If you're choosing to breastfeed your baby at some point you're likely to feed them using a bottle, which is where bottles for breastfed babies might come in to play. Whether you're sharing the night feeds, or that back-to-work date is looming, sticking with breast milk or moving on to a formula, introducing a baby bottle successfully is important.
Making sure we choose the right bottle for our babies is vital, but with so many different baby bottles to choose from, finding the right one is often troublesome. We've made a list of our top baby bottles on the market, and answered some key questions about bottle-feeding.
Best at a glance:
• Best overall baby bottle for breastfed babies: Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Newborn Baby Bottle Starter Set
• Best baby bottle for breastfed babies for price: Dr Brown's Options+ Anti-Colic 150ml
There are a number of different types of bottles to suit your baby. From those that mimic breastfeeding or emulate the breast, which helps breastfed babies latch to anti-colic systems and self-sterilising bottles.
When it comes to the best baby bottles, here are some of the bestsellers worth trying.
The best bottles for breastfed babies
Best anti-colic baby bottle for breastfed babies
Best self sterilising
Description
These self-sterilising bottles from MAM are a game-changer, making life easier on the move as your
Pros
- Ventilation holes to ensure your baby isn't inhaling too much air, improving colic
- Skin Soft technology teats that are designed to feel just like a mother's skin
- Sweet design
Cons
- Can take a while to wash as there are a few components to take apart
Best unique design baby bottle for breastfed babies
Best anti-colic
Description
These bottles are perfect for breastfeeding mums, with a soft, nipple-like teat that gives your
Pros
- Cute design
- Has a double anti-colic valve to prevent baby from swallowing too much air
Cons
- Bottle is smaller compared to competitors and isn't available to buy in packs
Best easy latch teat baby bottle for breastfed babies
Best feeding set
Description
It has everything you could need for those first few days transitioning your baby to the bottle,
Pros
- Ideal for newborns and great value for money — comes with eight items altogether
- Antic-colic valves allow air to flow back into the bottle for a continuous feed and happy baby
Cons
- Reviewers claim the anti-colic valves aren't as effective as other anti-colic bottles
Best breast-shaped baby bottle for breastfed babies
Recommended
Description
An Amazon bestseller from a brand you can trust, these Tommee Tippee bottles are a good option to
Pros
- Great value for money — six bottles come in pack
- Available in a wide range of sizes, colours and decorations
- Anti-colic valves on the teat, which has a venting system that eliminates excessive airflow as your baby is eating
Cons
- Measurements can be tricky to read
Best handy metric baby bottle for breastfed babies
Recommended
Description
Pros
- Shatterproof
- Great value for money
Cons
- No covers for teats
Best soothing baby bottle for breastfed babies
Recommended
Description
Whether you're feeding with a bottle once a day between breastfeeds or want to transition to more
Pros
- Available in a range of colours
- Award-winning, soft silicone, breast-like teat
- Anti-colic valve reduces excessive air flow
- Different flow rates to keep up with your growing babb
Cons
- Not many colours to choose from
Best built-in temperature baby bottle for breastfed babies
Recommended
Description
This set of four baby bottles features built-in temperature control indicators, which show when
Pros
- Cute design
- Comes with protective teat caps
- Orthodontic shaped teat with a distinct soft zone moulds gently to baby's palate
Cons
- Fussy baby's may struggle getting used to unique teat shape
Best natural feeding experience baby bottle for breastfed babies
Recommended
Description
The contoured breast-like teat of these glass bottles help your baby easily latch on, offering a
Pros
- Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
- Over 20 years’ experience helping mums combat colic
Cons
- Made from glass, therefore need to be handled with extra care
Best leak-free baby bottle for breastfed babies
Description
Not only does the Comotomo Natural Baby Bottle look amazing, but it will resolve all existing
Pros
- Ultra wide-neck design allows for easy cleaning
- Comes with a two pack of silicone medium flow teats
Cons
- Can be a bit on the pricey side
Breastfeeding friendly bottles FAQs
What to look for in bottles for breastfed babies
Bottle teat design: We'd generally recommend a slow-flow teat as this mimics the natural flow of milk from the breast, which will be more familiar to your tot. However, a narrow-neck nipple with a gradual slope could be useful if you find your baby struggles to get their mouth around a wide-neck nipple teat.
Material: You will find that baby bottles come either in plastic or glass. Compared to glass ones, plastic bottles are cheaper, more widely available and easier for your baby to hold, especially as they are lightweight. Just be sure to go for BPA-free bottles if you do choose plastic. Although glass bottles are heavier and can be pricier, they are much more eco-friendly. Unlike plastic, glass doesn’t stain or pick up odours. This option is also easier to clean and more long-lasting.
Pump compatibility: We're all for making life easy when possible, and bottles that can connect directly to your breast pump are a lifesaver as this means there's no need to worry about transferring your milk.
How do I introduce a bottle to a breastfed baby?
If you’re transitioning your baby from the breast to bottles for breastfed babies, it might take a few attempts to get your baby to latch, so start earlier than you need to. If you’re struggling to bottle-feed your baby, we’ve got plenty of tips to help:
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Try not to feed your baby for at least four hours before giving him a bottle so you know they are hungry.
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It can take up to 24 hours to convince your baby to accept a bottle, but if they are hungry, they’ll want to eat eventually so don’t give up.
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It’s a case of trial and error when it comes to bottles – some babies will prefer a particular shape, while others need features that ease wind or colic
How much milk should I feed a breastfed baby?
If you’re feeding your baby expressed breast milk, try this simple calculation from breastfeeding expert Geraldine to work out how much milk to offer. "Simply multiply your baby’s weight in kg by 150ml and divide this number by your baby’s daily number of feeds – this will give you a low estimate of what your baby needs per feed," says Geraldine.
However, if you’re bottle-feeding your baby with formula, you'll need to use the higher calculation for an estimate of what your baby needs as formula isn’t as well absorbed or utilised by the body as breastmilk. "Multiply your baby’s weight in kg by 180ml and divide this number by your baby’s daily feeds," says Geraldine.
Lorna White is a Senior Digital Writer and has written for Mother&Baby since 2020. She has a keen interest in a range of topics, from potty training and nutrition to baby names and maternity fashion.