed with the performance of the BreastFlow system.

By Amy Sidamy

>>See all 312 customer reviews

Review: Evenflo 6 Pack Classic Glass Bottle

Evenflo's iconic Classic Glass bottle offers superior sanitization, recycling, and sustainability. The tempered glass bottle includes a Classic slow flow soft silicone nipple with Micro Air Vents to help prevent nipple collapse as well as reduce gas.Before using, boil all parts for 3 minutes to sterilize. Push shoulder of nipple up through cap ring. After each use, wash all parts thoroughly in warm, soapy water. Rinse thoroughly. Snap on nipple cover to keep nipple clean. Dishwasher safe.

• BPA-Free
• Tempered glass bottle offers superior sanitization, recycling, and sustainability
• Silicone nipple with Micro Air Vents helps prevent nipple collapse as well as reduce gas
• Includes 8oz Classic Glass Bottle, Classic Slow Flow Nipple, and cap ring & hood
• 6 pack

Customer Reviews:

This is one of those products that you just love to write a review for: It's top quality and a huge value. My wife, daughter, and I used these and the 4 oz. models through countless cycles and they rock...

Pros

+ It's just glass - no BPA, no odors, no clouding, no scratches.

+ Easy to clean - they won't melt and they won't scratch with frequent cleaning. (don't use steel wool, of course)

+ They come with nipples, rings, and caps. Nice!

+ The threads match Medela breast pump valve threads. This is a really nice bonus, we think.

+ Value - have you seen the prices that some glass bottles are going for?! These aren't from a company that got into the business of glass bottles because of the BPA scare. Evenflo has been making glass bottles for a long, long time and the value to quality ratio is huge.

+ Quality - The nipples that came with these bottles have been great - tough and long-lasting. One thing I really like about the bottles is that they are clear, with gradations molded into the glass itself. This means no printed markings to obscure your view into the bottle, nothing to wear off, and no worries about what chemicals or heavy metals may be in the paint. Also, we've never broken one in nearly two years of constant use and cleanings.

Cons

- For those who are terrified of broken glass, well, these will probably break if you drop them on a hard surface.

Our experience

Our daughter used these through many, many cycles, first with the four ounce models and then with these as her appetite grew. She was breastfed and transitioned to pumped milk when mommy went back to work. We also used these for formula on occasion. Our daughter had no issues with the nipples whatsoever, even when breast and bottle both were in the picture. The silicone nipples are vented via a shallow groove at their base - twist the ring on too tight and the venting isn't effective, causing the nipple to collapse; too loose and it will leak. They worked well and baby had no issues with gas or fussiness.

The bottles worked equally well with formula, while on the breast pump apparatus, and moving from the fridge to the bottle warmer. You can tell when they are clean, unlike many - if not most - plastic bottles that are either printed on or colored, and that scratch or cloud over time; When we packed them away after our first child stopped using them, they looked like new! In thousands of feedings and cleanings, we never broke a single one. We'll be using the same ones for our next little one and we wouldn't use anything else. Highly recommended!!

By M. Ross

I was nervous buying non-medela bottles because I wanted to have a seamless fit between the bottle and the pump. These seem like they'll be fantastic for breast milk storage AND they fit the threads on the pump replacement parts. Super price! No chemicals. Easy to boil and disinfect without worrying about melting. I'm one happy momma. (would be nice if evenflo created rubber grips and sold them SEPERATELY intead of only in pre packaged form)

By comparison shoppin' momma

>>See all 274 customer reviews

Review: Born Free 9 oz. BPA-Free Glass Bottle

The Born Free Glass Bottle features patented ActiveFlow Venting Technology that reduces air pressure and vacuum buildup, resulting in reduced gas and colic symptoms. The leak-free vent allows your baby to control the flow of milk, and helps to prevent nipple confusion. Because Born Free provides an experience closer to breastfeeding, your baby can easily switch between breast and bottle-feeding, allowing you to breastfeed longer. The easy-to-use bottles are top rack dishwasher safe, and naturally free from BPA and PVC.

• Natural milk flow for an experience similar to breastfeeding, allows baby to control the flow and helps prevent nipple confusion; Naturally fuss free, clinically designed to reduce colic and gas with the leak-free ActiveFlow venting technology and preferred by moms with colicky babies; Naturally safe, durable bottles are free from BPA and PVC
• Nipples, collars, valves, and sippy cup spouts and handles are interchangeable on all Born Free bottles and transition cups
• Bottle is top-rack dishwasher safe and can be boiled for 5 minutes to sterilize
• Included silicone bottle sleeve protects bottle and provides a no-slip grip
• Bottles available in 5 oz. (includes level 1, slow flow, nipple) or 9 oz. (includes level 2, medium flow, nipple)

Customer Reviews:

