As a new parent, you have to juggle everything. From mastering diaper changes to learning how to swaddle correctly — and pinning down just the right nap and feed schedule for your newborn — all while trying to catch enough sleep yourself, can be a struggle.
And for bottle-feeding parents, finding just the right bottle for a colicky baby is another challenge. To help, we’ve created a list of the 5 best bottles for a colicky baby.
It is important to remember that many symptoms displayed by babies with colic are also apparent in the majority of all babies. Gas, reflux, and the discomfort associated are all in full swing during the first several months of a baby’s life. The bottles on this list, therefore, can be good picks for anyone whose baby is struggling with the symptoms above.
All of the bottles in our list have great reviews from parents, have features to help encourage flexible feeding between breast and bottle, and have various vent designs to reduce air intake and other colic symptoms. All are BPA free.
In addition to a great bottle, other techniques parents swear by to help babies with stomach and gas problems include gentle tummy massages and bicycle kicks to get the air out. Holding baby upright for several minutes after feedings is a reliable method to prevent reflux and spit-up, and burping after each feed is also essential.
Comotomo Natural Feel Bottle
A relative new-comer to the U.S. market, the Comotomo is at the top of list after list for best baby bottles. With a wide, pliable nipple base that mimics mom’s breast, as well as a soft and squeezable body that encourages a natural feeling let-down, this bottle is a great bet for moms who want to switch between breast and bottle-feeding, without interfering with baby’s latching experience.
The vents on this bottle are positioned right into the nipple base, preventing bubble and air intake while the baby feeds, without leaks or drips. This design also makes cleaning easier than bottles with tubes or multiple parts.
The Comotomo comes in a 5 ounce size, as well as 8.5 ounces, and retails for around $11 per bottle or under $20 for a 2-pack on Amazon.
Dr. Brown’s Options+ Bottle
Dr. Brown’s has a cult following for a reason. The original anti-colic, anti-gas bottles have been helping parents of fussy little ones since 1996, earning them a spot on the best bottles for a colicky baby list for years. Featuring a unique, patented two-piece venting system, these bottles prevent the negative pressure “vacuum” that builds up inside bottles, and instead create a positive-pressure flow just like during the natural breastfeeding process. The result is less air intake, less gas, and fewer instances of spit-up or reflux.
A huge plus: Dr. Brown bottles have been shown to better preserve vitamin and lipids in breast milk and formula that break down when exposed to oxygen. In other words, this bottle helps ensure your little one gets more of the nutrients he needs.
The multiple parts do make the cleanup process a little longer, but many parents find it well worth the effort. Another negative is the bottle’s tendency to leak; however, this is an easy fix when following two rules that are listed in the product directions: Stay under the “do not fill above” line on the bottle, and hold at 45 degrees to keep the vent end out of the milk.
New parents can benefit by purchasing a starter kit, which comes with multiple bottle sizes, nipple levels to adjust to baby’s growth, and a pacifier with the same design as the bottle nipple to increase chances of baby accepting the bottle.
Dr. Brown’s Options+ Complete Baby Bottle Gift Set is around $44 on Amazon.
Mimijumi Wide-Neck Bottle
The Mimijumi wide-neck bottle is another one on this list that closely replicates mom’s breast feel, flow and function to help form and maintain a natural latch. It is designed to ensure the baby actively suckles and is able to control the flow of the milk. That means no nipple confusion or preference between bottle and breast.
Like the Comotomo, this bottle also has an integrated venting system in the nipple. Its natural dome shape keeps air intake to a minimum. Assembling and clean up promise to be a breeze as well with the wide mouth and fewer parts.
The Mimijumi Get Going Bottle set includes two 8 ounce bottles, one 4 ounce bottle and a nipple replacement and costs $112 on Amazon.
PopYum Anti-Colic Bottle
With the term “anti-colic” in its name, this set from PopYum delivers on its promise by providing an air-free feeding experience, thanks to nipple vents that return air back to the bottle and not your baby’s tummy. What new parents will especially delight over with this pick, however, is the formula dispenser. It holds pre-measured portions of milk powder separate from the water until meal time. All parents have to do is press the button on the bottle and shake a few times. This allows one-handed easy prep and feeding. And for those late night feeds, any bit of convenience and ease is a welcome addition.
The bottle is just as easy to use with breastmilk, and keeps the milk in its own chamber and away from the nipple until parents press the button. Another great pick in our best bottles for colicky baby list.
A 5 ounce bottle costs $12.99, but is also available in a 9 ounce size for $35.99.
Joovy Boob Baby Bottle PPSU
With a design that prevents nipple collapse, negative pressure, vacuum buildup, and an internal quad vent, the Joovy Boob Baby Bottle offers consistent feeds and maximum protection against colic symptoms.
Regardless of how the bottle is held, it also provides consistent venting capabilities. The nipple on the Joovy Boob Baby Bottle, like the others on this list, help transition back and forth between breastfeeding and bottle-feeding an easy process.
Parents also love the high-quality PPSU material used for this bottle. As they product page explains, “PPSU (polyphenylsulfone) is a transparent plastic commonly used in medical devices. It is incredibly durable, impact and temperature resistant. PPSU does not absorb odor or color and it does not contain BPA, BPS, PVC, phthalate and lead” so multiple daily feedings and repeated sterilizations do not cause wear and tear found in other plastic bottles.
A 5 ounce bottle of Joovy Boob Baby Bottle costs $15.99.