The best bottle for your baby.
- Desiree Bobby
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
This blog post is about baby bottles, milk flow, and teat types : what are the differences, when to use which bottle, and which are most suitable for the first few weeks after birth . And, of course, I'll share my favorite bottle during this time.
Read in 1 minute
Looking at baby bottles in the store can quickly become overwhelmed. They come in all shapes and sizes, and brands often promise that their bottle is the best. In practice, however, there's no such thing as the best bottle. What works best varies from baby to baby and depends on their feeding speed, oral anatomy, alertness, and maturation in the first few days.
The most important factor with bottles is the flow rate . The faster the milk flows, the less control a baby has. A calm, slow flow is usually best for newborns, as it better suits their immature sucking and swallowing coordination. Don't just consider the size of the nipple: this varies by brand and is primarily a guideline. Pay particular attention to your baby's drinking behavior.
The shape of the nipple and anti-colic systems also play a role. They can sometimes help with calmness and control, but they're no guarantee against colic. Flow, posture, and responsive feeding are often more important than the type of valve.
Bobby's favorite: In practice, I find that the Dr. Brown's bottle (120 ml) with a size 1 nipple is a good and safe start for many newborns. The smaller nipple fits many babies well, and the bottle is readily available. I recommend having three bottles and two sets of size P nipples (preemie) at home, so you can adjust the feeding rate and get through the night without having to clean bottles in between. The P nipple is often difficult to find in stores, so it's best to order it online right away.
Want to learn more about nutrition in the first few weeks, what's normal, and what to expect? I explain this step by step in The Baby School .
Anyone who ever browses the drugstore shelves quickly becomes overwhelmed by the sheer number of baby bottles. They come in all shapes and sizes. It's very difficult for a layperson to know the differences and which one is right for your baby.
It is not without reason that maternity nurses are regularly asked: “Which bottle is best for my baby?”
Although brands would like you to believe that their bottle is the best , and some mothers swear that their baby only drinks well from bottle X, that in itself says little about the bottle and certainly does not mean that it is the only right choice.
The honest answer is: there is no one best bottle for all babies.
The right bottle depends on your baby's drinking speed, oral anatomy, alertness and age , and sometimes also on how the first few days after birth go.
Why the “best bottle” varies per baby
Babies don't all drink the same. This is because there are significant differences in:
Mouth size
Palate shape (high, narrow or wide)
Tongue mobility and strength
Jaw stability
Neurological maturation (especially in the first days after birth)
For effective drinking, a baby must:
to be able to enclose the teat well,
be able to build up sufficient vacuum ,
be able to compress the teat rhythmically with the tongue ,
be able to coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing well.
If any of these steps do not work well, you will see signs such as milk leakage from the corners of the mouth, clicking sounds, choking or coughing, restlessness or quickly falling asleep, long or difficult feedings.
That's why bottle choice is always functional, not cosmetic.
The most important factor: flow rate
What many parents don't know is that almost every pacifier has a designation printed on it. This can be a letter, a number, or a combination of both, such as:
P (preemie)
NB or 0
1, 2, 3
S, M, L
sometimes a symbol or dots
This indication indicates the flow rate : how quickly the milk can flow out of the teat.
Why this is important
The rate at which milk flows determines how much control your baby has while feeding. A larger nipple usually allows more milk to flow per suck, often due to:
a bigger hole,
multiple holes,
or another internal form.
That means:
lower size → more control, slower tempo
higher size → less work, faster delivery
For young babies (and especially newborns) that difference is very noticeable.
Not all “slow flow” teats are created equal
Sizes are not standardized
An important point of nuance: a size 1 teat from brand A is not automatically as fast as size 1 from brand B.
The variation in flow between brands, and even within the same brand, can be significant. Therefore, the indication on the teat is a relative guideline , not an objective measure.
That is also why I always advise parents not to just look at the number, but especially at their baby's drinking behaviour .
Too fast flow
milk runs from the mouth,
baby hardly needs to suck,
increased risk of choking and restlessness.
Too slow flow
baby gets tired more quickly,
feeding takes a very long time,
baby passes out before sufficient intake.
For newborns (especially in the first few days), a controlled, low flow is usually desirable, so that the drinking rate matches their neurological maturation. This is usually size 1 or S.
What I often see in practice
In the first few days after birth, many babies are:
still a bit sleepy,
motorically immature,
busy learning to suck and coordinate.