These bottles are great! Durable, easy to clean and vented. We love the glass option, no plastic or BPA to deal with, and much nicer for baby, and they hold up very nicely to washing. No fading of the printing, or old scratchy look like you get with plastic bottles. The other reviewer should have looked more carefully at the picture. It clearly shows one silicone sleeve in the picture (and says bonus sleeve, not sleeves....) I do agree, they should include three sleeves with the bottle set or at least sell the sleeves separately so you could have one for each bottle (who wants to remove it with washing!). But considering these bottles used to come without any silicone sleeves at all for the same price, it's still an improvement. As far as I have found, no one sells the sleeves separately, unfortunately. That aside, the bottles are great. For the record, the Dr Brown's wide mouth travel caps fit these bottles with the vent removed, if you want a screw on cap option for storing in the diaper bag (which I do). That leaks less than the little plastic insert and makes it nice for fridge or diaper bag storage. You can also easily convert these into a wonderful sippy cup by adding the green to grow sippy trainer spouts ([...]). It's hard to find non-plastic sippys, and have tried them all, all the different spouts, cups etc. This combo was one of the only ones that didn't leak and actually worked!

Update: The green to grow sippy tops seem to be hard to find these days. The think baby ones also work with these bottles.

By HMRT

I don't care to use plastics because of all the disgusting chemicals that go into them so the born free glass bottles are an amazing option for me.. my breastfed baby takes them pretty easily and I have the replacement trainer spouts so the I can convert them into a sippy cup for my 2 year old.. they have been dropped and thrown across the kitchen floor and are still good as new so its safe to say these are pretty durable bottles! I would recomend these as a bottle and sippy to everyone!

By btunny

>>See all 227 customer reviews

Review: Philips AVENT 8 Ounce Natural Glass Bottle

The New Philips AVENT 4 ounce natural glass bottle is the most natural way to bottle feed. The wide, breast shaped nipple promotes natural latch on so you can easily combine breast and bottle feeding and the unique comfort petals provides an extra soft, flexible nipple without nipple collapse. In addition, the anti-colic newborn-flow nipple helps newborns feed comfortably and easily and the ergonomic shape makes it comfortable for parents to hold and easy for small fingers to grasp. Assembly is simple with only a few parts and the wide bottle neck makes filling and cleaning easy. This AVENT Natural bottle is made from glass, a BPA-free material and works with all nipples, rings, and caps from the Natural line .

• Nipple is soft and breast-shaped to promote comfortable latch-on
• Twin valves prevent babies from swallowing air to reduce colic
• Ergonomic bottle is easy for parents and babies to grasp
• Wide neck makes filling and cleaning easier
• BPA-free glass is easy to sterilize

Customer Reviews:

First off I wanted to say how glad I am to see that Avent finally decided to produce a bottle in glass. I am about to have baby number three, and I loved Avent bottles with my other two kids. After my first son was diagnosed with childhood cancer however, I decided that we needed to make some changes for our second son. Maybe this is overkill -- probably it is -- but making a few changes helped me to feel better about the amount of chemicals we were exposing out kids to.

That said, we decided after I quit nursing that we'd devote ourselves to using glass bottles since it was the one thing our son's food would constantly be in contact with. We tried Evenflo, Munchkin, BornFree, and Dr. Brown's glass bottles. The Evenflo and Munchkin bottles would frustrate our son because the nipples constantly collapsed, the BornFree and the Dr. Brown's each had five(!) parts to hand wash (who has time for that when you have two toddlers), and sometimes with the Dr. Brown, no matter how well we cleaned them, we'd occasionally find mold growing on the inner yellow piece, not to mention the venting funnel apparatus was plastic (kind of defeating my avoiding plastics purpose there). I had a few Avent bottles that I loved and would occasionally use when I would get so frustrated with the glass, but then I would feel guilty for using the plastic. I always hoped that they would eventually make them in glass, but they never did while my other two were still bottle feeding.

When I saw that they were finally making a glass Avent bottle, I excitedly pre-ordered one for our newest addition. I got only one four-ounce bottle because I was afraid it wouldn't live up to my long awaited expectations. I'm pleased to say that upon initial inspection it's everything I hoped it would be. It's three simple parts, and most importantly, the nipple itself is vented so that it won't collapse during feeding. In comparison to the current Avent polypropylene bottles, it stands the same exact height, but the bottle itself is wider by at least a good centimeter. It has a more pronounced curve and is obviously wider to accommodate the thicker glass. The glass itself is substantial enough that I don't worry about breakage, however it does add some weight to the bottle. I guess it's about as thick as a canning jar, maybe a little bit thicker actually. The lip on the inside of the mouth of the bottle has been somewhat rounded and I appreciate that little detail because on some bottles it's almost sharp to the touch when washing.

