Standard Baby Bottles

Standard baby bottles are inexpensive; most are now BPA-free

Standard baby bottles are constructed of plastic (now typically polypropylene) or glass with a silicone or latex nipple. Most brands also sell additional nipples separately so that parents can choose slow, medium or fast flow depending on their baby's preference and age. Most baby bottles are a standard cylinder shape, although some are wider at the top (termed "wide-neck" bottles) which are said to reduce the amount of air ingested by infants. Otherwise, standard baby bottles do not offer additional design features that aim to reduce gas or colic.

The BornFree Bisphenol-A Free (*Est. $14 for two 9-oz. bottles) baby bottle, made from Polyamide (PA), is a top pick from both ZRecommends.com and is one of the highest-rated bottles in user reviews at ToysRUs.com (with an average rating of 4 stars out of 5, based on over 200 reviews). The BornFree bottle is also recommended in reviews by Parents.com, MomFinds.com, LilSugar.com and Tibesti.com. BornFree's overall scores are solid. On Amazon.com, uses give it a near-perfect average rating, and it receives solid ratings of 4 stars out of 5 on Diapers.com and Target.com. While some parents think the BornFree bottles are expensive, they said they're worth the cost. Like many nursing systems on the market, Born-Free offers various stages of nipples (Levels 1, 2, 3, Y-cut or variable flow) that can help the infant transition either as he or she switches between breast and bottle or as he or she grows and is able to handle more liquid flow. 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.

Green to Grow plastic bottles (*Est. $10 for one 10-oz. bottle) are constructed of PES plastic, a BPA-free type of plastic. and are available in 5-ounce and 9-ounce sizes in both regular and wide-neck styles. Green to Grow bottles are commended in reviews on ZRecommends.com, Parents.com, CoolMomPicks.com and LilSugar.com for the company's commitment to environmental responsibility; Green to Grow uses 100 percent recycled packaging, soy inks, and donates one percent of proceeds to environmental causes. While Parents.com points out that the nipples are a little harder than most, there are other options if you want your tot to sip environmentally. ZRecommends.com says that Evenflo glass bottle nipples fit Green to Grow bottles, while other parents posting on Amazon.com and Diapers.com note that Gerber Nuk nipples and the Dr. Brown's venting system also fit the Green to Grow bottles.

There are few owner-written reviews on consumer review sites, but Green to Grow bottles average between 4 and 4.5 stars out of 5 on Amazon.com, where nearly 20 parents have posted reviews, and on Diapers.com, where just over 10 reviews are available. Most reviewers say these bottles don't leak, and a few agree with Parents.com's issue with the nipple being too hard. On the other end of the spectrum, there are complaints that the nipples collapse.

Keeping the earth in mind may also lead you to the polypropylene thinkbaby bottle (*Est. $15 for two 9-oz. bottles), which are available in 5-ounce and 9-ounce sizes. All bottles come with an anti-colic venting system that is built right into the silicone nipple, meaning there are no extra parts to clean. The company offers a selection of seven flow rates among nipples, although all bottles come with a slow-flow nipple recommended for babies between zero and three months. Thinkbaby bottles can be converted into a trainer cup with the purchase of a conversion kit (*Est. $7). Both ZRecommends.com and Parents.com recommend thinkbaby bottles, although Parents.com says their mom-tester received a defective nipple in her twin pack, and ZRecommends.com notes that the bottles may leak if held upside down.

Reviewers on Amazon.com give thinkbaby bottles middling reviews with an average rating of 3 stars out of 5, based on over 20 reviews. Several parents complain of leaks and collapsing nipples. Interesting to note, however, is that a thinkbaby representative posted a review in October 2008 notifying customers of changes the company made to its nipples in response to consumer feedback. Reviews appearing after this date are much more positive than those posted prior to the changes, with few complaints of leaks.

Avent baby bottles are ranked highly by About.com pregnancy and childbirth guide Robin Elise Weiss. But parents seem to either love or hate Avent's Natural Feeding Bottle (*Est. $20 for three 9-oz. bottles). This bottle is available in 4-ounce, 9-ounce or 11-ounce sizes, and nipples are available in five variations (newborn, slow, medium, fast and variable flow). It's one of the highest-rated bottles on LilaGuide.com, and manages to get average ratings from users reporting on Amazon.com (nearly 145 reviews) and ToysRUs.com (about 15 reviews). 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 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 Essential Infant Resource for Moms dubs the MAM Anti-Colic bottle (*Est. $15 for three 8-oz. bottles), formerly called the MAM UltiVent, bottle best for use while breastfeeding since they have a wide-based, orthodontic nipple that is soft and encourages suckling to mimic breastfeeding. The MAM Anti-Colic bottles are constructed of BPA-free polypropylene and are available in 5-ounce, 8-ounce and 11-ounce sizes. The 5-ounce and 8-ounce bottles have a venting system at the bottom of the bottle to reduce air, and the 11-ounce bottles have a vent built right in to the silicone nipple. Parents.com also likes the wide bottom that editors say is easy for a caregiver to grip during feeding, although they do note that despite the venting system, there is still a tendency for air bubbles to form in the bottle.

MAM Anti-Colic bottles have little feedback across consumer review sites; just under 35 reviewers on Amazon.com contribute to an average rating of 4 stars out of 5. Most parents agree these bottles work great for transitioning between breast and bottle. 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 BornFree bottle. 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.

Glass baby bottles

Glass baby bottles are the most traditional baby bottles available, but one company has decided to give it a modern twist: Wee-Go glass baby bottles (*Est. $15 for one 9-oz. bottle) feature a silicone sleeve that comes in a variety of bright colors (such as orange, red and blue) that provide a slip-resistant grip and a tactile experience for infants. The sleeve and the bottle can be washed in the dishwasher together, and the glass is thermal shock resistant, meaning it can go straight from freezer to boiling water without cracking or breaking.

Wee-Go bottles are recommended in a roundup of the best eco and safe baby bottles on Tibesti.com, in a review on StyleBakeryMom.com and BabyGadget.com, and by Parents.com. While Tibesti.com and StyleBakeryMom.com don't offer any additional feedback other than including the Wee-Go bottles in their lists of recommended products, Parents.com editors say they like the silicone sleeves for preventing breakage and note that the bottles fit on most breast pumps. However, Parents.com editors also say that the Wee-Go bottles are both heavier and more expensive than most. BabyGadget.com comments that they like that the sleeve is free of plastics; that the silicone nipple is latex-free and that the food-grade plastic ring, plug and cap contain no polycarbonates and are recyclable.

We found little consumer feedback for the Wee-Go bottles; less than five reviewers contribute to an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 on Amazon.com. Reviewers say the Wee-Go bottles are extremely durable, and although they are expensive, they can be converted (with the purchase of additional accessories) to serve other purposes. A cap, ring and plug set (*Est. $3) can be used and to convert the bottle into a sippy cup, and a solid beverage bottle cap (*Est. $4) can be used for traveling or to store and freeze breastmilk or other snacks.

One glass baby bottle that gets excellent reviews from parents is the Evenflo Classic Glass Nurser (*Est. $7 for three 8-oz. bottles). 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 has more than 175 parent-written reviews for the Classic, contributing to an average score of 4 stars out of 5. 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.

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.