That is why in practice I often start with:
a low flow (for example size 1),
and later I switch to an even more controlled flow (like P/preemie)
That sounds contradictory, but in practice you often see: the calmer the flow, the better the organization of the drinking.
When combining breast and bottle feeding, my goal is for the bottle to be no easier than the breast. This is often advised to prevent potential nipple confusion , although there's no complete consensus on this.
Different teat shapes:
Besides differences in flow, bottle nipples also differ in shape. Below, I've listed the most common shapes and their characteristics.
Narrow, round teat
Features
narrow neck
relatively small start
actively requires vacuum
Advantages
good control over flow
often fits well with small mouths
suitable for responsive/paced feeding
Point of attention
Some babies have difficulty creating a sufficient vacuum, especially if they have low muscle tone or wider palates.
Broad base (“breast-like”)
Features
broader base
requires a bigger bite
Advantages
can help babies who lose vacuum on narrow teats
sometimes less milk loss with a wider oral anatomy
Point of attention
sometimes difficult for small or young babies to latch on
“Breast-like” is primarily marketing; functional flow remains leading
Orthodontic/flattened teat
Features
asymmetrical shape
is different on the tongue
Advantages
may be more comfortable for some babies with a high palate
Point of attention
not every baby can close properly here
no evidence that this is standardly better for jaw development
Bottle material: glass vs. plastic vs. silicone
Besides nipple and flow, the bottle's material also plays a role. Not so much in how a baby drinks, but in hygiene, durability, and how the material holds up under intensive use , such as frequent sterilization in the first few months.
Glass | Plastic | Silicone | |
Plus points |
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Negative points |
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Anti-colic bottles and valves: do they really help?
Finally, you'll find many different anti-colic systems and valves on baby bottles. The idea behind these bottles is that they reduce air intake while feeding, which could help with colic and fussiness.
What we do know from studies
Venting/anti-vacuum systems change the drinking mechanism and pressure buildup in the bottle, which can cause babies to suck differently.
The idea that “gasping for air causes colic” is not firmly established ; evidence that vented systems resolve colic is low/weak, and results are mixed.
Swallowed air can cause belching, bloating, and fussiness during or after feeding, which can worsen colic but is rarely the sole cause of colic.
Practical conclusion
An anti-colic bottle can sometimes help babies who build up a lot of vacuum, sputter or become restless due to pressure in the bottle.
But don't expect a miracle cure for colic; often flow + posture + responsive feeding are more important.
The best bottle if you are also breastfeeding
When you combine breast and bottle, the goal is usually to make the pace and effort similar to breastfeeding, so that baby doesn't get "used" to a super-fast, effortless flow.
What often works best:
Real slow-flow teat (and not automatically "size up" because the packaging says months)
Responsive/paced bottle feeding (baby sets the pace, pauses are normal)
Bobby's favorites
In practice, I find the Dr. Brown's bottle a great starting option for many families: the smaller nipple fits many newborns well, and the bottle is readily available. I would therefore recommend it. However, I do recommend purchasing a size P (preemie) nipple right away, so you can adjust the feeding pace properly. Because this P nipple is difficult to find in many drugstores, I recommend ordering it online as well.
Dr. Brown 120 ml size 1.
A good starter bottle for most newborns. A gentle flow and excellent control.
Tip: Three bottles are usually enough. This allows you to get through the night without having to wash bottles.
In the first few days after birth, many babies feed well on a size 1 nipple. As their energy and alertness increase, you sometimes see babies still need to suck after a full bottle feeding. This can be a good time to switch to a size P nipple . The flow of milk then becomes calmer and slower, more similar to breastfeeding, giving the baby more control, satisfying their sucking needs more effectively, and allowing the milk to enter the gastrointestinal tract more gradually. This can help limit additional nipple use.
Dr. Brown's teat size P
Slower flow for more relaxed drinking. Minimizes the risk of overfeeding. Handy as an addition to size 1.
Tip: 2 packs are enough for 3 bottles.
Which bottle ultimately works best for your baby is always a matter of trial and error. Before birth, there's simply no way to predict how quickly your baby will drink, how the vacuum will connect, or which teat shape feels most comfortable. And that's okay. You don't have to get it perfect right away.
Want to learn more about nutrition, what's normal, and what to expect during the first few weeks? I'll guide you step by step through the process in The Baby School .
Love,
Bobby
