The Best Baby Bottles for Breastfed Babies

So what is the best bottle for a breastfed baby?  Breastfed babies can be very finicky when it comes to taking a bottle since it isn’t something that they are used to. Even if you plan on exclusively breastfeeding, the time may come when you won’t be around and need have someone else give baby a bottle. It can be incredibly stressful leaving baby and worrying whether or not they will eat while you are gone. So it’s worth experimenting ahead of time. Some bottles appeal more than others by mimicking the feel/sensation of a breast. These bottles naturally tend to better choices than others for breastfed babies. 

However, with anything related to feeding or sucking, I’ve found that babies have their own preferences (just like adults do). Spoiler alert, my little babes didn’t both like the same bottles. So when it comes to baby bottles, I’d highly suggest buying just one or two of a few different types to test out before stocking up on them. I know lots of mom-to-be who registered for 5 or 10 packs of bottles only to find their baby wouldn’t take them. Buying and testing will ensure you don’t waste all that hard-earned money on a baby bottle that won’t be even used. (P.S. same thing goes for pacifiers as well)

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What to look for in a baby bottle for breastfed babies

To ensure a smooth transition, you are looking for a bottle that more closely mimics the breastfeeding experience. Bottles with soft wide nipples in a breast-like shape with a slow flow are ideal. Breastfed babies are used to doing a bit of work to get the milk flowing, so you don’t want a fast flow nipple that drips steadily out with little effort. 

It’s also smart to look for bottles that are anti-colic. This means they usually have methods for releasing trapped air so that baby doesn’t swallow it all and end up with a bunch of air bubbles in their tummy. Finally, in an ideal world you want a bottle doesn’t have 15 different tiny parts that need to be cleaned each time. If you find a bottle that a picky baby takes, you made have to accept whatever bottle that is. However, I’d recommend starting with one that has fewer components to clean and sanitize.

The Best Bottles for Breastfed Babies

1. Comotomo Natural Feel Baby Bottle

My son’s favorite bottle was the Comotomo Baby Bottle. We tried out quite a few, and this was the only one he would accept when I first went back to work. I have to say that we lucked out that he liked this one. It has only a few parts and no small pieces to clean unlike many of other bottles. The silicone nipple on this bottle is much larger than those found on traditional baby bottles. On top of that, it’s super soft, and elongated to make it easy to latch on to for baby. 

The Comotomo is available in 5 and 8 oz sizes and in pink or green colors. It’s free from BPA, PVC and phthalates. It’s also safe to go in the dishwasher and to be boiled and sanitized. Overall it’s a great bottle to test out as a starting point for your breastfed baby. We used this and loved it! I would highly recommend giving the Comotomo Bottle a try.

2. mimijumi – Very Hungry Baby Bottle for breastfed babies

This bottle was specifically designed with breastfed babies in mind, and it shows. The skin-toned nipple of the mimijumi very hungry baby bottle is large, soft and wide and was made to mimic the look and feel of a breast. It’s also tilted on top of the bottle to present a more similar angle to the breastfeeding experience. Another unique feature of this bottle is the non-skid base which prevents it from falling over when you place it down hastily. It also has a venting system for keeping colic at bay. 

It is made with medical and food grade silicone and nylon, free of BPA, BPS, latex, phthalates, lead and all known EA (Estrogenic Activity) agents. Safe to use in the top rack of a dishwasher or in an electric steamer for easy cleaning. The mimijumi baby bottles is available in 4 and 8 oz sizes. You can purchase a lighter or a darker nipple color to better match skin tone. This is a fantastic option for breastfed babies. I do think by touch and feel this bottle looks the most like an actual breast. I’ve seen numerous frustrated moms claim this as the miracle bottle that got their breastfed baby to eat from a bottle. Definitely worth a shot for the picky breastfed baby.

3. Nanobebe Breast Milk Baby Bottle

The Nanobebe baby bottle has a ton of cool features for moms who are breastfeeding or pumping. It was designed specifically to cool breast milk quickly and warm evenly to reduce bacterial growth and allow for quick feeding. These are also the only bottles I have seen that are stackable for easy storage. It had a large rounded shape and an open bottom to make it lightweight and easy for baby to hold. It has has an advanced 360 degree anti-colic venting system for reducing air pressure. Additionally, each bottle comes with a breast pump adapter so that you can pump directly into the bottle. This provides such convenience by allowing you to pump, store, warm and feed all from the same bottle. Definitely worth a consideration for the breastfeeding or exclusively pumping mom!

The nanobebe baby bottle is shaped like a breast to be more familiar and natural for a breastfed baby to use. It has more pieces than the first two bottles I listed, but not an unmanageable amount. It’s safe to use in the dishwasher and free from phthalates, lead, and BPA. The shape of this bottle also makes it the easiest to hold out of the bunch.  

4. Dr Brown’s Breastfeeding Baby Bottle

Dr Brown’s has long been a mainstay in the baby bottle world. They claim a 93% acceptance rate from babies, which is very impressive. These were actually the only bottle that my daughter would take as a baby. She had a difficult time latching (both when breastfeeding or when bottle feeding), and something about these bottle nipples made it easier for her. The nipple on these was re-designed to be wider and more like a natural breast. This makes them much more appealing to breastfed babies than the older Dr. Brown’s baby bottles.

This bottle is made out of glass, so no need to worry about some of the scary chemicals found in plastics. Safe for the dishwasher or a sterilizer for easy cleaning Also, the bottle includes and advanced venting system for preventing colic. I will say this bottle does have a lot of parts to clean. I consider this the biggest drawback, but still worth considering if other options aren’t working well for your little one. With the right pump or adapter you can pump directly into these bottles and store. 

