One of the best ways to nurture and soothe your baby is by breastfeeding, and many parents value the intimacy that nursing offers. However, for many parents who are still breastfeeding, the reality of daily life can mean that breastfeeding is not always an option.

A few of the numerous reasons that might impact your ability to breastfeed your child include returning to work, being unwell, getting some much-needed sleep, or simply wanting to go out with your spouse or friends (self-care, folks!). You may also experience low milk supply and there’s nothing wrong with needing to supplement your feeding with infant formula.

Whether you pump and store milk, or use formula, it’s important that your breastfed baby can also drink from a bottle if you are their primary source of nutrition. To make life easier, this article will help you find the best bottles for breastfed babies. We provide our top ten picks, outline their key features, and list the pros and cons of each, to help you make the best decision.

How To Choose The Best Bottles For Breastfed Babies

It’s important to choose the right bottle for breastfed infants; you can’t just pick up any bottle and expect it to be right for your baby. Breastfed babies are more likely to experience nipple confusion and bottle rejection because they become familiar with the unique shape and feel of their mom’s breasts. You need to consider the following factors when selecting the ideal bottle for your breastfeeding baby to prevent them from rejecting the bottle and to make it easy to transition from bottle to breast, and back again.

Nipple Design

The the design of the nipple is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing the best bottle for your breastfed baby. The nipple should be designed to encourage the same sucking motion, and mouth and tongue position, as provided by your natural breast. A well designed nipple will move and feel like a real breast and encourage your baby to latch on. Look for models made from soft silicone with a wide rounded breast-like mound to closely mimic the natural movement of a real breast.

Flow Rate

Your breasts aren’t exactly milk hoses and your baby needs to work to receive milk when they are nursing from you. The same applies when they are feeding from a bottle. When selecting the best bottle for your breastfed baby, you need to choose one with a flow rate that is consistent with the flow of your own breast, neither too fast nor too sluggish. Generally, a slow flow nipple is suitable for babies from 0 – 3 months, a medium flow nipple is suitable for babies from 3 – 6 months, and a fast flow nipple is designed for infants from 6 – 12 months.

Venting

A vacuum is created when your baby sucks, and your breasts benefit from this as it encourages milk to keep flowing. In contrast, when your baby sucks from a bottle, air bubbles can occur and cause excess air intake resulting in colic, gas or spit-up. All the best bottles for breastfed babies feature vents or valves designed to reduce excess air intake and mimic natural milk flow. This will make bottle feeding a more comfortable and natural experience for your baby and reduce colic and gas.

Ease of Use

A well-designed bottle needs to be easy to assemble, take apart, and clean. All the best bottles for breastfed babies we have picked are dishwasher, microwave, and steam sterilizer safe. In addition to this, all the plastic bottles are BPA, PVC, and phthalate free to prevent harmful chemicals from getting into your little one’s milk. Many of the bottles have wide-mouth designs for easy filling and hand-washing. The easier the bottle is to use, the more comfortable you and your baby will be.

Here are our top 10 best bottles for breastfed babies:

Munchkin Latch Anti-Colic Baby Bottle with Ultra Flexible Breast-like Nipple

3 Pack – 4 Ounce Bottles

Munchin took in the 2015 American Baby’s Best Bottle Selected by Moms award and it’s easy to see why. This three-pack bundle is very affordable and has lots of great features. Three BPA-free 4-ounce bottles are included in the pack, along with three sealing discs, two stage 1 slow flow nipples and one stage 2 medium flow nipple. Pump adaptors, which are available separately, allow the bottles to be attached to a variety of leading brand breast pumps.

The nipple stretches, flexes and pumps just like the breast, making these bottles an excellent choice for breastfed babies. Because the nipple moves with the mouth, a good latch guarantees that your baby is taking in less air with each sip nd reducing colic. The anti-colic valve at the bottom also reduces any gas your baby may experience after feeding.

Since everything in this set is composed of plastic and silicone, it can all be cleaned on the top rack of a dishwasher.

Pros

• Affordable three pack supplied with medium and slow flow nipples.
• Colic is reduced because of the anti-colic valve and latch nipple.

Cons

• Cleaning the anti-colic valve can be challenging.
• To avoid a leaking bottle, you must ensure that everything is assembled precisely.

Playtex Baby Nurser Bottle with Pre-Sterilized Disposable Drop-Ins Liners

3 Pack – 4 Ounce Bottles

These Playtex bottles have a highly ingenious disposable bottle liner system. Just add a liner to the bottle, fill it with milk as usual, and then discard the liner when you’re through. The liners are not only a smart concept for reducing the need for bottle washing and sterilization, but they also act as an anti-colic measure. The bag compresses with the vacuum created when your baby sips, preventing air from entering. To help you start a feeding session as soon as possible, 15 pre-sterilized disposable liners are included and ready to use.

The Naturalatch silicone nipple is designed to be like mom’s breast and encourages proper latching, promotes healthy feeding and allows you to easily switch between breast and bottle, making them a great choice for breastfed babies.

