Best Bottles for Breastfed Babies

Pros:

• Gradual nipple shape mimics breast anatomy
• Encourage a natural, wide latch

Cons:

• Some parents say the nipples leak and tear easily
• Slowest flow may still be too fast for some babies

What Our Experts Think

Lansinoh used over 50 years of research to design this bottle, and their hard work paid off. The nipple is ergonomically designed to mimic the natural breast and nipple shape, helping baby to use the same sucking motion for each and easing the transition between breast and bottle. When baby is nursing at the breast, they’re latching onto breast tissue and the nipple (so you want a nipple they can get a wide latch on versus one they’re just sucking the long nipple of). There’s also a venting system to reduce air intake and an inner vertical groove on the nipple that prevents collapse.

What Real Parents Say

“My daughter hated using bottles leading up to going to daycare. After starting daycare it got even worse. There was one day, the third day, she would [not] eat at all. After asking fellow moms in a FB moms group someone recommended Lansinoh Bottles. The very first time using it, she latched right on!! No Chewing! It has been a game-changer for us. We are so thankful knowing that our baby is able to eat while at daycare. This is the only brand of bottle that we have found so far that actually has a similar triangular nipple shape to that of a breast in their mouth. My only wish is that the bottle was wider for cleaning (I hate bottle brushes and making micro scratches) but the nipple has been absolutely perfect!” — Manda

“My son had to see a specialist as a newborn. He had all 4 mouth ties and latching was difficult. They were about to pull out their bottle recommendation when they saw mine and said these are the best for breastfed babies and pulled out the same bottle. I’ve ordered some glass ones to try. I would recommend these.” — Thomas23

“Only bottle my babies would take. I bought every bottle on the market known to man and stumbled upon this after reading an article by a lactation consultant. After refusing all bottles, my baby gladly accepted this one. There are no bells and whistles with this. Plain and simple design. I only wish it had other colors.”— andreas374

“My breastfed baby who got used to using a nipple shield would not accept ANYYY bottles - until we found these. Please try these bottles if your very particular EBF [exclusively breastfed] baby turns her nose up at every bottle you have tried, especially if you have been using a nipple shield.” — itstheliddlethings

Pros:

• Sloped nipple mimics natural breast anatomy
• Few pieces for easy cleaning

Cons:

• Measurements can be tough to see when filled with milk
• Some parents say the medium-flow nipples collapse easily
• Prone to leaking if the cap isn’t put on correctly

What Our Experts Think

A good latch is essential for both breast and bottle feeding, which is why we love this breastfeeding-friendly bottle from Evenflo developed with a pediatric feeding specialist. It’s specially designed to help your baby position their mouth for a proper latch. There’s also a slow-flow nipple to help your breastfed baby pace their feed and an integrated venting system. If you prefer to stay away from plastic bottles, check out their glass version. Note: some parents say the measurements on this bottle can be a bit tough to see.

What Real Parents Say

“Our newborn (kiddo #7) was struggling to gain weight. She had a tongue tie revision but bottles were still “drowning” her. Our CLC recommended these bottles to us and they worked! She’s now a happy and “plump” 2 month old much thanks to these wonderful bottles. I’ve used Dr. Browns and Avent with our other babies and tried Comotomo for her but these ones ended up being the “right” ones for her.” — Lynn

“My 3-month-old is exclusively breastfed, but needed to be supplemented with formula, so I added more bottles to our collection. I liked that he took the nipple shape better and with a good latch. The numbers are printed in white so it’s hard to see when mixing formula. They were better when I was just using them for breast milk. The wide mouth is easy to clean. Getting the nipple into the ring took some practice, as did the airflow valve.” — T.S.

“I exclusively pump for my 7 week old, and I love these bottles. They don’t fit on my spectra pump, and I’m not sure if they fit any portable warmers, but as of right now I’m fine with that. I wish they came in 5oz wide neck also, since I’m never feeding a full 9 oz anyway. My baby seems to spit up way less when I use these compared to other bottles. 10/10 recommend. I know they’re constantly out of stock but definitely worth trying to get ahold of. Easy to clean, solid parts, and durable. They warm up well and travel great.” — Sonia T

“Great for EBF baby. She takes to it without any trouble with a great wide latch. I was worried about introducing bottles and nipple confusion. These bottles work back and forth with nursing with no confusion.” — Des

Pros:

• Venting system helps prevent air bubbles while feeding
• Can also be used without the venting system
• Consistent nipple flow

Cons:

• A lot of parts to clean
• Some parents say these bottles leak

What Our Experts Think

Loved by parents, babies and lactation specialists alike, Dr. Brown’s unique venting system eliminates air bubbles during feeding, reducing the likelihood of gas, spit-up and even colic. While their nipple shape doesn’t closely mirror a natural nipple anatomy, many babies take them just fine due to their consistent, predictable flow. “Dr. Brow’sn uses a laser to create the hole in the nipple of [their] bottles,” says Emily Spaeth, IBCLC and founder of Be Well Baby PDX. She says that nipples made using a needle to create the hole will have more variation in flow (even among the same flow rate). And thanks to their special design, these bottles have been proven to help better preserve milk nutrients. Although this set does come with level one slow-flow nipples, lactation consultants recommend purchasing a preemie nipple to help breastfed babies transition to the bottle. You can also easily remove the venting system once your baby outgrows it.