The nipples on this the new "natural" line have been changed. The inside of the nipple no longer has two lips (which I think was how they originally achieved nipple only venting), and you no longer have to insert the external ring to keep the bottle from leaking (classic polypropylene version only). I tried to interchange the nipple from the four ounce classic polypropylene bottle to the new natural bottle and it doesn't fit. The older nipples are now about 5mms smaller, therefore they just fall out of the new ring. It appears that the mouths of the bottles are still the same size, so you might be able to put both rings on both bottles if you have the correct nipple in the correct ring and switched only the body. I will say though, that when I tried to switch the two, I would occasionally get leakage from the older bottle/new nipple combination. The instructions that came with the bottle state "only use Philips Avent Natural nipples with Philips Avent Natural feeding bottles" and "do not mix classic bottle parts and nipples with parts of the Natural bottle, they may not fit and could cause leakage."

When filled with liquid, I've tried every thing I can think of to try to make it leak, but it doesn't leak at all. This bottle came with a stage 1 nipple for newborn up and when held upside downward it doesn't drip liquid at all. For comparison, I have a brand new classic Avent polypropylene bottle with stage 1 nipple that I just tested and it dripped considerably when held upside down.

The only reservation I have at all about this bottle is that the measuring marks on the side of the bottle are painted on to the glass. I would have liked the markings to have been molded into the glass like the Evenflo bottles are. From past experience with painted on measurements (BornFree glass), they usually will wash away over time. I don't know if this will be the case with these bottles as only time and frequent washing will tell, but my suspicions are that they will.

As a side note, the instructions bring up the point that these bottles may not fit in a standard warmer. As well, they make special note to say that if you are using an older Avent sterilizer, you need to go to their website and get special instructions on how to place new Natural bottles. Another point they mention is that the glass bottles are only compatible with Avent breast pumps and sealing discs, but for safety reasons, not for use with the trainer spouts and handles.

Overall I really like these, and I have already ordered more. When our newest addition arrives in a few weeks, I will update more with extended user experience.

By LifeWithThreeBoys

I love and an am avid use of the Philips Avent Natural Line for so many reasons. 1) High quality materials/construction. 2) Wide opening is easy to fill and wash. 3) Shape of bottle is ergonomic to hold . 4) No nipple confusion. I was 100% bottle feeding and was able to go back to breast feeding even after 4 months of bottle only. 5) Dramatically helped with baby's reflux problems. 6) Widely available.

I wanted to breastfeed my baby but I had too much milk and the flow from my breasts was too fast. My baby developed reflux and would projectile vomit or scream in pain after every feeding. So I had to pump and feed her with a bottle using the slowest flow nipples. At first I was considering either buying the Como Tomo bottles or the Avent Natural. I went with Avent Natural because it is more widely available. If there was an emergency, I can run to the nearest Rite-Aid, Babies R’ Us, Target…and pick up an Avent bottle. I have never seen Como Tomo in stores, only Amazon so far. So that’s what help me decide on Avent and I’m so glad I did. She's been using these bottles since my milk came in and I realized I could not breast feed.

I started with the glass version of these Avent Natural bottles which are costly at $10 per bottle. I got four of the glass bottles and have been using them 7-8 times a day since I notice my baby had problems with reflux (about 4 months now). The special venting nipples have helped so much with the reflux. Baby still spits up but not anything like before. Now it's just a little bit of dribbling.

Now that my baby is 4 and half months old and is using the medium flow (no. 3) nipples, I've started to breastfeed her again. I usually do it at night to bond with her since I have to work during the day. She had no problems going from 100% bottle-fed to breast at all. It just happened one night when I was too tired to go to the kitchen to warm up a bottle for her. I decided to see if she would latch and she had no problem latching at all. I was amazed. So now she gets both bottle and breast.

I couldn't be happier with the Avent Natural Bottles. These bottles also are holding up great with repeated washing and steaming in my sterilizer.

I recently purchased the plastic BPA versions of these bottles recently because my baby is getting older and is starting to want to hold her own bottle. These glass ones are way too heavy for her to hold. The plastic ones are just as great and very light weight. I was afraid plastic would melt or warp when I steamed them. But they have not at all. I've even boiled the bottles when I was at my parents’ house and couldn't use my sterilizer. They came out fine. Also, the collar, nipples, and lids are all interchangeable between the glass and plastic bottles. I highly recommend these bottles--glass or plastic. I have given them to friends whose babies have reflux, too. I highly recommend to others and would use again for my future children.