Pros

• Extra cleanliness is ensured via sterilized bottle liner bags.
• Bottles and liners are BPA, PVC and phthalate free.
• Easy one-handed assembly of bottle and liner.

Cons

• You’ll need to be careful to make sure that all the air is squeezed out of the remaining bag before you put it in the bottle if your baby consumes less than the bag can contain.
• The disposable liners are not the most environmentally friendly option.

NUK Simply Natural Baby Bottle

2 Pack – 9 Ounce Bottles

The two 9-ounce nursing bottles in this set offer excellent performance and good value for money. The larger 9-ounce size means you can use the bottles for longer and won’t have to upgrade from smaller bottles to a larger bottle and your baby grows and consumes more.

NUK Simply Natural bottles come with super soft silicone nipples which encourage a comfortable latch and move, flow and feel just like a real breast. These are the ideal bottles for transitioning your breastfed baby between breast and bottle.

The bottles are supplied with stage 2 medium flow nipples containing 6 holes for improved flow which mimic a natural breast. The one-piece anti-colic air system reduces spit-up, gas, and colic. The crystal clear BPA-free bottles are easy to clean and odor and stain-resistant.

Pros

• Larger size bottle reduces the need to upgrade, saving you money in the long run.
• Simple to clean since they include a one-piece integrated anti-colic mechanism.
• Easier to transition from breast to bottle since the milk comes through several holes, just like a genuine breast.
• If your baby doesn’t create a good latch, the milk won’t come out of the bottle reducing air intake.

Cons

• Bottle must be held correctly during feeding because of a little air hole at the tip of the nipple.
• Comes only with stage 2 medium flow nipples, stage 1 slow flow nipples can be purchased separately.

Nanobebe Breastmilk Baby Bottle

3 Pack – 9 Ounce Bottles

These innovative bottles from Nanobebe are truly a break the norm. The shape, which resembles an inverted bowl with a hollowed dome, is unquestionably the most breast-like of any on our list. Your baby will instantly be more comfortable with the bottle’s familiar breast shape, making them an excellent choice for breastfed babies.

The manufacturers claim that the design optimizes heating and cooling in such a way that the vitamins and minerals in the milk are not damaged on their journey from your breast to your baby, which is important if you’re worried about retaining as much of the nutritional content of your pumped milk as possible.

Breast milk can be pumped straight into the bottle, and due to its concave shape, they stack rather well. Additionally, the advanced nipples feature a 360° venting system that lowers the air pressure inside the bottle during feeding, helping to reduce colic. The design is also super easy to clean with no hard-to-reach areas.

Pros

• Milk heats up more quickly because of the unique breast-like design.
• Advanced venting nipples help to reduce colic and reflux.
• The design helps preserve the precious breast milk vitamins and nutrients.

Cons

• Difficult see your baby’s face as you feed because of the large unique shape.
• Difficult to get the last ounce out if bottle isn’t held completely vertical.

Comotomo Baby Bottles for Breastfed Babies

2 Pack – 8 Ounce Bottles

This is one of the best bottles for breastfed babies as it is specially designed to closely mimic breastfeeding and help your baby easily switch from breast to bottle, and back again. The entire bottle is made from soft and squeezable food-grade silicone which is microwave, sterilizer, and dishwasher safe. When you don’t have access to a dishwasher, there is no better option for hand washing as the extremely wide neck allows you to insert your entire hand inside, making it super easy to give it a good scrub.

The soft silicone nipples features a wide mound breast-like design to ensure a comfortable latch for your baby. The anti-colic vents prevent excess air intake and ensure a consistent milk flow to reduce gas, spit-up and colic.

Unlike other bottles, even the base of this bottle is flexible and has a skin-like feel, allowing your baby to hold and squeeze the bottle while feeding, much like your precious little one does with your breast.

Pros

• Made from soft and squeezable silicone with a skin-like feel
• One of the easiest bottles to clean by hand washing.
• Anti-colic nipples to reduce gas.

Cons

• Can be hard to get the cap of with one hand while holding your baby.
• Bottles are not fully transparent making it hard to see how much milk is left in bad lighting.

Lansinoh Baby Bottles for Breastfeeding Babies

3 Pack – 8 Ounce Bottles

These Lansinoh baby bottles get excellent feedback and reviews from parents of breastfed babies who have difficulty getting their newborns to drink from other brands. The nipples are specifically designed to reduce nipple confusion and encourages the same natural sucking action your baby gets from your breast. This ensures comfortable latching and helps maintain a natural breastfeeding experience for your little one.

The ‘NaturalWave’ medium flow silicone nipples reduce air intake and help to eliminate gas associated with colic. The sturdy bottles are BPA and BPS free and come with a cap included to protect the nipples while travelling.

The bottles are dishwasher safe and very easy to clean and assemble. Additionally, many mothers have found that this bottle works with a variety of different brand nipples as well.

