How to Choose Baby Bottles and Nipples - A Practical Guide

Feeding a new baby sounds simple until you stand in front of a wall of baby bottles and baby nipples and realise you have no idea where to start. Standard, wide neck baby bottles, glass vs plastic baby bottles, anti colic bottles with vents, different nipple flow rates... it adds up quickly.

You do not need every gadget on the shelf. You just need a few good, practical choices that fit your baby and your lifestyle.

This guide walks through how to choose baby bottles and nipples in a clear, comparison-style way, without pushing brands or gimmicks.

---

1. Types of baby bottles: which shape suits you?

Most baby bottles fall into a few main categories. The shape affects how easy they are to hold, how well baby latches, and how much air they swallow.

Standard bottles

These are the classic straight bottles you see everywhere.

Pros:

• Usually the cheapest option
• Widely available in supermarkets and pharmacies
• Fit easily into most sterilisers, warmers and nappy-bag pockets
• Lots of compatible baby nipples from different brands

Cons:

• Not always the best for babies who struggle with gas or colic
• Narrow neck can be a bit fiddly to clean with a sponge (a bottle brush fixes this)

Standard bottles are often a good starting point if you want something simple and affordable for a newborn.

Wide neck baby bottles

Wide neck baby bottles have a broader opening and usually a wider, more breast-like teat.

Pros:

• Easier to clean by hand, less chance of milk getting stuck in corners
• The wide teat can feel more familiar for breastfed babies
• Often marketed as the best bottles for newborns who are combining breast and bottle

Cons:

• Take up a bit more space in sterilisers and nappy bags
• Some warmers do not fit very wide bottles well

If you are breastfeeding and want the best nipples for breastfed babies, wide neck bottles are worth a close look.

Angled baby bottles

Angled baby bottles bend part way up the bottle so the teat sits at a slight angle.

Pros:

• Designed to keep the teat full of milk even when baby is not upright
• Can help reduce how much air baby swallows
• Some parents find the shape more comfortable for feeding in a semi-upright position

Cons:

• Cleaning around the bend needs a proper bottle brush
• Not all sterilisers or warmers fit them neatly
• A bit bulkier in your changing bag

If your baby tends to gulp or swallow a lot of air, angled bottles are worth trying as part of your search for the best bottles for colic.

Anti colic bottles with vent systems

Anti colic bottles use special venting systems to reduce air bubbles in the milk.

You will see different designs, for example:

• A tube that runs down the centre of the bottle
• A vented base that lets air in at the bottom
• Teats with built-in vents around the edge

How anti-colic features work

The idea is simple: as baby sucks, air enters through a vent rather than through the teat. That keeps more air out of baby’s tummy and in the bottle instead.

Parents often notice:

• Less burping and wind
• Less back-arching and fussing during feeds
• Sometimes shorter periods of crying in babies with colic-like symptoms

Anti colic bottles can be very helpful, but the extra parts mean:

• More pieces to wash and keep track of
• Assembly that has to be done correctly or the vent leaks

If you are looking for the best anti colic bottles, buy just one or two to see if the venting system actually helps your baby before you commit to a full set.

---

2. Glass vs plastic baby bottles: which material is better?

Both have clear pros and cons. There is no single “best baby bottle” material for every family, only what suits you.

Glass baby bottles

Pros:

• Durable in terms of scratches and clouding
• Do not absorb odours or colours from milk or formula
• Easy to sterilise at high temperatures
• No concerns about plastic chemicals at all

Cons:

• Heavier in the hand and in the nappy bag
• Can break if dropped on a hard floor (most have a silicone sleeve to help)
• Often more expensive per bottle

Glass baby bottles appeal to parents who want a very long-lasting bottle and who are not too worried about weight.

Plastic baby bottles

If you go for plastic, always choose BPA free baby bottles. In the UK and EU, new plastic bottles must be BPA free by law, but it is still sensible to check that the packaging clearly states “BPA free”.