By molu

>>See all 215 customer reviews

Bottles Good for the Environment and Your Baby

I was recently invited to a baby shower and the mother-to-be specifically requested eco-friendly, green baby products on her invitation. I thought to myself that this is a unique request, but then when I began searching online for green baby products I was surprised at how many eco-friendly baby products are available. I chose to purchase her eco-friendly baby bottles. My favorite eco-friendly baby bottles are below. I hope these inspire you to do something great for the environment but even more, something spectacular for your baby.

New Born Mom has several eco-friendly baby bottles but the Green to Grow™ wide-neck 10 oz. bottles are very useful for new moms. They do not contain any phthalates or bisphenol-A, are durable and cute. You can request eco-friendly gift-wrap and ship directly to the mother-to-be if you are out of town.

With the concern that many new moms have over plastic baby bottles, glass baby bottles are becoming more and more popular again. However, I was always concerned with dropping glass bottles and they were forever bumping together in the diaper bag. Now Lifefactory has introduced the wee∙go™ bottle featuring a silicone sleeve to protect the bottle from breaking. The sleeves are non-toxic and are dishwasher safe. Most of all - moms will love the great colors and they are cute!

Top 5 baby pacifiers for birth to 3 months

1. Philips AVENT Soothie Pacifier, 0-3 Months, 2-Pack, Pink/Purple

The Philips AVENT Soothie Pacifier helps calm and soothe newborns. Designed for babies from birth to three months, the Soothie Pacifier is made of hospital-grade, BPA-free and latex-free silicone for strength, comfort, and durability. Its one-piece construction is specially sized and shaped for a newborn's mouth and adheres to the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines.

Philips AVENT Soothie Pacifier, 0-3 Months, 2-Pack, Pink/Purple Review

2. WubbaNub Giraffe

Fall in love with the WubbaNub™ Giraffe. Soft and cuddly, it's unique style allows pacifier to remain close and will easily position to baby.

WubbaNub Giraffe Review

3. Mary Meyer Wubbanub Plush Pacifier, Cutsie Caterpillar

Get the security of Wubbanub, the experts in safe, birthing center approved pacifier toys, with comfort and cuteness of Mary Meyer. Exclusive Mary Meyer designs that coordinate with the rest of the Mary Meyer infant collection are combined with the patented design of WubbaNub. WubbaNub pioneered the way to a soft and cuddly pacifier that not only won't get lost, it will be loved. Made from latex-free, medical grade silicone. BPA and phthalate free. No pacifier cords or clips. All Wubbanubs are completely safety tested at independent testing facilities and meet or exceed all applicable safety standards as set forth by the regulatory bodies in the United States.

Mary Meyer Wubbanub Plush Pacifier, Cutsie Caterpillar Review

4. Philips Avent Soothie Pacifier, 0-3 Months, Pink/Purple - 6 Pack

Soothie is premium pacifier designed for newborns and babies without teeth who are successfully bottle or breastfeeding a. Its one-piece construction adheres to the American Academy of Pediactric guidelines. Over 2,000 hospitals nationwide give newborns the Soothie pacifier.

Philips Avent Soothie Pacifier, 0-3 Months, Pink/Purple - 6 Pack Review

5. JollyPop 0-3 Months Pacifier 6 Pack Unscented - Orange

JollyPop Pacifiers comply with US Consumer Product Safety Commission standards for pacifiers. 0-3 Month Size: for newborn babies without teeth. Loop shaped handle with nubs. JollyPop Pacfier is not a teether. Replace after 2 months of use. TO CLEAN: Wash regularly in in hot water with mild detergent; rinse before use. Safe methods to sanitize: Place in boiling water for two minutes. Let cool before use. Place in top rack of home dishwasher or home sterilizer.

JollyPop 0-3 Months Pacifier 6 Pack Unscented - Orange Review

JollyPop 0-3 Months Pacifier 6 Pack Unscented - Orange Review

JollyPop 0-3 Months Pacifier 6 Pack Unscented - Orange

JollyPop Pacifiers comply with US Consumer Product Safety Commission standards for pacifiers. 0-3 Month Size: for newborn babies without teeth. Loop shaped handle with nubs. JollyPop Pacfier is not a teether. Replace after 2 months of use. TO CLEAN: Wash regularly in in hot water with mild detergent; rinse before use. Safe methods to sanitize: Place in boiling water for two minutes. Let cool before use. Place in top rack of home dishwasher or home sterilizer.

• Natural shape, textured nipple babies love; Easy-to-hold loop shaped handle with teething nubs
• Soft & flexible - no hard inner guard; Comfortable, curved shape fits baby's face
• Safe 100% silicone - won't crack, break or peel
• Two-tone baby bright colors
• Phthalate-free, latex-free, BPA-free, DEHP-free; This includes: 6 0-3 Months Pacifiers - Unscented, Sealed in a polybag

Customer Reviews:

First- similarities: The nipples are the same size in 0-3 months.

