There’s nothing quite like finding the perfect bottle for baby and watching them guzzle down their milk without so much as a burp break. But making the right bottle choice can be a little bit of trial and error, so knowing what other mums have used and loved really helps.
Baby bottles come in all shapes, sizes and materials – there are bottles designed specifically for babies with colic, teats created to look and feel just like mum’s nipple and bottles made exclusively as an option for breastfed babies.
What to look for when buying a baby bottle
When shopping around for baby bottles, there are lots of factors to take into consideration. Here are some of the key points to keep in mind:
Size: Baby bottles come in a variety of sizes. If you’re exclusively expressing and bottle-feeding it may be worth investing in a range of bottles to use throughout the day. If bub is mix-feeding and is only taking one or two bottles a day, you may only need a few small bottles to see you through.
Shape: All bottles have been designed with babies in mind, but some are more ergonomically suited to smaller hands than others. If bub tends to grab hold of your breast while breastfeeding, consider a silicone baby bottle that mimics the texture of your breast or an hourglass-shaped bottle that’s easy for them to grip and hold.
Teats: Baby bottle teats are constantly evolving. With new technology, there are now baby bottle teats designed to reduce colic, assist with latching difficulties and ease baby’s discomfort when feeding upright.
Materials: Silicone, plastic, glass – the list goes on! When shopping around for baby bottles be sure to check if they are microwave safe for heating breastmilk and if they’re suitable for the dishwasher. It’s the small details like these that make a big difference when used on a daily basis.
11 baby bottles recommended by other mums
To help you find the best baby bottle for your bub we asked the Mum’s Grapevine Facebook community which brands they recommended. In no particular order, here they are:
Dr Browns
Dr Browns Wide Neck Glass Feeding Bottle (from $25)
Made from glass, these bottles have an internal vent system which creates vacuum feeding, so babies aren’t sucking in tiny bubbles. The clever design not only aids digestion but also helps preserve vitamins in the milk too. As baby’s feeding develops, simply remove the vent and continue to use the bottle without.
‘Dr Browns… after struggling with a lot of wind issues we changed to Dr Browns bottles and they have been a godsend! Lil miss now has a lot less wind so is a much happier baby… these bottles are worth every cent!” – Kristy M
“Dr Browns anti-colic for a baby who had pretty bad colic and reflux.” – Kathryn R
Boon
Boon NURSH Silicone Bottles ($34.95)
Suitable for babies 3 months old and up, these vibrant silicone bottles feature a revolutionary design perfect for gas-prone tots. The silicone pouch collapses as bubba drinks, squeezing out all the air that causes colic. With no staws or vents, they’re simple to clean and assemble. Win-win!
“Boon Nursh bottles. I find the milk comes out of these slower compared to other bottles, so my little one can’t guzzle on it and choke as she does with other bottles. Also, love the silicone pouch to squeeze out air.” – Bella H
“Boon Nursh bottles have been amazing for our reflux baby.” – Courtney O
Pigeon
Pigeon SofTouch Wide Neck Bottles ($32.49)
Made from lightweight plastic, the SofTouch baby bottles are paired with wide neck teats that have a textured surface to mimic that of mum’s breast. This not only avoids nipple confusion but assists baby when transitioning between breast and bottle.
“Pigeon wide neck. These had been recommended by the lactation consultant as the bottle to use if we wanted to breastfeed. Baby has taken a bottle from day one and never refused.” – Caity T
“Pigeon wide neck. My little one had feeding issues. High pallet and was on a special needs bottle for the first couple of weeks. This was the only bottle that she was able to drink from. Took to it straight away.” – Amanda N
Tommee Tippee
Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Baby Bottles (from $16)
A favourite with mums transitioning their babies from breast to bottle, the Closer to Nature bottles boast a unique, breast-like shape teat for easy latch on and an ergonomic bottle that’s easy for bub to hold. The range offers three separate teats, all with different flow rates to keep up with your babe as their feeding develops.
“Closer to Nature from Tommee Tippee. All three kids took to them straight away and happily mix fed. No issues with nipple or bottle refusal. The individual formula dispensers that go in the bottle are great too.” – Amanda J
MAM
MAM Anti-Colic Bottles (from $9.99)
Boasting rave reviews from mums Australia wide, the innovative baby bottles from MAM take easy feeding to the next level. Ideal for newborns, there’s a clever valve in the base that ensures babies don’t swallow air while drinking. There’s also a unique self-sterilising function for times when you’re feeding on the go. Brilliant.