5. Boon NURSH Baby Bottle 

Next on the list is the Boon NURSH silicone pouch baby bottle. These uniquely designed pouches collapse as baby drinks, preventing air from getting in and being swallowed. This in turn keeps baby from having painful gas and lots of burping. It’s also soft and designed to feel naturally like mom. Making them an excellent choice for a breastfed baby. The bottles are made without PVA or BPA. They come in a wide away of colors and in 4 and 8 ounce sizes. The Boon bottles are safe to boil, microwave, freeze, or sterilize, with few parts for easy cleaning. On top of all of that they are also a super light bottle that are easy for baby to hold. 

6. MAM Easy Start Baby Bottle

Another great option for a baby bottle for a breastfed baby is the MAM Easy Start bottle. This bottle features an elongated nipple to simulate mom. It is also anti-colic with a vented base which was designed to release liquid slowly. This prevents bubbles that can cause gas and colic symptoms. Based on market research conducted on 1,572 babies it was found to reduce colic symptoms in 80% of those and was accepted by 94% of those babies.

Another neat feature of these bottles is that they are self-sterilizing. To sterilize, you simply fill the base of the bottle with 20ml of water, put the nipple on the base and close the bottle, and then pop the bottle into the microwave for 3 minutes. Then the bottle and nipple are clean and sanitized and you are ready to go!

7. Munchkin Latch Anti-Colic Baby Bottle

The Munchkin Latch baby bottle features an extra flexible nipple to help better simulate the breastfeeding experience. The nipple stretches and flexes just like mom for a perfect and consistent latch every time. The nipple was designed to “pump” meaning that as more pressure is applied, more milk is released. This allows baby to control the flow of milk, just like during real breastfeeding. Additionally, the bottle features an anti-colic valve on the bottom of the bottom designed to prevent bubbles and reduce gassiness. 

The Munchkin Latch bottle is made from Silicone and is BPA Free. It is available in 4 or 8 ounce bottles in a variety of packs or as a standalone. There are also 3 stages of nipples available: stage 1 for newborns (slow flow), stage 2 for 3 months plus (medium flow) and stage 3 for over 6 months (fast flow). There is also a pump adapter available which makes the bottles compatible with many leading breast pumps.

8. Lansinoh Baby Bottles for Breastfeeding Babies

Lansinoh makes a number of excellent products to support successful breastfeeding from pumps to nipple cream and even baby bottles. These bottles feature a “NaturalWave” nipple which are specifically designed to prevent nipple confusion as baby switches between the bottle and mom. The soft flexible nipple mimics the same feel baby has during breastfeeding to promote sucking. Additionally the bottle only has 4 parts, so it is a breeze to clean. 

9. Tommee Tippee Closer To Nature Baby Bottles

You might be able to tell by the name that Tommee Tippee Closer To Nature Baby Bottles are specifically designed to give baby a similar feel to mom. The whole bottle is shaped like a breast to mimic the breastfeeding experience because “babies prefer it that way”. The soft breast-like nipple was designed to allow babies to latch on easily, supporting the transition between breast and bottle. It is made from soft silicone, feeling closer to mom to provide a comforting experience at feeding time.

10. NUK Simply Natural Baby Bottle

Last, but not least, is the NUK Simply Natural Baby Bottle designed for breastfed babies. This bottle features a unique soft scoop nipple that was meant to provide space for baby’s tongue and jaw to move naturally. Like all the bottles on this list, the nipple is designed to feel like mom to provide a more familiar and comfortable feeding experience. The bottle has an anti-colic air vent system to prevent gas bubbles during feeding. Finally, these bottles are super easy to clean with just three separate parts.

Tips for getting breastfed babies to take a bottle

 
That rounds up my list of the best bottles for breastfed babies, but how do you actually get baby to take the bottle? Breastfed babies can be incredibly picky sometimes with taking a bottle. Especially when they’ve only known one way of eating their entire life. Who can blame them? Here are some tips you can try to get your Breastfed baby to actually eat from a bottle:

– Be patient

It often takes many tries for baby to adjust to a new way of feeding. Sometimes babies will go on a hunger strike and wait for mom to return initially. Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean that baby will never accept a bottle. Know that this is a normal response and if you keep trying, you may get different results later. Be patient and keep trying. 

– Try out a few bottles

Babies have their own preferences just like adults do. Sometimes they will take immediately to one bottle over another. Any of the above bottles for breastfed babies would be great to test. I recommend not stocking up on any one bottle until you have a chance to test out with your baby and find out what they prefer.

– Have someone else feed baby

Your baby can smell you and your milk. Knowing the milk factory is right there in front of them, baby may refuse to take it out of the bottle from you. Have someone else try giving your baby the bottle until they really get the hang of it. 

– Hold them like you would when breastfeeding

Anything you can do to be closer to the breastfeeding experience is likely to help. Snuggle them close and hold them in a similar position as you would hold them when breastfeeding. This can help the experience feel a bit more familiar to baby and make them more likely to accept a new bottle.

– Feed them when they are hungry, but not hangry

You’re looking for that magic window of opportunity when baby is hungry, so they will be interested in food. However, you don’t want them to be ravenous and impatient. When your baby is in that state, they are much less likely to tolerate something new and unusual. 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Let me know in a comment below if I missed your favorite baby bottle or if you’ve tried one of the ones I shared. I’d love to hear from you and add it to my list of the best bottles for breastfed babies. You may also be interested in this post on The 10 Best Pacifiers for Breastfed Babies.