Differences:

JollyPop silicone is medical grade so it has a matte finish vs. GunDrops shiny finish.

JollyPop does not have the hard plastic piece used as a form like the GumDrop, making the JollyPop much lighter and flexible.

The little nub on the back of the JollyPop is larger and has teething nubs vs. the GumDrop is a smaller nub.

All in all I prefer the JollyPop to the GumDrop because of the medical grade silicone, the packaging of the JollyPop's and the JollyPop is lighter so when my daughter falls asleep it doesn't immediately fall out of her mouth.

By L. Long

I used the Hawaii Medical Gum Drop pacifiers with my son and really liked them. So, with my second child, I went looking for them. I found the ones they sold on stores were not the same. This is the next generation. I like the one piece design that is recommended by pediatrician sand the high quality materials. They are made in the U.S. compared to China with the new Gum Drop pacifiers.

By Candice

These are, hands down, the best pacifiers on the market. We've used the vanilla scented and plain and both work amazingly! Baby tried several other pacifiers and they were all a fail. After doing a little research I decided to give these a try. Baby is now 6 months and still using these. I especially like that there is the cutout for baby's nose. I recommend these to everyone.

By bcard

> See all 9 customer reviews

Philips Avent Soothie Pacifier, 0-3 Months, Pink/Purple - 6 Pack Review

Philips Avent Soothie Pacifier, 0-3 Months, Pink/Purple - 6 Pack

Soothie is premium pacifier designed for newborns and babies without teeth who are successfully bottle or breastfeeding a. Its one-piece construction adheres to the American Academy of Pediactric guidelines. Over 2,000 hospitals nationwide give newborns the Soothie pacifier.

• Sized and shaped for baby's mouth
• Latex-free
• Hospital-grade silicone
• Durable, one-piece construction

Customer Reviews:

So closely resemble a nipple and I believe easier to wean than other pacifiers. The only downside is that they bounce when they fall so they are always bouncing under furniture or other areas of the house so a six pack is definitely a necessity. You always find them eventual but they like to disappear.

By N. Johnson 

These pacifiers are very similar to the ones provided in the hospital NICU. (In fact, we have been in two different hospitals and both NICU's utilized this brand of pacifier). The only difference is that the hospital versions were vanilla scented and these are completely unscented. Our baby seemed to prefer the vanilla scented when they were new, but of course that wears off quickly after a couple of cleanings or a sterilization. Our baby spent a couple of months in the NICU, so it was important to find a product similar to what the hospital had been providing. The hospital versions were all green in color, so the blue made it easy which ones we had brought home and which were brand new. Overall, these have been a suitable replacement for the hospital versions. Also, these things do bounce like a super ball, so they will disappear under furniture, out the window, on the roof, etc. (I have seen week old preemies magically send these things flying into orbit down hospital corridors). So you will definitely need a few of these in reserve.

By Gravity's Gone

no hard shield, soothing for baby to suck. One piece so it can't come apart. Base is very nice for teething babies to chew. Doesn't leave marks on baby's face when sucking or if they fall asleep on it. Easy to sterilize.

By K. J. Brasda

>See all 61 customer reviews

Mary Meyer Wubbanub Plush Pacifier, Cutsie Caterpillar Review

Mary Meyer Wubbanub Plush Pacifier, Cutsie Caterpillar

Get the security of Wubbanub, the experts in safe, birthing center approved pacifier toys, with comfort and cuteness of Mary Meyer. Exclusive Mary Meyer designs that coordinate with the rest of the Mary Meyer infant collection are combined with the patented design of WubbaNub. WubbaNub pioneered the way to a soft and cuddly pacifier that not only won't get lost, it will be loved. Made from latex-free, medical grade silicone. BPA and phthalate free. No pacifier cords or clips. All Wubbanubs are completely safety tested at independent testing facilities and meet or exceed all applicable safety standards as set forth by the regulatory bodies in the United States.

• 100% Polyester
• Imported
• Wubbanub pacifier with attached Cutsie Caterpillar plush holder
• Super soft, 6-inch plush paci-and-holder all in one, reduce the chnace of losing your baby's pacifier
• BPA and phthalate free, and made from latex free, medical grade silicone
• Created to make it easy for baby to hold on to
• Lasting value you expect from a family owned company that's been making toys since 1933

Customer Reviews:

As first time parents, we were not aware of the wonders of "the pacifier". After getting the soothie brand at the hospital, we decided to stick with those. Unfortunately though, the pacifier would constantly fall out of our baby's mouth, and as a new parent, there are a lot of things that one needs to do without sitting there replacing the pacifier every two minutes. Here is where the Wubbanub comes in...Since the doll holds the pacifier and it rests on the baby's chest, there is no more need to keep on putting the pacifier in the baby's mouth. The only con is that the pacifier cannot be removed from the doll, so it makes it difficult to get it as clean as I would like, but besides that, we love it and bought a few different kinds!