What Real Parents Say

“Great bottles to reduce colic. They are more complicated to clean but worth it.” — Fiorella

“We tried a sampler of various bottles but Dr. Brown’s was the one that worked best for our baby. If you’re breastfeeding and concerned about nipple confusion, it might not seem like the best choice with so many new bottles on the market. Dr. B’s has served us well and (after initial first weeks of daycare challenges where she first refused bottles then the breast) my daughter has no problem continuing to breastfeed when we’re together or taking a bottle happily the rest of the time. And her latch is awesome.” — Rebecca O.

“If you’ve done your research then you know Dr. Brown’s bottles are the best to avoid colic. This set was good for the amount of bottles we needed and the caps included came in handy for warming up bottles. Only complaint is there is some leakage from the cap if you’re maximizing the amount of milk.” — Iliana

Pros:

• Ideal shape for latching that mimics the breast
• Line to guide proper latch
• Easy to clean

Cons:

• Nipple flow sizing can be confusing
• Only available to purchase on Amazon or the brand’s website

What Our Experts Think

If your breastfed baby is struggling with taking a bottle, here’s a tip that many lactation consultants will share: try a Pigeon bottle. This Japanese brand is known for its nipples that help even the most stubborn of bottle refusers. The secret lies in the nipple’s size, feel and shape. It’s thinner than many other bottle nipples, breast-shaped with a gentle slope and features a textured surface and inner ridges to prevent collapse. It’s also very slow-flowing, a must-have for breastfed babies. Pigeon bottle nipples also work with some other bottle brands, including the Lansinoh bottles featured in this guide.

What Real Parents Say

“This is the only bottle my exclusively breastfeeding baby would take. I have tried many. The nipple is soft but not collapsing, and shape of the nipples creates a better mouth seal. The flow ss (super slow) is very slow and perfect for newborns. Highly recommend it if your little one is struggling with transitioning from breast to bottles.” — Wenrui W

“When my son was born, we had an extremely difficult time in finding the right bottle for him to use. The problem was that the baby latched onto the breast beautifully, but he had a really hard time latching to any bottles we tried. We tried so many different brands of bottles: Avent, dr browns, medela, etc. You name it, we tried it. It wasn’t until my friend recommended this bottle brand that the baby started taking the bottle! We have now ordered from this brand of bottles 4x already because they are just that amazing. I’m extremely grateful for these bottles as my baby isn’t colicky, he drinks his milk within 25 minutes, and doesn’t have a hard time latching to it. I highly recommend this product. Oh! and it’s VERY easy to clean. There’s only three parts that need washing: the bottle, the nipple, and the cap! no excess anti-colic pieces because the anti colic is in the nipple itself.” — Gabi G.

“I have tried so many other bottle brands (Evenflo, Dr. Brown, Spectra) and was disappointed with all of them for similar and different reasons. My 5 week old baby developed a shallow latch because of those other brands and the way the nipples are designed with a steep slope. I had to stop breastfeeding because of her shallow latch and other issues/frustrations but wanted to still try to find a bottle that enabled her to latch and feed appropriately despite being now exclusively formula-fed. I saw that Pigeon bottles were recommended for this reason, I made the switch, and I’m so happy I did! She latches to the bottle appropriately and does really well with each feeding. She’s not sucking in additional air because of the sloped nipple design and the [vent] helps prevent colic without needing additional bottle parts (unlike Dr. Brown’s bottles). I also haven’t experienced any leaking. I’m so happy I made the switch. I would definitely recommend this brand!” — M.L.

Pros:

• Ability to try 5 popular baby bottles before committing
• Includes only plastic or silicone bottle options

Cons:

• No glass options (Babylist Glass Bottle Box sold separately)
• Can’t select nipple size

What Our Experts Think

Not to toot our own horn but…toot, toot, we think this bottle box is pretty genius. A great add to any baby registry, it includes five of the most popular baby bottles so you can test drive each before committing to a full set of any one brand. It’s especially useful if you’re a nursing parent with a picky baby and want to try a few bottles before you commit. Inside you’ll find bottles from nanobébé, Comotomo, Philips Avent, Dr. Brown’s and Boon (all with level one slow flow nipples). If you prefer glass bottles over plastic or silicone, there’s a sampler box for those, too.

What Babylist Parents Say

“I think this is a great starter box for those who want to try a few bottles to see what works for their baby. Mine is breastfeeding and during our transition to bottle, it’s nice to try which bottle seems to work best for the baby before spending on a bunch of bottles.” — Andrea

“Great concept for a first-time mom like myself who has no idea what to buy. There are so many options out there and it’s tough to go based on reviews since every baby is different. I loved this bottle pack, and just 2 weeks in I know which ones work best for my family.” — Rachel L.

“An absolute must-have. I’m a first-time mom and all my friends told me to add this to my registry because baby will let me know what bottle she prefers. So many options to choose from and great quality.” — Emily S.

“We tried all of these bottles and our little one only liked one of them. And we found ones we didn’t like as parents too. Finding the right bottle and nipple is so so important when starting a feeding journey with your baby. And this made it so much easier and cheaper.” — Melissa H.

“So happy we did the bottle box! My baby has been really picky with bottles and we ended up having to try 4 different types to find one she liked. This is so much nicer to already have a variety supply instead of buying a bunch of larger packs and wasting money. Highly recommend!” — Lauren K.