Best Bottles of 2022
Whether you’re nursing or using a bottle, feeding your baby is one of the best bonding moments in parenthood.
But choosing a bottle is complicated. There are a ton of different options. Which baby bottle is best? Do you want glass, plastic or silicone? What size bottles should you add to your registry, and how many do you actually need?
The list of questions seems endless, but we’ve got the answers. We’re breaking down all things bottles and sharing the best, most popular picks from parents and experts.
In this article:
- Babylist’s Best Bottle Picks
- Do You Need Bottles?
- How Many Bottles Do I Need?
- What Types of Bottles are There?
- What Are the Best Baby Bottles?
- When Do You Need Bottles?
Do You Need Bottles?
Most families do use bottles. If you feed your baby formula, you’ll need to use bottles. You’ll also need to use them if you plan to return to work within your baby’s first year or will be away from your little one for an extended period of time for another reason and need a way for others to feed your child.
Even if you plan to be home and exclusively breastfeed, you might find that letting other family members feed your baby a bottle of pumped milk is a win-win—they get some time with your little one and you get a breather.
How Many Bottles Do I Need?
You’ll need around six to 12 baby bottles on hand if you’re exclusively bottle feeding. This will allow for having a bottle ready to go whenever you need one (pro tip: hungry babies don’t like to be kept waiting) while you’re washing the others.
If you’ll be using bottles occasionally, three to four is a good number to have on hand.
What Types of Bottles are There?
Bottles are typically made out of one of three materials: glass, plastic or silicone.
Glass Bottles
Glass baby bottles used to be the norm in the decades before plastic and have recently returned to popularity. While it may sound like a bit of a head-scratcher to give your baby something made of glass, the glass used for baby bottles has some unique features that sets it apart from everyday glass. They’re made from tempered glass, a type of glass that’s extra durable and can withstand being banged around and even dropped.
Plastic Bottles
Plastic baby bottles are made out of polypropylene, a hard type of plastic. Plastic bottles are the most common type of baby bottle on the market and the most affordable.
Silicone Bottles
Silicone bottles are the newest types of bottles on the market. They’re made from silicone, a soft, flexible material that’s free from chemicals like BPA, PVC and Phthalate.
Bottle Nipples
Most bottle brands also offer several nipple sizes, each of which provides a different rate of milk flow.
- Newborn and slow flow nipples are designed for newborns and younger babies. They provide a slower flow of milk or formula so baby won’t gulp too much, too fast.
- Faster flow nipples are designed for older babies who have bigger swallows and have better control over a faster flow of liquid.
Bottle Sizes
Most bottles come in two sizes:
- Smaller-sized bottles, usually around four ounces, are geared toward newborns who eat less per feeding than older babies.
- Larger bottles, which hold about eight ounces of breast milk or formula, are for older babies who eat more.
As a benchmark, newborns may eat as little as an ounce or two every meal, while babies around six months old may eat six to eight ounces at a feeding. Some parents choose to buy a few each of smaller and larger bottles, while others buy larger bottles from the start and only fill them up about halfway during baby’s first few months.
What Are the Best Baby Bottles?
There are pluses and minuses to every type of baby bottle on the market. (And there are a lot of them!) It can be exhausting to try to compare every minor detail, so here are some basic pros and cons to keep in mind when you’re trying to decide what type of bottles to add to your baby registry.
Glass bottles:
- Pros: Glass bottles don’t absorb colors or odors like silicone and plastic bottles can. Glass baby bottles are thermal-shock resistant, so they can go from freezing cold to piping hot without breaking. Glass bottles can go right into the dishwasher without the fear of chemical leaching and they’re often easier to clean than other types of bottles because they have less parts.
- Cons: Glass bottles are heavy. They’re trickier for you (and for your baby) to hold, and although it’s not super easy to break them, it’s certainly not impossible, either. Glass bottles also tend to be more expensive than other bottle types and there are less options to choose from since they’re not as ubiquitous as plastic baby bottles.
Plastic bottles:
- Pros: There are tons of options to choose from if you’re registering for plastic bottles, and plastic bottles are also the most affordable types of bottles on the market. Plastic bottles are lightweight, won’t break when dropped and are easy for you and your baby to hold.
