Standard Baby Bottles

Standard bottles are inexpensive; most are now BPA free

One BPA-free baby bottle that gets excellent reviews from parents is the Evenflo Classic Glass Nurser (*Est. $2 for one 8-oz. bottle). The Classic Glass Nurser is made of clear tempered safety glass with silicone "sensitive response" nipples designed to let the baby control the flow of milk or formula. The bottle's nipples also contain micro air vents to help maintain an even flow of milk, thus reducing the amount of air that gets into a baby's stomach. Amazon.com, BabyCenter.com and ToysRUs.com have dozens of parent-written reviews for the Classic, most of which are very positive. Parents seem to buy these bottles primarily because they are BPA-free, but several reviewers also say they are easier to clean and assemble, and are more durable and scratch-resistant than plastic bottles. Although there is a risk of the glass breaking on impact, a few parents posting to Amazon.com say these bottles rarely break, even when dropped. Several parents also say they have fewer problems with leakage than with most other baby bottles.

One thing parents seem to love about the Evenflo Classic baby bottle is its traditional design -- which according to some reports is also its major drawback. Despite the micro air vents in the nipples, many parents still say these bottles don't vent well. That may not be a problem for some parents, but those with babies prone to stomach upset may want to opt for a bottle designed to reduce air intake. Another complaint is that babies don't learn to hold their own bottles as quickly because the glass bottles are considerably heavier than comparable plastic bottles. Most of the other negative feedback on this baby bottle has to do with the nipple, which several parents say their babies don't like or refuse to drink from. Most breastfeeding mothers dislike the nipples on the Evenflo Classic bottle because they're unnaturally shaped, and other parents say they tend to rip. Several reviewers note that they tried other brands of nipples with these Evenflo glass bottles successfully.

The BornFree Bisphenol-A Free (*Est. $18 for two 9-oz. bottles) baby bottle, made from Polyamide (PA), is a top pick from both ZRecommends.com and staffers at Cookie magazine. The bottle is also noted in a review on Tibesti.com. BornFree's overall score on Amazon.com is a decent but unspectacular 3.5 stars out of five, but it receives a solid rating of four stars out of five on Diapers.com, Target.com and ToysRUs.com. The BornFree bottle has an inner valve to prevent side leaks, but a few parents complain of leaks anyway. In fact, several parents note that any leaking issues they experienced are simply a result of the nipple or valve not being inserted correctly -- a problem that can be easily remedied.

BornFree baby bottles get good marks for reducing air intake thanks to their special venting system, which is especially important if your baby is prone to colic or gas. Breastfeeding moms appreciate the wide base of the nipples, which mimics the shape of the breast better than most other nipples. All BornFree bottles have a wide neck, making them easier to wash as well. While BornFree bottles have more parts to wash than standard bottles, several parents note that there are fewer parts than with Dr. Brown's bottles and BornFree's are easier to clean. The BornFree baby bottles are a little more expensive than most, but parents say the features offered make them worth the extra cost. One added expense you should factor in is the purchase of additional nipples, because even the 9-ounce BornFree bottles come with Level 1 nipples, which are too slow for most babies who are drinking 8 or 9 ounces of breastmilk or baby formula at a feeding.

Avent baby bottles are ranked highly by About.com pregnancy and childbirth guide Robin Elise Weiss. Avent's Natural Feeding Bottle (*Est. $10 for one 9-oz. Bottle) also gets a recommendation from the U.K.'s Practical Parenting magazine, but it gets mixed parent reviews at Amazon.com and ToysRUs.com. Parents seem to either love or hate the Avent bottle. Positive reviews mention the bottle's wide mouth for easy filling and cleaning, its overall ease of assembly, and simple, trouble-free design. Because of its width and the lack of extra parts, the Avent baby bottle works well for mixing formula directly in the bottle, making it a good choice for parents who choose to feed or supplement with formula. The Avent's silicone nipples get excellent reviews, and parents say their air-vent design is effective at releasing air into the bottle instead of baby's tummy. The Avent Natural Feeding Bottle is compatible with the handles and SoftSpout from the Avent Magic Trainer Cup (*Est. $4), which may be a plus for parents with a baby getting ready to make the transition from bottle to sippy cup. The Natural Feeding Bottle is also compatible with the Avent Via Nurser (*Est. $9 for one 8-oz. Bottle), which is disposable and can be used for storing and pumping breastmilk.

The most common complaint about the Avent Natural Feeding Bottle is its tendency to leak. While many parents say it's simply a matter of screwing the collar on just right, others disagree, saying the baby bottle leaks no matter what they do. Avent is one of six major bottle manufacturers that have agreed to discontinue the sale and production of bottles containing BPA in the U.S., so all Avent bottles are now BPA-free.

The MAM UltiVent, which is now called the MAM Anti-Colic bottle (*Est. $13 for three 8-oz. Bottles) gets fewer but more uniformly positive parent-written reviews on both ToysRUs.com and Amazon.com. That MAM baby bottles are made from polypropylene and are BPA-free adds to their appeal, and parents also say they find MAM bottles easy to clean, easy to use and relatively spill-proof. Negative reviews of MAM baby bottles mention that there are six parts to wash, making assembly and cleaning more time consuming than with the Avent Natural Feeding Bottle or the Evenflo Classic. Several parents mention that the removable bottom makes cleaning easier, but a few say that screwing it on tightly enough to prevent leaks is a concern. MAM's orthodontic silicone nipples get good reviews, and a couple of parents say they cause less nipple confusion for babies switching between breast and bottle.