Pros

• Excellent value for money
• Reduces nipple confusion and encourages a natural breast-like sucking action
• Anti-colic designed nipple

Cons

• Comes with medium flow nipples which may flow too fast for some babies.

Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Baby Bottles

4 Pack – 9 Ounce Bottles

Tommee Tippee Close to Nature bottles are a real favourite with parents of breastfed babies. The nipple has been meticulously designed by breastfeeding professionals to closely mimic the natural movement and flex of a real breast, with a wide base, flattish contour, and long, natural-looking nipple. 95% of mothers claim that their breastfed babies accepted the nipple, which encourages a natural and comfortable latch.

The ‘Closer to Nature’ nipples are available in are several flow rates (slow, medium and fast) to suit your baby, and the smart anti-colic valve mechanism ensures that once your baby forms a successful latch, they won’t be taking in a lot of air reducing colic.

The unique shape of the Tommee Tippee bottles makes them easy to hold and ideal for little hands. The durable plastic bottles are BPA and phthalate-free and are microwave, dishwasher, and steam sterilizer safe. The bottles are also available in a range of sizes from 5, 9, or 11 ounces.

Pros

• Realistic nipple which mimics the natural movement of a real breast.
• Excellent for infants who have rejected alternative bottle designs.
• Unique shape makes it very easy to hold.

Cons

• If your baby is prone to biting down, the soft nipple can cave in and leak.

Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Baby Bottles for Breastfed Babies

2 Pack – 4 Ounce Bottles

Dr. Brown’s baby bottles are highly rated for being durable and consistently reliable. This wide-necked variant is no exception and provides a feeding experience that is very similar to breastfeeding, making it a great choice for breastfed babies. The bottle is manufactured using BPA-free plastic and the shape is comfortable for both you and your baby to grasp.

The internal venting system, which protrudes into the bottle, reduces air bubbles to prevent colic, gas, and spit-up. The no vacuum design also helps to prevent fluid in the ear and preserves vitamins in the milk which are essential to keep your baby healthy.

The bottle is ideal if you have a baby who exhibits colicky symptoms or is displaying indications of nipple confusion. It is also easily assembled and taken apart, and is dishwasher safe.

Pros

• The milk is completely free of air bubbles thanks to the internal venting mechanism.
• Helps to preserve essential vitamins in the milk.
• Made from high quality BPA-free durable material.

Cons

• Cleaning the inner valve can be a bit challenging.

Philips Avent Natural Glass Baby Bottles

3 Pack – 4 Ounce Bottles

The Philips Avent bottles provide a very natural way to bottle feed your baby thanks to the wide breast-shaped silicone nipple which encourages a natural latch on. This makes it very easy to switch between breastfeeding and bottle feeding making them one of the best bottles for breastfed babies.

These Philips Advent bottles are made from high-quality pharmacy-grade glass which is heat and thermal shock resistant to prevent cracking. The glass design is more sustainable and environmentally friendly than regular plastic bottles and the wide neck opening is ideal for easy filling and cleaning.

These bottles come with a newborn flow nipple but are also compatible with all Philips Advent nipples if you require a different flow rate. The nipples feature an innovative twin valve design for advanced anti-colic prevention.

Pros

• Made from high-quality glass which is more sustainable than plastic.
• Breast-shaped nipple encourages natural latch on.
• Twin valve design for prevention against colic

Cons

• Glass can break if accidently dropped from a height onto a hard floor.
• Plastic threads can wear out easily if overtightened.

Chicco Duo Hybrid Baby Bottles

2 Pack – 5 Ounce Bottles

These Chicco Duo hybrid baby bottles are manufactured in the USA and have won multiple design and innovation awards. They feature a medical grade micro-thin glass inner layer bonded to a plastic outer layer, designed not to shatter, crack or chip. The glass inner layer ensures that your baby’s milk won’t come into contact with plastic and prevent nasty odors or aftertastes.

The Chicco Duo features a skin-textured nipple which helps position your baby’s tongue and lips for a natural latch. The natural breast-like milk flow make it a great choice for breast to bottle feeding. The nipple contains anti-colic vents to reduce gas and provide a comfortable feeding experience for your baby.

The bottles are dishwasher and sterilizer safe and the unique material won’t stain or discolor over time. They come with stage 1 slow flow nipples included, suitable for newborn babies.

Pros

• Innovative hybrid glass inner and plastic outer design.
• Design prevents odors and nasty aftertastes, and won’t stain or discolor.
• Breast-like nipple with anti-colic vents.

Cons

• Inner glass layer is very thin and the bottle feels like plastic, so might not be the best choice if looking for a full glass a bottle.

Final Words

Some breastfed babies may find it difficult to go from breast to bottle, and back again. Choosing the right bottle for your breastfed baby can make this transition much easier. Don’t worry if doesn’t latch onto the first bottle you try. You may need to try out a few different brands and designs to find the one that is ideal for you and your baby’s requirements. We hope this guide helps you find the best bottle for your baby.