It’s an important but potentially difficult decision when it comes to picking a particular brand of bottles for your newborn baby. There is so much on offer and they come in all different shapes, sizes and usually claims, stating each is the best on the market. With this guide to the best anti colic bottles of 2021, you’re in good hands.
If you don’t have time to read the full guide here then I’ve summarised the results in a handy little table below. You can read the reviews by scrolling further down the page or clicking the product name in the table.
How to Choose the Best Anti Colic Bottles for Your Baby?
So how do you decide? There are a lot of baby bottle reviews out there but you’ll find that people often only review products when they have something negative to say. That’s not to say that all reviews are negative but you will find some damning evidence from one review, only to find 10 others claiming that they are the best anti colic bottles available!
All anti colic bottles listed here are BPA free. BPA stands for “bisphenol A” which is an industrial chemical used in the manufacture of some plastics and resins. There is some evidence that shows that BPA can transfer into food or beverages from plastic containers made with BPA. Concerns have be raised because exposure to BPA can cause possible health issues for the brain, behaviour and prostate gland of fetuses, and children. It is for these reasons that most baby bottles are now made without BPA.
5 Best Anti Colic Bottles on the Market
Now we have that covered off, onto the best anti colic bottle reviews! Here I’ll take you through my review of the top 5 anti colic bottles available in 2021. I’ve done this in the hope that you’ll find this somewhat more useful than trawling the web of review upon review whilst trying to make up your own mind.
#1 Dr Brown’s Natural Flow Bottles
If you are looking for a baby bottle for your newborn that is clinically proven to reduce wind related colic then Dr Brown’s Natural Flow is the best answer. It has a patented internal vent that eliminated the vacuum and air bubbles in the feed, thus reducing wind related colic.
The Teat. The teat that comes with the Dr Brown’s bottles is more of a traditional shape and similar to that of the Philip Avent Classic Bottles featured later on in this article. The teat forms part of the air flow system in that the air is allowed to enter through the teat collar without being incorporated into the milk itself.
The Bottle Shape & Design. The design of the bottle and more importantly the air flow system within, is what makes these bottles so good. The patented design of the Dr Brown’s Natural Flow is proven to reduce colic in babies and is recommended by 9 out of 10 health professionals. It’s for this reason that so many parents choose these bottles over any others.
The bottle itself is more cylindrical that the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottles but contains more parts (6) than any of the other bottles featured in this article. This does make cleaning and using the Dr Brown’s bottles more fiddly than the others but the benefits outweigh this if you’re looking for a proven anti-colic bottle.
Some parents report that these bottles are renowned for leaking, however, I found that as long as you’re not shaking the bottle with very hot water then it tends to be fine. If you do notice leaking just ensure that all parts are firmly in place as this is more likely to be the cause.
It’s also worth noting that the bottle capacity is 240ml (8oz ) which is less than all of the other bottles that appear in the list. Due to this, when your little one has larger feeds as they get older, the bottle does get rather full which you may find a little on the annoying side.
The Verdict. Whilst the price may put many parents off, there is no better anti colic bottle on the market in 2021 and due to the patented design, that is unlikely to change any time soon. The capacity shouldn’t cause too many problems and as I’ve mentioned before, if you want anti colic bottles then it’s something you can live with in exchange for the benefits the bottles bring. The Dr Brown’s Natural Flow Bottles are my BEST ANTI COLIC BOTTLES recommendation for 2021.
#2 Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottles
The Tommee Tippee brand is the most popular and well know in the UK and their Closer to Nature Bottles are, in my opinion, the best baby bottles on the market today.
The Teat. The teats have been developed with mums and breastfeeding experts to ensure that the bottle feeding experience for your baby is as close to breast feeding as possible. The teats are a soft silicone, almost skin like in texture and so gently flexes whilst your baby is feeding. All of this has really made these the ideal teats for newborns.
Also contained within the teat is an Easi-Vent valve which essentially lets the air out as your baby feeds. This is there to ensure that your baby takes in more milk and less air, thus resulting in less wind during a feed and a reduced chance of colic in baby too.
The Bottle Shape & Design. The shape of the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottles gives the most natural and comfortable holding position of the 5 products being reviewed in this article. I felt that it really contributed to making the whole experience all the more enjoyable.
The cap that holds the teat is designed to act as a seal (with the help of the teat) and it does an amazing job. I never had an instance of spilling milk whilst using these bottles. The overall design is a simplistic one in that there are no unnecessary parts. This makes cleaning and general use really easy. The bottles & teats are also microwave & dishwasher safe.
The Verdict. It’s really difficult to come up with anything bad to say about these bottles. They’re very well made, babies love them, parents love how easy they are to clean and use, the brand is the most trusted in the UK and the price is best of all of the bottles reviewed. I really cannot fault them at all! The Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottles are my BEST BUDGET ANTI COLIC BOTTLES recommendation.
