Choosing the right baby bottle will help in building your baby's good feeding habits. This in turn ensures your baby gets proper nutrition. There are many milk bottles of different volumes, with different babies preferring different shapes, sizes, and textures of baby bottles. In this baby bottle buying guide, let us share our recommendations, as well as important factors you should know in order to buy the most suitable baby milk bottles for your little one.
Why bottle feed?
Bottle feeding is an essential part of a busy mother’s routine regardless of whether you’re breastfeeding or formula feeding. You may not be able to breastfeed due to a lack of time in your daily life as a working mother, or are simply not feeling well enough to breastfeed. In these cases, bottle feeding will be helpful in replacing those times when you’re not able to directly breast feed, as your pumped milk can still be consumed by your baby by using baby bottles as the best option.
It also gives your loved ones an opportunity to feed and bond with your baby. If you’re currently breastfeeding but wish to make the transition to bottle feeding, you can choose to wait till your baby has gotten the hang of nursing before introducing a bottle, usually between 3-6 weeks.
How do I choose the best baby bottle?
Since there are so many brands and types of baby bottles in the market, it’s essential to know what kind of bottles are out there. Here are a few factors that you should consider when buying a baby bottle:
Bottle material
Glass bottles are usually made out of plastic, glass, or silicone. Tempered glass is extra durable and can withstand being banged around or even dropped. Glass bottles are thermal-shock resistant and do not retain colors or odours. However, they are slightly more expensive and usually heavier.
Plastic bottles are made out of polypropylene, a hard type of plastic, and are the most affordable and lightweight on the market. However, they cannot be microwaved or placed in the dishwasher.
Silicone bottles are the newest types on the market, and are made from silicone: a soft and flexible material free from chemicals like BPA, PVC, and Phthalate. Although they are dishwasher safe, they may absorb odors over time.
Bottle size
Most bottles come in two sizes, either 4 ounces or 8 ounces. The 4-ounce bottles are usually suited for newborns who eat less per feeding than older babies. Meanwhile, the 8-ounce bottles are more suited for older babies who need to eat more.
Newborns may drink only an ounce or two every meal, while babies at 6 months old may drink around 6-8 ounces every feeding. Depending on your preference, you may want to get a mix of small and large bottles, or get large bottles from the start and fill them only halfway during the first few months of feeding.
Bottle shape
Standard and traditionally designed bottles work well for most babies. Angle-neck bottles are bent at the neck to prevent air from filling the nipple, making it easier for feedings, preventing your baby from getting gassy.
Disposable liner bottles consist of a plastic hard shell holding an individual pouch of milk. As the baby drinks, the bag will collapse, reducing gassiness.
Wide neck bottles have a wider opening top and nipple, mimicking the breastfeeding experience closely, and making it suitable for babies who like to switch breasts.
Meanwhile, vented bottles have a built-in tube to prevent air pockets from forming in the bottle or nipple, which is meant to help prevent gas, but may make it harder to clean.
Nipple size of bottle
Most bottle brands will offer different nipple sizes, each with a different rate of milk flow. Newborn and slow flow nipples are designed for newborns and younger babies. They provide slower milk flow so that your baby will not gulp too fast.
Faster flow nipples are designed for older babies who can swallow more milk, and hence can better control faster liquid flow. Nipples for baby bottles are classified into stages or levels based on their flow – flow refers to how quickly or slowly the milk comes out, which is governed by the size of the hole in the nipple.
Nipples are typically marked with the stage or level right on the rim, as well as the baby's suggested size and age range for each stage. Use these markings as a guide, and keep an eye on your baby’s feeding habits to see when you need to adjust.
- Stage 1 nipples: Most newborns begin with Stage 1 slow flow nipples, which are designed to gently distribute milk as the baby's mouth contracts.
- Stage 2 nipples: After a few months, most newborns progress to Stage 2 (or higher) nipples because they can handle a faster and bigger flow of milk.
- Stage 3 nipples: Some babies can live with Stage 2 nipples permanently, but if your baby is pulling hard on Stage 2 nipples by 6 months, she may be ready for the next stage.
Nipple types
Traditional nipples are the bell-shaped latex nipples that come with most baby bottles. Orthodontic nipples have a bulbous top and flatter base designed to protect your baby’s palate.
Meanwhile, flat topped nipples have a bigger base bulb and flatter top so that it’s shaped like the breast. Anti-vacuum nipples are designed to prevent colic and gassiness.
There are also multi-flow nipples, which allow you to adjust the positioning of the nipple to control the flow. Lastly, disposable nipples are sterile, individually wrapped nipples that allow you to clean up easily, but they cannot be reused.
Nipple material
Traditional latex has a soft and pliable feel to it but needs to be replaced frequently as it will deteriorate easily. Though some babies may be allergic to latex. On the other hand, food-grade silicone nipples are firmer and more durable with a silky feel. They trigger fewer allergies and last longer than latex nipples.
Compatibility with breast pumps
If you are breastfeeding and using a breast pump, you should choose a bottle that is compatible with your breast pump, either directly or through an adapter. This is useful since you can directly pump breast milk into the bottle for storage.
Compatibility with sterilizer
If you are using a UV sterilizer, ensure that the bottles you buy are compatible to be used in this type of sterilizer. This will help you avoid any toxicity issues associated with a material meltdown.
Your baby’s preference
After some trial and error, you'll learn which bottle and nipple style your baby prefers. It could be a good idea to experiment with a few of the bottles on this list to determine which one your baby prefers.
Best Baby Milk Bottles in Singapore
To help ease your mind in looking for the right product for your baby, we rounded up the best baby bottles in Singapore. Read on and find one that matches your preferences.