Pros:

• Lightweight and easy for older babies to hold
• Harder to break if dropped
• Usually cheaper and widely available
• Lots of shapes, colours and sizes

Cons:

• Over time, plastic can scratch and look cloudy
• Need replacing periodically, especially if they become worn, discoloured or cracked

A practical approach many UK parents take: use plastic BPA free baby bottles for everyday feeds and maybe keep one or two glass bottles at home for warming breast milk or when someone else is feeding baby.

---

3. Baby nipples: shapes and what they are best for

The teat or nipple affects how baby latches, how much effort feeding takes, and how easily they can switch between breast and bottle.

Traditional round nipples

These are the classic dome-shaped teats.

Pros:

• Simple and usually cheaper
• Available in most supermarkets and chemists
• Fit a wide range of bottle types

Best for:

• Babies who are mostly bottle-fed from early on
• Parents who want a straightforward, inexpensive option

“Natural” or wide nipples for breastfed babies

These have a broader base and a shorter, wider tip designed to mimic the shape of a breast in baby’s mouth.

Pros:

• Often the best nipples for breastfed babies who are switching between breast and bottle
• Wide base encourages a deeper latch which can feel more familiar
• May reduce nipple confusion for some babies

Possible downsides:

• Some babies with a very small mouth can struggle with a very wide base
• Can be more expensive than standard teats

If you are keen to protect breastfeeding, start with a natural-style wide teat and watch baby’s latch carefully.

---

4. Nipple flow rates: slow, medium, fast

You will see flow rates described as:

• Slow / Newborn / Size 0 or 1
• Medium / Size 2
• Fast / Size 3 and up

Each brand labels slightly differently, but the idea is the same: how quickly milk flows through the holes.

General rules of thumb:

• For newborns, use the slowest flow available. This stops milk pouring out too quickly and helps baby coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing.

• Increase to a medium flow only when:

  • feeds suddenly take much longer than usual,
  • baby seems frustrated, pulling on and off the bottle, or
  • they fall asleep from working very hard to get milk.

• Move to fast flow later, often when baby is older and solids have started, but there is no rush.

Signs the flow might be too fast:

• Coughing, spluttering or milk leaking from the corners of the mouth
• Very short feeds where baby seems overwhelmed
• More wind or colic-like symptoms because baby is gulping

When in doubt, stay on the slower side. You can always go up a level. It is much harder to go back once baby gets used to the easier, faster flow.

---

5. Anti-colic features explained properly

You will see a lot of marketing around anti colic bottles and “best bottles for colic”. The reality is a bit mixed.

Anti-colic features often include:

• Vented teats that let air enter the bottle away from the milk
• Internal tubes or straws that direct air to the bottom
• Bases with one-way valves

The goal is to reduce air intake so baby takes in more milk and less air per swallow.

These designs can help with:

• Wind and frequent burping
• Babies who seem to swallow lots of air
• Some cases of colic, especially where gas is a big part of the problem

But if baby’s discomfort is driven by reflux, a cow’s milk protein allergy or something similar, even the “best baby bottles” with fancy vents will not fix the underlying issue.

A realistic approach:

1. Try simple standard or wide neck bottles first.
2. If baby seems very windy or colicky after feeds, test one type of anti colic bottle.
3. Give it a week to see if there is any change before buying more.

---

6. Bottles when you are combining breast and bottle

If you plan to breastfeed and use bottles together, a bit of strategy helps protect your breastfeeding relationship.

Choosing bottles and teats

Parents often have the best results with:

• Wide neck baby bottles with natural-shape teats
• Soft silicone nipples that require baby to create a proper latch
• Slow nipple flow rates so baby still has to work for the milk

These features encourage a sucking pattern closer to breastfeeding rather than easy, fast gulping.

Paced bottle feeding technique

Paced bottle feeding can make a huge difference for mixed-fed babies.

Basic steps:

1. Hold baby more upright, at roughly a 45-degree angle, not flat on their back.
2. Keep the bottle horizontal so milk only partly fills the teat.
3. Let baby draw the teat into their mouth instead of pushing it in.
4. Every minute or so, tip the bottle slightly down to give baby a short pause, like they would get at the breast.
5. Watch baby, not the clock. If they turn away, slow down or pause, follow their lead.