- Cons: The initial concern over plastic baby bottles was because of bisphenol A, commonly called BPA, an industrial chemical used to make certain plastic that potentially causes negative health effects. The FDA banned BPA from all sippy cups and baby bottles in 2012, but according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the jury’s still out on health and safety concerns around plastics, especially in children and particularly when heated. If you decide to use plastic baby bottles, avoid microwaving them and hand wash dirty bottles instead of putting them in the dishwasher. Many plastic bottles also have a lot of small parts and can be a hassle to clean.
Silicone bottles:
- Pros: Silicone bottles are soft and squishy and most closely resemble a breast; this also makes them easy for you and for your baby to hold. They’re unbreakable and free of many of the chemicals found in plastic bottles. Silicone bottles are dishwasher safe and tend to contain less parts than plastic bottles so they’re easier to clean.
- Cons: Silicone bottles are some of the most expensive and there aren’t a ton of options (although that’s starting to change). And although they don’t contain the same chemicals as plastic bottles, there’s still some concern over leaching at very high temperatures. They can also discolor and absorb odors over time.
You’ll also want to keep in mind that babies can be pretty particular about what type of bottle they like best. Since it’s tough to anticipate what your little one will like (or not), we recommend adding either one brand’s starter kit or a sample box to your registry before going all-in on any particular brand.
When Do You Need Bottles?
You can start using bottles from day one. If you’re breastfeeding, you may choose to wait to introduce a bottle until baby has gotten the hang of nursing, usually between about three and six weeks.
Babies usually use bottles until at least one year old, which is when the AAP says it’s okay to transition your little one from breast milk or formula over to cow’s milk. However, many breastfeeding parents continue to nurse well into the second year and beyond.
How We Chose Our Best Bottles
We asked thousands of real Babylist families about the baby products they love the most and then took the top bottles they shared with us and added our own research and insight. We think you and your little one will love at least one of these bottles too.
Best Baby Bottles for Registry
The Scoop
- Try five popular baby bottles before committing
- Feeding tips included
- Great gift
What Our Experts Say
The Babylist Bottle Box offers a great solution to the feedback we often hear from our community—that new parents tend to register for or buy a whole set of bottles only to realize they aren’t the right fit. This box features five of our most popular bottles and lets baby (and you) try out a variety of bottle shapes and styles before committing to a particular brand. It also makes a great baby shower or new parent gift.
What’s Worth Considering
There’s no glass bottle option included, and you can’t select the nipple sizes.
What Babylist Parents Say
“It is a great way to try a variety of bottles since babies will usually choose the one they want and refuse the rest.” -Shari
Additional Specs
| What’s Included | nanobébé Flexy Silicone Bottle: (5 oz), Comotomo Baby Bottle (5 oz), Dr. Brown’s Options+ Narrow Bottle (4 oz), NUK Simply Natural (5 oz), Olababy (4 oz) |
Best Baby Bottle for Gas
The Scoop
- Helps reduce gas + colic
- Popular parent pick
- Lots of parts to clean
What Our Experts Say
Dr. Brown’s bottles are known for their patented venting system that mimics breastfeeding by preventing air bubbles and reducing burping, gas, spit-up and even colic. This vacuum-free effect also preserves the nutrients in milk and formula. This popular starter set includes a selection of bottles, nipples, caps, and cleaning brushes.
Not into plastic? Dr. Brown’s makes great glass bottles too.
What’s Worth Considering
The venting system means there are more parts to wash and tiny crevices to clean.
What Babylist Parents Say
“The only bottles I’ve found that my son likes and don’t seem to give him extra gas! Lifesaver.” -Allyson M.