“Mam bottles have worked for both my breastfed babies! They never took any other.” – Sarah L
“MAM bottles are amazing! The only bottle our bub would take when transitioning to formula. I also found that the unique breather system helped to reduce the amount of reflux bub was having compared to other bottle brands. Self-sterilising is also a huge plus, especially when out and about or visiting people. Plus the bottle cap is also a measuring cup!” – Leesa R
Medela
Medela Calma Feeding Device & Breastmilk Bottle ($31.95)
Designed specifically for breastfed babies, the Calma bottle and teat allow baby to suck, swallow and breathe just as they would on the breast. Created in cooperation with breastfeeding experts from the University of Western Australia, the Calma teat lets bub drink to their natural rhythm, remaining calm and settled for each feed.
“Using Medela bottle with their Calma teat, my bub is BF 90% of the time & then has a bottle once or twice a day (if that). We’ve used this bottle from about 8weeks with only one bottle a week and never had any issues with her taking it. They are more expensive than other teats but worth every $$ or us.” – Danielle M
“Medela Calma bottles and teats. Loved them with my first, hoping my second will too.” – Ildikó K
Cherub Baby
Cherub Baby Glass Baby Bottles (from $18.99)
More than just good looks, the silicone sleeves on these bottles change colour if the liquid inside is too hot for baby. Made from Borosilicate glass, the baby bottles go from freezer to boiling water with ease and transform into sippy cups and handy storage containers when your babe gets older.
“Cherub Baby! My breastfed baby took to these very well when needed. I feel confident that they don’t impact on our breastfeeding journey because of the design, and love that the whole starter set will continue to grow with us through every stage. We are about to start using it with the sippy attachment…” – Tayla H
“Cherub Baby glass. They are on to their second child and still going strong. Just replaced the teats. My two youngest babies have taken to them while breastfeeding straight up with no fussing… and have continued to breastfeed no worries. I wish I had found these years ago.” – Lauren S
Minbie
Minbie Baby Bottles (from $17.95)
Made from medical-grade PPSU, the baby bottles from Minbie look and feel like glass but without the weight. Designed for years of use and dishwasher cycles, they pair with the revolutionary Minbie teats that have been created to match how newborns want and need to feed on the breast.
“Minbie with a breastmilk fed baby. He has no issues going from bottle to boob and back because the teat is designed to imitate the nipple.” – Jacky C
Haakaa
Haakaa Glass Baby Bottle ($29.90)
From the makers of one of our favourite breast milk catchers comes this ergonomic glass baby bottle. Featuring an off-centre thumb-shaped teat for natural, upright feeding, they aim to mimic the flex and feel of mum’s breast while baby drinks.
“My baby and I love Haakaa bottles. The teat is so soft and moldable plus it has a wide neck and has little nubs on them to create the feel of a breast. I love them because the gen 3 is interchangeable with the Haakaa pump… you can even make the bottles into little containers for baby food later. Great for breastfed babies if the partner wants to help mum with feeding.” – Anna M
Comotomo
Comotomo Baby Bottles (from $26.95)
Boasting two vents to eliminate air intake, the super-soft baby bottles from Comotomo are ideal for mini milk guzzlers. The wide mouth makes the bottle easy to clean and the naturally-shaped nipple helps bub go from breast to bottle with ease.
“Comotomo bottles are amazing for EBF babies… the bottle is soft silicone to mimic a breast. The opening is wide enough to clean with a standard sponge, and the teats have two air release valves.” – Laura G
“Comotomo! I love, love, love these bottles.” – Sashi L
Philips Avent
Philips Avent Natural Baby Bottles (from $11.95)
A great choice for mums switching between feeding their bub’s expressed milk and breastfeeding, the Avent baby bottles are easy for bub to grip and hold while drinking. Complete with ultra-soft, flexible teats and anti-colic valves they’re designed to reduce colic and discomfort for bottle-fed babes.
“Very happy with the Avent Natural Newborn Starter Set! My exclusively formula-fed baby is almost 6 weeks old and we’ve never had a problem or felt any need to try anything else.” – Brittany V
“We use the Phillips Avent Natural bottles. Bub took to them straight away. We have never had an issue with them. I think the natural bottles are a great shape for bub to start holding themselves, and the nipple just feels like pure quality.” – Madison W
This article is curated by our Editors and includes affiliates and/or paid inclusions. See our Disclosure Policy.
Know a brand of baby bottle we should add to our list? Contact us and let us know.
Read next …
Looking for more feeding time essentials? From handy bottle sterilisers to nursing covers and pillows, here are a few articles that you might like to read through next:
- 7 nursing covers for new mums
- 12 bottle sterilisers for every budget
- 6 nursing pillows for ultimate feeding comfort
Continue your search for the best baby bottle
Looking for a brand of baby bottle and still not sure if any of these are right for you? Search online by jumping into one of our closed Baby groups and ask thousands of other Australian mums what they recommend – ‘What to buy’ is the most talked-about topic.
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