Update: We bought the princess and the doggy wubbanub. By far, we like the princess one more. Our daughter LOVES to now hold onto the silky part of the princess's dress. Also, it stays on her chest much better than the doggy one. The doggy one tends to slide off and then the pacifier falls out of her mouth. Just an FYI!

Update 2: Baby #2 has come, so we have bought more Wubs, as we fondly call them. This go around we used the princess (which we love), the yellow duck and the red dog. The red dog is like the previously mentioned one where it slides off her chest, but the yellow duck stays put. Plus, baby loves the bright yellow color.

By KMF200

Wubbanubs are super cute and cuddly. My daughter has used them since birth and she doesn't know any other pacifier. By age 2 her teeth are still perfect and i don't see any indication at this point any teeth being crooked or anything like that. The pacifier is soft and a good quality, nothing your baby would chew and swallow.

Would recommend to all new mommy's and daddy's and grandmas too!

Ive seen ugly red marks on my friends babies faces from using other pacifiers..They are hard plastic so of course they do!!!!

Especially when they have been sucking on them all night!!!

Long lasting.. My daughter still has two she's had since birth and the nipple is still thick and perfect...

Great for teething

Helps baby find her paci easy!!

By Jillian Archer

>

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WubbaNub Giraffe Reviews

 WubbaNub Giraffe

Fall in love with the WubbaNub™ Giraffe. Soft and cuddly, it's unique style allows pacifier to remain close and will easily position to baby.

• Distributed in hospitals, NICU and well-baby units nationwide
• Made wth a Soothie™ medical grade, latex free pacifier
• BPA, PVC and Phthalate Free
• The durable one-piece construction means no germs hiding between cracks so the pacifier stays cleaner.
• WubbaNub™ functions as one! Patented design prevents pacifier from being lost, dropped or even forgotten!
• Carefully calculated weight and size of plush animal keeps the WubbaNub™ near baby's mouth, whether lying on side or back, the car seat, sling or stroller.
• Plush animal makes it easy for baby to grasp and manipulate the pacifier.
• Easy to clean: place in washing machine with baby's laundry, gentle cycle in mesh laundry bag. Allow to air dry.

Customer Reviews:

We actually got two wubbanub's as gifts and ended up purchasing another because they are so great! All wubbanub animals aren't equal. The turtle is great for when your little one is lying/sitting fairly still since it can lay flat on their chest. We also have an elephant and a giraffe. We have the elephant in the crib since you can make it 'stand' for when she lies onber side, makeing it the perfect height (upside down worked best when very small). The giraffe as you would imagine has a long skinny neck so it flops around more. Great for when they can wrap their arms or hands around it to hold it in, but bad when they move their head alot as it tends to get flung or stuck under their head.

By Stephanie K. Maugham

Two kids later and we are still big believers in the wubbanub. Tuck the arms into carseat straps to keep from "i lost my binky" screaming fits in the car. Swaddle the animal in with baby to keep from waking over and over from a lost pacifier. And baby loves to hold and grasp at the animal, so they learn to get binky back into their own mouth much sooner. Our older son is still very attached to the monkey from his wubbanub, long after giving up the binky. The giraffe is our favorite wubbanub animal by far too - gets so many compliments oh how adorable it is. We recommend wubbanub to everyone who comments on it.

Do yourself a favor though and buy at least TWO from the get go, both the same style. Rotate them regularly so they both get the same wear to them. Over time our kids became very attached to their wubbanub, and if anything had happened to it man we would be in a jam! By purchasing two and rotating them regularly you ensure a backup wubbanub friend that smells and feels the way they have come to expect. It becomes a treasured lovie very quickly, so cover your bases and avoid a wubbanub crisis. :)

By Stephanie Tait 

>See all 625 customer reviews

Philips AVENT Soothie Pacifier, 0-3 Months, 2-Pack, Pink/Purple Reivew

 Philips AVENT Soothie Pacifier, 0-3 Months, 2-Pack, Pink/Purple

The Philips AVENT Soothie Pacifier helps calm and soothe newborns. Designed for babies from birth to three months, the Soothie Pacifier is made of hospital-grade, BPA-free and latex-free silicone for strength, comfort, and durability. Its one-piece construction is specially sized and shaped for a newborn's mouth and adheres to the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines.