Best Anti-Colic Baby Bottle
Why It’s Our Choice
Pigeon baby bottles are equipped with an Air Ventilation System that reduces the intake of gas when feeding, a potential cause of colic. These bottles are also recommended for babies who are transitioning to the bottle as Pigeon comes with a SoftTouch Peristaltic PLUS nipple which mimics a mother’s nipple.
Features We Love:
- SoftTouch Peristaltic PLUS nipple - 100% silicone, super soft and flexible to allow baby to use natural feeding motions learned at the breast.
- Air Ventilation System - prevents babies from taking in too much air during feeding and getting colic.
- Polyphenylsufone (PPSU) material has a high heat resistance and excellent durability.
- BPA free, wide neck for easy cleaning, a curved bottle which is easy to hold.
Best Baby Bottle for Mimicking Natural Breastfeeding
Why It’s Our Choice
Comotomo is designed to closely mimic natural breastfeeding, making it highly recommended for babies transitioning from nursing to bottle-feeding. Babies will love clinging to the skin-like, soft and squeezable body. The wide-neck design is also easy to clean. It is equipped with dual vents to prevent colic while eliminating annoying leaks.
Features We Love:
- The dual anti-colic vent allows good airflow while feeding to reduce excess air which prevents colic, spit-up and burping.
- Wide neck design allows easy cleaning by hand
- Heat resistant and dishwasher safe allows easy sterilization
- Natural nipple design prevents nipple confusion and rejection by babies
- Skin-like touch and feel mimic natural feel of human skin
Best Easy-to-Use Baby Bottle
Why It’s Our Choice
Hegen bottles are the only ones on the market with no screw threads, allowing for easy opening and closing of the bottle and minimizing the effort required to prepare a bottle. Hegen bottles serve as all-in-one bottles, with interchangeable parts minimizing the number of bottles and attachments on hand. Meanwhile, Air venting reduces unwanted air intake to prevent colic and oxidation of nutrients
These bottles have Off-centre teats which allow babies to feed in a natural upright position comfortably.
Features We Love:
- No screw thread allows for one-handed closure
- Press-to-close, twist-to-open innovation for hassle-free handling and long term spillage
- Off-centre teat for feeding in natural upright position
- Interchangeable parts allow for expressing, storing, and feeding within a single container.
Best Baby Bottle for Long Term Use
Why It’s Our Choice
Options+ uses a patented two-piece internal vent system allowing nipple switching as your baby develops, without needing to change the entire bottle. If your baby suffers from nipple confusion or has difficulty latching on, Option+ nipples have been tested to be accepted by 93% of babies.
These baby bottles have 100% vacuum free vents clinically proven to reduce colic, spit-up and burping due to buildup of excess gas and better preserve nutrients due to reduced milk oxidation.
Features We Love:
- Breast shaped nipples accepted by the majority of babies
- 100% vacuum free vents
- Controlled nipple flow can be changed depending on the baby’s stage
- Switch nipples without having to switch bottles
- BPA free and dishwasher safe for easy sterilization
Most Durable Baby Bottle
Why It’s Our Choice
Evorie is a highly durable feeding bottle that can suffer multiple hard knocks. Evorie Tritan is highly recommended for parents that require a feeding bottle that can handle the wear and tear from their child’s active lifestyle.
It has stain-free properties that retain the bottle’s >90% clarity even after hundreds of dishwasher cycles. It also has a soft and flexible breast-like teat that promotes natural feeding action. In addition, it has an anti-colic air system to reduce chances of your baby experiencing colic.
Features We Love:
- Stain free properties to withstand even a hundred dishwasher cycles
- Dishwasher safe, BPA and BPS clean
- Soft and flexible breast-like teat
- Anti-colic air system to reduce colic
- Wide-neck designed for quick filling of milk
Best Self-Sterilizing Baby Bottle
Why It’s Our Choice
MAM baby bottles are among the few self-sterilizing feeding bottles on the market. Because of this, you do not need to buy additional sterilizing equipment, keeping your baby safe from germs and pathogens.
In addition, its ventilated base reduces colic in 80% of babies by eliminating bubbles that cause gas. Meanwhile, its natural-feeling nipple enables easy transition between breastfeeding and bottle feeding.
Features We Love:
- Self-sterilization after 3 minutes in the microwave.
- Ventilated base reduces colic
- Natural-feeling nipple
- BPA and BPS free
Most Travel-Friendly Baby Bottle
Why It’s Our Choice
Baby Brezza is great for moms who are always on the go. It comes with two parts which are easy to assemble and clean. You can also ensure a seamless breast to bottle transition with its wide breast-like nipple.
Features We Love:
- Two-piece design for easy assembling and cleaning
- Ultra-wide design
- Truflio anti-colic system
- BPA-free
Best Baby Bottle for Nutrient Preservation
Why It’s Our Choice
Nanobebe is shaped like a dome for easier grip and helps preserve nutrients found in breast milk. Thanks to the familiar shape of a mom’s breast and anti-colic feature, your babies can now seamlessly transition from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding while preserving nutrients from mummy’s milk.
This all-in-one feeding bottle also includes a breast pump adaptor allowing you to fill it up directly and store your breast milk to immediately feed your baby
Features We Love:
- Unique dome-like shape for nutrient preservation and easier grip.
- breast pump adaptor
- Easy to clean and assemble
- Anti-colic bottle to prevent any colic and baby gas
- BPA, PVC, lead and phthalate-free
Price Comparison
We made this price table so you can make the comparison at a glance.
Editor's Note: Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication. However, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
We hope this article will be helpful to all mummies wanting to look out for the ideal best baby bottles in Singapore.