#3 Philips AVENT Classic+ Bottles
The AVENT range of bottles around have been a staple of the UK baby bottles market for some time and were acquired by the well-known Philips brand in late 2006. Now know as Philips AVENT the company’s Classic+ Bottles are a welcome addition to the anti colic market and are a worthy inclusion to this list.
The Teat. The teat itself is what you might call a standard shape and similar to that of the Dr Brown’s Natural Flow bottles shown above. This teat boasts an enhanced valve that opens to allow air into the bottle instead of your baby’s tummy. Philips AVENT Classic+ Bottles have been clinically proven to have an effective anti colic system and are a close 2nd to the Dr Brown’s offering.
The Bottle Shape & Design. The shape of the bottle is very basic, no curves for comfort when holding but the low number of parts (4) does make the bottles easy to assemble and clean. The design has been focused on preventing leakage whilst feeding for a more enjoyable feeding experience. This is helped in no small part by the thicker rim of the teat, ensuring a firm seal around the top of the bottle. The bottle capacity is more in line with the standard available at 260ml (9oz) so perfectly suitable and more than enough in most cases.
The Verdict. The offering from Philips AVENT is a solid all-rounder. Great price, effective anti colic system and a solid bottle capacity it really is a good bottle. If you want to avoid Tommee Tippee for whatever reason but don’t want the expense of the Dr Brown’s Natural Flow bottles then you won’t regret opting for the Classic+ Bottles.
#4 MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic Bottles
MAM have been around for longer than most people think (around 30 years) but were more renowned for their baby soothers than bottles. However, since entering the market with a self-sterilising anti colic bottle, they have gone from strength to strength.
The Teat. The shape is fairly traditional but boasts the MAM Silk Teat which, MAM claim, is accepted by 94% of babies. The shape is closely aligned to the feeling of breastfeeding for your baby and the teat is ultra soft to aid this. This same material is used throughout their range is what makes the MAM Soothers so popular with babies today.
The Bottle Shape & Design. At last, a baby bottle with a little bit of character! Available in 4 different colours (green, pink, blue & purple), the MAM bottles really stand out from the crowd. The standard bottle is the standard capacity of 260ml (9oz).
The design itself is mightily impressive too. The bottles can be taken apart in 3 easy steps and sterilised in the microwave quickly and easily without the need for a separate steriliser, making these perfect when out and about.
The MAM anti colic bottles have a patented vented base that ensures your baby takes in less air and reduces colic symptoms in 80% of babies that use them.
The Verdict. Yes they are expensive but aren’t they pretty?! The MAM bottles are stylish and very practical with the self-sterilising functionality. Add to that the anti colic performance and you do have a great bottle but the price is a bit steep and so I’d recommend the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottles instead.
One exception to my recommendation is if you want to save the money on a steriliser. In that scenario, these bottles are a clear winner. If however, you’re a little more traditional, then stick with one of the top 3 above.
#5 Nuk First Choice+ Glass Baby Bottles
The NUK anti colic bottles are different to the others in that they claim to be specifically designed to compliment breastfeeding rather than replacing it altogether. It’s this unique approach that has lead to their teats being used in over 90% of maternity and neonatal wards throughout the United Kingdom.
The Teat. The design of the teat is very different from the others reviewed here. They are more akin to a mother’s nipple to help the transition from breast to bottle for your baby. NUK actually use the tagline ‘Not round for a reason’ in celebration of this fact.
The NUK Anti Colic Air System is completely reliant on the teat. All NUK teats have an air vent, known as the NUK Air System, which is there to compensate for the difference in air pressure in the bottle. This stops the teat from collapsing and the swallowing of air which in turn can cause colic symptoms.
The Bottle Shape & Design. The bottles are bigger than the others reviewed here. With a capacity of 300ml (10oz) you are unlikely to ever be in a situation where you are unable to make a full feed in one of the NUK bottles.
There is nothing especially fancy about the design itself, the bottles are tall and cylindrical but do have a nice floral pattern on which does make them a little prettier than some of the others. The selling point is certainly in the teat design rather than the full bottle.
The Verdict. Although these bottles have come 5th place, if you are looking for a bottle to compliment breastfeeding then the NUK First Choice+ bottles may be the answer. The teats are excellent and will make the changing between breast & bottle a lot smoother for your baby. If however, you plan on bottle feeding baby right from the off then perhaps the cheaper Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature bottles would be a better bet.
Wrap up. So there you have it, the best anti colic bottles for 2015 are the Dr Brown’s Natural Flow Bottles. It’s worth pointing out that none of the 5 above are bad bottles so if you decided on any of them then you and your baby will be very happy. If you find any of the above baby bottles at a better price anywhere else then feel free to leave a comment and I’ll update the article.