• Sized and shaped for baby's mouth
• Latex-free
• Hospital-grade silicone
• Durable, one-piece construction
• Packaging may vary

Customer Reviews:

I ordered this pacifier to use while my baby is in her car seat and swing. While she usually falls asleep after a few minutes of driving she doesn't like being in her car seat and gets really upset. The only thing that soothes her is letting her suck on my pinky but this won't work once Daddy goes back to work and I have to drive when we go out. I was reluctant to give her a pacifier since she is exclusively breastfed and I have heard pacifiers can create problems with latching. So far we have had no problems with her latch and she is calmed by this pacifier in the car or swing. Once she gets a good latch on it, which takes about 30 seconds of holding it for her, she is able to keep it in her mouth until she falls asleep. I don't plan to use this long-term. I know every infant is different but we have had success with this pacifier so far. Please keep in mind I only give it to her when she has a full tummy and needs to suck on something to fall asleep in her swing or car seat.

By Melissa A. Gonzalez

When my little one was discharged from her stay in the NICU, the NICU nurses threw together a bag for us with all kinds of stuff from their shelves. Included was about 30 of these. I think I'm good to go on pacifiers for the rest of her infanthood.

These little guys are great! We got several other brands of pacifiers at our baby shower, and my daughter rejects anything but these. She's not a huge fan of pacifiers in general, and only wants to take one when she is super, super fussy, or crying while she's waiting to eat. The Soothies are big enough and bold enough in color to find in the middle of the night in the crib, too, which is an extra bonus. They're also really easy to keep clean. I throw mine in the dishwasher. You can also stick your pinky finger in the little hole on the nipple part, and that really seems to be something my daughter likes a lot.

With all that said, the best part of all isn't advertised. These pacifiers are translucent, so when you put it in your baby's mouth, you can see the sucking action. It looks a bit like a lamprey, really. It's absolutely absurd and adorable. I never thought I'd find amusement in watching my kid suck on a pacifier, but it's strangely fascinating, and my husband and I both laugh at it every time. She's our little lamprey.

By Jennifer Cammorato

>See all 843 customer reviews

How to buy the perfect baby bottles

How to buy the perfect baby bottles, how to Choose the Perfect Baby Bottles.


Whether you're expecting or you've just welcomed that tiny bundle of joy, you're already attuned to the decisions a new parent is faced with. Some of those choices are huge, life altering even. Will I work or stay at home? If I do work, who is going to care for my baby? Who should my baby's doctor be? Other choices, though still important, just aren't as major. Which pattern for the nursery? Which outfit should baby go home in? And then there are those that fall right in the middle. Items like diapers, strollers, car seats, and baby bottles often land in that "just-point-and-pick-one" category. It's great to have options but for a new parent standing in the baby isle for the first time, it can be overwhelming.

A newborn has to eat, and the options are breast, bottle, or a combination of the two. When it comes to baby bottles, there are a myriad of choices regarding size, shape and feel of the nipple as well as the bottle itself. When this is combined with different vents and valves, all claiming to "keep baby's tummy happy," you'll need to make a spreadsheet just to keep up!

Based on valid concern of synthetic estrogen-mimicking chemicals in plastic, the options are quite varied when it comes to the materials in baby bottles. Is it really enough that most bottles on the market these days are BPA-free? (Read our related article, Are Plastics Safe for Baby Bottles and Sippy Cups?, for the full story.) Should you spend more and err on the side of an inert, safer material like glass?

We've assessed and weighed these many options for you. Read on to find out what you should be looking for in a baby bottle.

Leakage

Or more importantly, lack thereof. First of all, it's OK to cry over spilled milk! You work hard for that milk, whether pumping or mixing, it's a drag to watch it go to waste, especially due to a bottle malfunction. A bottle that's easy to assemble quickly or drowsily…in the dark…with a squirmy baby in hand (yes this will happen!) AND present a leak-free feeding experience is key. A new parent has enough to worry about besides making sure the bottle is put together properly, and once it is, having to watch for leaks. Usually, the more pieces (as in vents and valves) a bottle has, the more susceptible it is to leakage. We recommend starting out with a simple bottle at first like the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature or Lifefactory Glass to see if you can avoid the risk.

Another instance where leaks can be a hassle is on the go. You should be able to toss a full bottle in your diaper bag and be out the door. Most bags have a pocket for bottles specifically, which helps keep them upright, but just in case the bag tips or the bottle gets shoved somewhere else, you still want to be confident you'll end up with a dry bag and a meal for your baby. The best bottles have a travel cap that audibly "snaps" on and comes in contact with the top of the nipple. This "plugs" the nipple hole and should keep milk where it belongs.

To take the mystery out of whether a bottle leaks, you'll see that each bottle we've tested is given a 1-10 rating on leakage, which represents 30% of the bottle's overall score from our tests.

Nipple 

This is the part your baby actually acquires their sustenance from so it's very important to choose a good one! They come in all shapes and sizes but what you're looking for is that baby has a comfortable, solid latch. Baby shouldn't be gagging, smacking or leaking a lot of milk from the corners of their mouth. A nipple with a large base and supple feel will most closely mimic the breast and give baby that preferred latch. Our three highest rating bottles, Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature, Playtex Drop-ins and the Comotomo Natural Feel each have a nipple that meets the criteria, and that doesn't surprise us at all.