Additional Specs
| Available sizes | Plastic: 2 oz, 4 oz, 8 oz; Glass: 5 oz, 9 oz |
| Material | Polypropylene or glass |
Best Bottle for Breastfed Baby
The Scoop
- Recommended by lactation consultants
- Nipple designed to mimic the real thing
- Venting system reduces air intake
What Our Experts Say
With over 50 years of research used to design this bottle, it’s no surprise that the Lansinoh Momma is at the top of the list of best bottles for breastfed babies. The NaturalWave nipple is ergonomically designed to mimic a breast, allowing baby to use the same sucking motion so they’ll be able to transition easily between breast and bottle. There’s a venting system to reduce air intake and a vertical groove on the nipple to prevent collapse. And there are only four pieces, so cleaning won’t take forever.
What’s Worth Considering
This bottle is recommended over and over again by lactation consultants.
Additional Specs
| Available sizes | 5 oz, 8 oz |
| Material | Plastic |
Best Baby Bottle That's Easy to Clean
The Scoop
- Only 3 parts
- No special cleaning brush needed
- Soft and flexible
What Our Experts Say
Real talk: washing baby bottles isn’t a super fun way to pass the time. Comotomo bottles to the rescue! These soft, silicone bottles, designed to mimic a breast, have only three pieces and an extra-wide opening, making cleaning a breeze. (No special brush needed.) There’s also a built-in dual anti-colic vent to help prevent unwanted air intake.
What’s Worth Considering
Due to the flexible shape, the bottle tips over if you’re not careful when filling it. The volume measurements can also be hard to read through the frosted silicone.
What Babylist Parents Say
“Like the wide bottle for easy cleaning, simple design is great! Soft silicone is good for picky bottle babies like my son.” -Danielle P.
Additional Specs
| Available sizes | 5 oz, 8 oz |
| Material | Silicone |
Best Glass Baby Bottle
The Scoop
- Pharmaceutical-grade glass
- Advanced venting system
- Heavy, breakable
What Our Experts Say
This version of this popular bottle line has all of the components parents love about Avent’s plastic bottles—a wide, flexible nipple, an advanced anti-colic system and few parts to clean—in glass instead. The glass is thermal-shock resistant, so it can transition between hot and cold without issue, and the twin-valve design reduces colic and discomfort by venting air into the bottle, not your little one’s stomach.
What’s Worth Considering
Like all glass bottles, these are heavy. There’s also a risk of breakage if dropped since there’s no silicone sleeve protecting the bottle.
What Babylist Parents Say
“My husband and I looked for plastic alternative bottles. These bottles are perfect. Our daughter loves them, it is easy to upgrade nipples, easy to read the markers, and they warm up quickly. We also like the glass as opposed to the silicone since the silicone nipples tend to collapse.” -Angelina
Additional Specs
| Available sizes | 4 oz, 8 oz |
| Material | Glass |
Best Silicone Baby Bottle
The Scoop
- Made from soft, lightweight silicone
- Off-centered nipple promotes upright feeding
- Easy to clean
What Our Experts Say
This popular bottle has a lot going for it. Made from soft silicone, it’s lightweight and easy to hold both for you and your baby. There’s a wide neck for easy cleaning and anti-colic vents to limit air intake. But the best part? An off-centered nipple that mimics the way babies feed from the breast. It promotes upright feeding (the preferred position, especially if you’re bottle-feeding a breastfed baby) and helps baby latch on better.
What’s Worth Considering
The slightly frosted silicone is pretty, but it can be tough to see exactly how much liquid is in the bottle. Some parents complain that it can be tough to get the nipple on securely, as well as that even the slowest-flow nipple is much too fast for young babies. And the bottles can tip over easily.
What Babylist Parents Say
“Best latch! These nipples allowed for a much better latch compared to others we tried (Comotomo, Boon, Tommee Tippee, Nanobebe). I also liked that the bottle itself is more stable than Comotomo.” -Lacey
Additional Specs
| Available sizes | 4 oz, 8 oz |
| Material | Silicone |
Best Baby Bottle for Breastmilk and Formula
The Scoop
- Designed to preserve nutrients in breastmilk and formula
- Heats and cools milk quickly
- Can pump directly into bottle
What Our Experts Say
This one-and-done set comes with two types of bottles perfect for both breastmilk and formula.
Shaped like a breast, the design-forward breastmilk bottles are the perfect mix of form and function. The unique concave shape spreads milk into a thin layer, which promotes quick and even warming and protects the nutrients in breast milk from damage. You can pump directly into the bottle, and they even stack one on top of another for efficient storage.
