Tube-Style Nursers

Bottles for colicky babies

To reduce the risk of gas problems and colic, most baby-bottle designs include some attempt to reduce the amount of air swallowed by the baby. Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Bottles (*Est. $10 for three 8-oz. bottles) attempt to address this issue by incorporating an internal vent that looks like a drinking straw. The theory is that this two-piece vent will prevent the vacuum that is created when a baby sucks on a regular bottle. Handi-Craft, the company that makes Dr. Brown's bottles, claims that eliminating the vacuum works not only to prevent gassiness but also to reduce middle-ear infections caused by fluid being drawn into the area.

Many parents post that Dr. Brown's Natural Flow bottles are good for colicky babies. User reviews mention improvements in gas, colic and spitting up. The silicone nipples, which come in five different levels (one through four, plus Y-cut – used for thicker liquids), also get good feedback. Nearly 700 reviewers posting feedback to Viewpoints.com contribute to an average rating of 4.33 stars out of 5 for Dr. Brown's Natural Flow bottles. Many reviewers say the Natural Flow bottle, with its extra pieces and long tube, is more difficult to clean and assemble than other baby bottles, but those with colicky or reflux-prone babies say the extra step is well worth it. Dr. Brown's Natural Flow bottles also come recommended in several best-baby-bottle roundups, including Parents.com, LilSugar.com, The Essential Infant Resource for Moms, StyleBakeryMom.com, MomFinds.com and About.com. (Note that ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation). Parents.com editors concur with consumers in saying that Dr. Brown's bottles are effective at reducing spit-up, and they also say the polypropylene bottles heat up quickly, which is a bonus for middle-of-the-night feedings.

Some parents who use formula find that the tube gets in the way of mixing, meaning they have to take the extra step of making the formula in another container before transferring it into the bottle. Still, many moms say the extra steps to clean and use the Natural Flow baby bottle are worth it for their babies' decrease in fussiness. Overall, this bottle is a good option for those whose babies are prone to colic or gassiness, but less so for those whose babies do fine with a less complicated nurser. In response to parents' concerns about BPA, Dr. Brown's is one of six major bottle manufacturers who have agreed to discontinue the sale of BPA-containing baby bottles in the U.S., so all Dr. Brown's bottles are now BPA-free. Dr. Brown's bottles also come in a wide-neck version (*Est. $7 for one 8-oz. bottle) or a glass version (*Est. $12 for two 8-oz. bottles).

The Podee Baby Bottle (*Est. $18 for two 8-oz. bottles) uses a tube system to create a hands-free baby bottle. The Podee consists of a cylindrical baby bottle attached to a separate nipple with a straw-like tube between the two. This design allows the bottle to rest on a table or tray while the baby sucks on the pacifier-like nipple to get milk or formula. The manufacturer claims the upright position encouraged by this design prevents both ear infections and colic. Parent reviews of the Podee are excellent, with an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 based on over 100 reviews between Amazon.com and ToysRUs.com combined. Most stress convenience rather than health benefits. Many say it works well for eating out or traveling in a car seat or stroller where the baby needs to use the bottle independently. The biggest fans of this bottle are mothers of multiples. Rather than having to feed each baby in turn, the Podee allows caregivers to give twins or triplets their bottles at the same time, greatly reducing the stress and complication involved. On the downside, reviewers say formula needs to be mixed in a separate container. They also say that the Podee is time-consuming to clean because of the many parts and the fact that, as with the Dr. Brown's bottles, the tube has to be cleaned separately with a brush.

A similar design to the Podee, the Pacifeeder (*Est. $18 for one 8-oz. Bottle) is another hands-free feeding system designed to promote upright feeding and reduce colic. A call to the manufacturer confirmed that these bottles no longer contain BPA. Just a few reviews are available on Amazon.com for the Pacifeeder, and feedback is mixed. Some reviewers love the convenience of this hands-free system, while others complain that the nipple is hard or note that using a hands-free feeding system regularly minimizes bonding opportunities between parent and child.