Paced feeding:

• Reduces the chance baby will prefer the faster, easier bottle
• Helps prevent overfeeding
• Supports babies who are still learning to coordinate breathing and swallowing

If you are unsure, many UK health visitors and breastfeeding support groups can show you paced feeding in person.

---

7. Bottle sizes: what you actually need

Bottles are usually sold in two main sizes:

• 120–150 ml (4–5 oz) - best for newborns
• 240–300 ml (8–10 oz) - for older babies with bigger feeds

A sensible plan:

• Start with 4–6 smaller bottles if your baby will be mostly bottle-fed, or 2–3 if you are mainly breastfeeding and using bottles occasionally.
• Add larger bottles once your baby consistently drinks more than about 120–150 ml per feed.

Tiny newborns often waste milk in big bottles because it is harder to judge how much they are actually drinking. Smaller bottles make it easier to prepare the right amount and reduce waste.

---

8. Practical buying tips: avoid wasting money

A lot of parents in the UK say the same thing: “I bought a full set of bottles in one brand, and my baby hated them.”

To avoid that:

• Do not stockpile before baby arrives. Buy 1–2 bottles each of one or two styles you like the look of.
• Expect that your baby may reject some brands. It is not you, it is them. Shape, texture, flow - tiny things matter to tiny humans.
• Once you find something that works, then invest in a few more bottles and matching teats.
• Keep receipts if you buy a couple of types before birth so you can return unopened packs.

If you know other new parents locally, it can be handy to ask what worked for them, not to copy exactly, but to narrow down to a few realistic options.

---

9. Cleaning and sterilising basics

Milk is a perfect growth medium for bacteria, so how you clean bottles is just as important as which ones you buy.

Daily cleaning

After every feed:

1. Rinse bottles, rings and teats in cool water as soon as you can.
2. Wash in hot soapy water or the dishwasher (if your bottles are marked as dishwasher safe).
3. Use:
   • A bottle brush for the inside of the bottle
   • A separate small brush for teats and vent parts

Make sure there is no milk film left on any part, especially inside vents and around screw threads.

Sterilising

For babies under 12 months, the NHS recommends sterilising feeding equipment regularly, especially if you use formula.

Common methods in UK homes:

• Steam steriliser (electric or microwave) - fast and simple, fits most mainstream bottles.
• Boiling - place cleaned bottles and parts in a large pan of water, make sure everything is fully submerged, boil for at least 10 minutes, then air-dry on a clean rack.
• Cold water sterilising solution - tablets or liquid in a special tub, handy if you are short on plug sockets or travel a lot.

Helpful habits:

• Wash your hands before handling sterilised bottles.
• Use sterilised tongs if you can, or let bottles air-dry in the steriliser rather than drying with a tea towel that might carry bacteria.
• Check teats and bottles regularly for cracks, thinning, or stickiness. Replace worn parts promptly.

---

10. Putting it all together: a simple starter plan

If you want something very practical and low-stress, you might:

1. Choose BPA free baby bottles in two styles, for example:

   • 2 standard or wide neck bottles
   • 2 anti colic bottles if you are concerned about wind

2. Pick slow-flow teats for all of them to start with.

3. If you are breastfeeding:

   • Go for wide neck baby bottles with natural-style teats
   • Use paced bottle feeding from the first bottle feed

4. Watch your baby:

   • If feeds are calm and steady, stick with what you have
   • If baby is very gassy or struggling, try a different teat or one anti colic bottle before changing everything

Your baby will have preferences. They all do. Instead of searching for the single perfect, “best baby bottle” on the market, think in terms of trial, observation and small adjustments.

You, your baby and a couple of well-chosen bottles are enough. The rest is practice.

_{This content is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for advice from your doctor, pediatrician or other health care professional. If you have any questions or concerns, you should consult a healthcare professional.
We as the developers of the Erby app disclaim any liability for any decisions you make based on this information, which is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for personal medical advice.}