Interested in trying a more traditional bottle too? This feeding set comes with two of Nanobebe’s other popular bottle option, the Flexy Silicone bottle. This ultra-soft bottle features a triple-vented anti-colic, non-collapsible nipple and is easy to clean with minimal parts. It’s great for formula and for milk and water as your baby gets older.
What’s Worth Considering
Some parents think it’s tough to see baby’s latch due to the Breastmilk bottle’s wide bottom.
What Babylist Parents Say
“My favorite thing about this set is that it comes with 2 types of bottles but they have the same nipple so my baby loves both equally.” -Katy R.
Additional Specs
| Available sizes | 5 oz, 9 oz |
| Material | Polypropylene, Silicone |
Ready to Add Bottles to Your Registry?
With Babylist, you can add any item from any store onto ONE registry. Start your registry today and get a Hello Baby Box full of free (amazing!) goodies.
Best Wide-Neck Baby Bottle
The Scoop
- Wide neck and flexible nipple
- Few parts, easy to clean
- Anti-colic system
What Our Experts Say
Philips Avent Natural bottles feature wide, flexible nipples with a petal design, which prevents nipple collapse and helps promote a natural latch. The bottles have an advanced anti-colic system but only a few parts, making them easy to clean, and the bottle shape is just right for tiny hands to hold. The starter pack comes with five bottles, two sets of nipples, two pacifiers and a bottle brush.
What’s Worth Considering
Parents love the range of nipple flow options, but some find that even the slowest flow comes out too fast.
What Babylist Parents Say
“So simple and easy to use. Easy to clean and my little one loves them. I love that it includes pacifiers too!” -Kelsey
Additional Specs
| Available sizes | 2 oz, 4 oz, 9 oz, 11 oz |
| Material | Polypropylene |
Best Baby Bottle for Pumping Parents
The Scoop
- Helps streamline pumping process
- Easy to clean
- No venting system
What Our Experts Say
Using a Medela pump? The brand’s bottles do triple duty: you pump directly into them, store your milk and then screw on the nipple to use them as a bottle. Better yet, there are no internal parts to connect or clean.
What’s Worth Considering
There’s no venting system, so these bottles are best for babies who don’t have issues with gas buildup.
What Babylist Parents Say
“We tried several different bottles and he loved this one the most. It’s also really convenient for moms that pump because the bottles fit right on the pump.” -Jessica
Additional Specs
| Available sizes | 5 oz, 8 oz |
| Material | Polypropylene |
Best Hybrid Baby Bottle
The Scoop
- Glass insert with plastic exterior
- Won’t stain or discolor
- Breakproof
What Our Experts Say
This first-of-its-kind bottle combines the purity of a glass bottle with the convenience of a plastic one. Since the inside is glass, it’s the only thing your baby’s milk comes in contact with. Meanwhile the plastic outside of the bottle is shatterproof and lightweight. And the whole thing is dishwasher, bottle warmer and sterilizer safe.
What’s Worth Considering
There’s also a starter kit with two 5 oz and two 9 oz bottles, two Stage 1 Slow-Flow Nipples, two Stage 2 Medium-Flow Nipples and two PhysioForma Silicone Orthodontic Pacifiers.
What Babylist Parents Say
“The glass/plastic combo is innovative and lightweight, and gives me peace of mind about what baby’s formula is in contact with.” -Lauren M.
Additional Specs
| Available sizes | 5 oz, 9 oz |
| Material | Invinci-glass inner layer with a premium plastic outer layer |
Best Collapsible Baby Bottle
The Scoop
- Collapsible pouch minimizes air intake
- Easy to assemble and clean
- Silicone
What Our Experts Say
While some bottles have complicated venting systems to minimize air intake, Boon’s Nursh bottles take a simpler approach for a similar result. Nursh bottles feature a silicone pouch that collapses while your baby drinks. This means less air in baby’s tummy which can help reduce gas, colic and overall fussiness. It also means these bottles are really easy to assemble and to clean.