Nipple material is also important. Clear silicone is most popular, but you'll also come across bottles that have a latex option. Although softer than silicone, latex breaks down much more quickly which means it needs to be replaced often and should never be subjected to the high heat of a dishwasher. Some babies can also be allergic to it. Our recommendation is to avoid latex if you can.

The flow of the nipple is important as well. Newborn bottles (typically for age 0-3 months) come with a "slow flow" nipple and this can vary greatly between brands. Baby shouldn't be struggling or frustrated trying to get the milk out, nor should they be overwhelmed with a mouth full of milk they can't swallow fast enough.

We rated each bottle 1-10 on nipple quality and performance, representing 25% of the weighting in the overall scores.

Cleaning

A new baby needs to eat at least every 2-4 hours, which means an exclusively bottle-fed baby could be using over 12 bottles a day! Washing bottles every day will become part of your routine, and trust us, you don't want it to be a major part. The bottles we tested all recommend boiling for 5 minutes in a pot of water to sterilize them, then hand washing in warm soapy water. They all claim "top-rack dishwasher safe" as well, but hand washing will extend the life of your bottles and is recommended by manufacturers and experts alike, especially for plastic bottles and parts. Plastic is known to break down after repeated heat cycles of the dishwasher, which can lead to leaching of chemicals into milk or formula.

When it comes to washing bottles, we hold firmly to a "less is more" stance. That is, less parts to wash = more time for you. Many of the special valves and vents require extra time and care to wash due to tiny crevices and holes. Some of the pieces are also very small and/or clear and can easily be swept down the drain with a sink full of soapy water. As we stated regarding leakage, start out simple (Tommee Tippee, Medela BPA-free) to see if you can manage with out the hassle of all those parts.

One final tip: buy a bottle brush and a small brush for cleaning nipples and valves. A good set of bottle brushes makes bottle cleaning faster and more efficient. You'll be using them for years too, since hand washing is also recommended for the sippy cups in your future.

Each bottle tested was given a 1-10 score for ease of cleaning, which represents 20% of overall score.

Overall Ease-of-Use 

Feeding time, whether by breast or bottle, is one of the most tender and special times you'll have with your baby. Nothing should interrupt that, especially hassling with a bottle. A bottle should be easy to wash, assemble and fill, travel well, and most importantly, give baby and you a comfortable, uninterrupted meal.

You'll want to note if the bottle's shape and weight feels good "in-hand". Stainless steel and glass are heavier but probably worth it for the health benefits. Think about washing and filling it. A wider-mouthed bottle is much easier to dump breast milk or powdered formula into without making a mess. The bottle should be durable and have easy to read measures so you know exactly how much baby is getting. It should have a well-fitting travel cap that stays on and keeps milk in when on the go.

Each bottle was rated on ease of use, and that score factored in at 10% weight to the overall score.

Eco-Health 

As we learn more and more about the dangers of some chemicals, especially those found in plastics, we strongly urge caution. Yes, bottles on the market today carry a "BPA-free" label, but we're not confident that it's enough. We suggest you read our article Are Plastics Safe for Baby Bottles and Sippy Cups? to learn more about this important health issue. Glass, an old stand-by, is making a stealthy comeback in the baby bottle world. Three of the bottles we tested were glass and many companies are now producing a glass version of their product. Glass doesn't carry the risk of leaching potentially harmful chemicals into your baby's food, plus it's better for the environment as glass bottles tend to last longer and can be recycled.

There are some downsides to glass such as the fact that it's heavier than plastic and more prone to chip, crack or break. You can purchase special silicone sleeves to reduce this risk and some bottles, like the Lifefactory Glass, even come with one. Glass also heats faster than plastic so use caution and always check temperature before giving it to baby.

Another up-and-coming health conscious option is stainless steel. The Pura Kiki is a stainless steel bottle that made our finalist selection, and then proved itself by becoming the top scoring product. This was largely due to the fact that it is a 100% plastic-free system, negating risk of plastic chemical leaching. We also prefer the stainless steel material over glass because it is lighter, and there is no worry of it chipping, cracking or breaking.

We factored an eco-health rating of each bottle in at 15% weighting for overall scoring, knowing that for some parents this score will be a crucial differentiator, and others may consider it insignificant.

Conclusion

In conclusion we recommend buying just a few, basic bottles at first to see how your baby likes them. Every baby is different and you may need to adjust to their needs. What works for one might not be the go-to for another. That said, we hope that our rating and review process will help you make a smarter choice for you and your baby, saving you time and money.