What’s Worth Considering
Some parents say that if the baby breaks the latch on the bottle, air will flow back into the collapsible pouch. These bottles also don’t fit well in certain bottle warmers. Pro tip: try flipping the pouch inside out for a deeper clean.
What Babylist Parents Say
“Super easy to clean. Don’t tip over. We got the bottle sampler box, and these are the ones baby likes the most, and work the best for my husband and me.” -Nicole
Additional Specs
| Available sizes | 4 oz, 8 oz |
| Material | Silicone |
Best Slow Flow Baby Bottle
The Scoop
- Slow flow nipple
- Great for preemies and newborns
- Curvy shape is easy to grip
What Our Experts Say
While a fast-flowing bottle may be fine for an older baby, newborns and younger babies need a nipple with a slower flow to help them pace their sucking and swallowing and allow them to breath during feedings. Tommee Tippee bottles are designed to mimic the shape and movement of a breast. The soft silicone nipple gently flexes during feeding sessions, so baby will be able to latch on naturally and control the flow of milk. (There’s even an extra slow flow nipple option.) The curvy design creates a comfortable grasp for both little ones and parents, and the wide width and minimal parts make cleaning a cinch.
What’s Worth Considering
Liquid can get trapped in the curves as your baby is finishing up the bottle. And if you don’t properly insert the nipple into the lid, leakage can occur.
What Babylist Parents Say
“Love that they are small and wide. Baby loves the nipple. Fits comfortably in your hand.” -C.B.
Additional Specs
| Available sizes | 5 oz, 9 oz |
| Material | Polypropylene |
Best Baby Bottle Gift Set
The Scoop
- Unique design
- Innovative square + round shape
- Stackable for compact storage
What Our Experts Say
This gift box is stylish, beautifully packaged and will put a smile on the face of any new parent. But Hegen bottles have a lot more going for them than just their good looks. These innovative “sqround” (square + round) baby bottles have an off-centered, elongated nipple that mimics the breast and a venting system to help prevent gas and colic. They’re stackable to save space and the no-screw lid is press-to-close and twist-to-open. And they’re made from a unique material that has the advantages of both plastic and glass, meaning you can freeze or heat up milk directly in the bottle.
What’s Worth Considering
The twist and press lid is a really cool and unique feature; it just takes a little practice to get used to. And these bottles are fairly pricey.
Additional Specs
| Available sizes | 4 oz, 8 oz |
| Material | Polyphenylsulfone |
Best Baby Bottle for a Good Latch
The Scoop
- Nipple design promotes strong latch
- Good for breastfed babies
- Tricky to clean
What Our Experts Say
A good latch is key to successful feeding, especially for babies who frequently transition from breast to bottle. The unique accordion-style nipple on Munchkin Latch bottles promotes a strong latch and allows your baby to better control the flow of milk, just like breastfeeding. The nipple even flexes as your baby moves, preventing air ingestion.
What’s Worth Considering
The shape of the bottom (where the anti-colic valve is located) can take a little more work to clean.
What Babylist Parents Say
“Loved everything about this bottle, and this entire brand. We used the pacifier and the transition sippy cup as well. The nipples on the bottle are great, and the bottle was so easy for my baby to hold on his own.” -P.C.
Additional Specs
| Available sizes | 4 oz, 8 oz |
| Material | Polypropylene |
Baby Bottle with Best Nipple
The Scoop
- Flexible nipple with multiple holes
- Wide neck for easy cleaning
- Good value
What Our Experts Say
Nuk’s Simply Natural bottles have a flexible nipple with multiple holes, just like a breast, to help make for an easier transition from breast to bottle. And the wide neck makes inserting a bottle brush for cleaning quick and easy. This set comes with bottles, three different nipple flows and three silicone pacifiers.
What’s Worth Considering
Nuk also has a line of bottles with colorful patterns and adorable designs.
What Babylist Parents Say
“I liked that it was affordable, had a variety of colors/styles and that I could swap different nipples if I needed to.” -M.P.
Additional Specs
| Available sizes | 5 oz, 9 oz |
| Material | Polypropylene |
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