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The best bottles for newborns support a comfortable latch, controlled milk flow and provide a calm feeding experience whether you're breastfeeding, formula feeding or combination feeding.
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If you're breastfeeding, choose bottles with a breast-like teat and flow that matches yours to help your baby switch between breast and bottle more easily.
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For formula-fed babies or those prone to wind, anti-colic bottles can help reduce air intake during feeds and may ease symptoms of trapped wind or discomfort.
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Wash baby bottles thoroughly after every feed using warm, soapy water; wash them in the dishwasher or a sterilizer before their next use.
Feeding little and often takes up a lot of your time when you have a newborn. If you're using bottles to feed your baby expressed breast milk or formula, the choices and finding the best baby bottles for newborns can sometimes be confusing.
There’s no evidence that a certain type of nipple or bottle is better than any other as it’s all about personal preference.
This guide is here to help you find the right type of bottle that works well for both you and your baby.
How to choose baby bottles for a newborn
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Anti-colic features: Many newborns experience gas and colic, so bottles with built-in venting systems can help reduce air intake.
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Teat shape: Look for bottle teats that mimic a breast in shape and movement to encourage a natural latch. Slow-flow teats are usually best for newborns and babies under 3 months, although this isn’t always the case as all babies are unique.
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Easy cleaning: Bottles with wide necks are easier to clean. Dishwasher-safe components and self-sterilizing functionality are also a plus and will help save you time and effort between feeds.
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Bottle material: Options include plastic, glass, and silicone. Ensure any plastic bottles you use are BPA-free.
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Durability and quality: If you notice that your baby’s bottle is damaged, scratched or cracked, it’s a good idea to replace it. Baby bottle teats need to be changed regularly, too. We recommend replacing your bottle teats every two months or at the first sign of any damage or weakness.
No two babies are the same, and neither are our self-sterilising bottles. They can both be used to feed expressed breast milk or formula, and are both designed to provide anti-colic support, but there are some key differences that set them apart.
Our Natural Start® bottles support your nurturing instincts when introducing your baby to bottle feeding. They come in a range of materials, including soft, squishy silicone and glass.
This bottle also comes in a 2oz size with measurement markers from 10ml, specially designed for newborns. Available in our Perfect Latch Trial Kit, it aims to help reduce the risk of overfeeding as it’s perfectly sized for tiny tummies.
If a baby needs extra anti-colic support, our Advanced Anti-Colic™ bottles are specially designed to ease the discomfort of colic, gas and reflux.
The best bottles for breastfed babies
If you are breastfeeding and bottle feeding, often called combi-feeding or mixed feeding, choosing the right bottle is crucial to minimise nipple confusion and ensure you can switch between breast and bottle, and back again, easily.
Introducing a bottle to a breastfed baby isn’t always an easy process, but certain features can make the transition easier – namely, nipple shape and flow rate.
If baby is used to the feeding mechanics used for breastfeeding, they may need a similarly shaped nipple to feed successfully. As for flow rate, breastfeeding allows babies to control milk flow through active sucking and pauses, so they might not refuse a bottle that releases milk faster and with less effort.
For your ease, you may also want to consider a bottle that can attach to a breast pump, like our BPA-free plastic and silicone bottles*, for simple expressing and making sure you never waste a drop.
Baby nipples for breastfeeding
The best nipple for a breastfed baby is one that supports a natural, breast-like latch and mimics the milk flow from a breast.
A flow rate that matches the pace of milk flow from your breast can support smoother transitions between breast and bottle, and certain teat shapes can feel more natural to baby than others.
There’s no one-size-fits-all choice and there’s no right or wrong choice, as all babies and breasts are different.
That’s why we have two Natural Start teat shapes and a range of flow rates so you can find the right combination that suits your baby:
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Wide Latch teat: Breast-like and flexible, designed to help reduce nipple confusion when switching between breast and bottle
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Deep Latch teat: Developed with Healthcare Professionals^, with a triangular, nipple-like shape designed to easily reach the soft palate for a deep latch and natural pace.
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Flow rates: Range from gentle extra-slow up to fast, so there is a flow for whatever stage they’re at. You can read about how to choose the right teat flow and signs you need to change flow rate here in our handy flow rate guide.
You might find a kit like our Perfect Latch Trial Kit helpful for this as it has our two breast-like shapes in an extra slow flow to try, helping you find their perfect teat easily.
You also receive a milk cup that not only allows small breast milk feeds but also can be used for cup feeding – a technique recommended by Healthcare Professionals to feed your baby while you’re establishing a good latch.
“Great product! Would highly recommend to newborn moms. My little one loves the bottles, and I love the fact you can sterilize them in the microwave. If anyone is looking for a bottle for their newborn, definitely go for these!” Sophie, UK
The best bottles for formula fed newborns
While exclusively bottle feeding means that you don’t need to replicate baby’s experience with a breast, babies will naturally look for breast-like features from a bottle.
One difference is that the process of preparing and mixing formula can sometimes cause air bubbles to form, so minimising air intake during feeding is important to help prevent discomfort.
Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic™ bottles are specially engineered to soothe. These bottles have a patented vented wand and silicone valve that draw air away from baby's stomach and help reduces air intake to combat the discomfort of colic, gas and reflux. For calmer, more comfortable feeds with less gas and less stress.
“These bottles are life-changing. The baby no longer has issues with wind and has stopped dripping as much milk down his chin. I’ve had no issues with him latching on. Sterilising in the microwave is a game changer. Super easy to clean and sterilise. Would definitely recommend to family and friends.” Fay, UK
Baby bottle nipples for formula feeding
For bottle acceptance with an exclusively bottle-fed baby, you don’t have to worry about nipple confusion - you can find a shape that suits them based solely on their preference.
Our Perfect Latch Trial Kit is great for this as it features both of our nipple shapes so you can try each one and find which they prefer.
What size bottles do newborns need?
When getting ready for your newborn, knowing the right bottle sizes is key.
- Small bottles (4-5 oz/120-150 ml): These are perfect for newborns. In the early weeks, babies have small stomachs and eat small amounts often. These bottles prevent waste by avoiding large, unused portions of formula or breast milk.
- Larger bottles (8-11 oz/260-340 ml): As your baby grows and needs more per feeding, you'll need to move up to these larger bottles.
Baby bottle shopping tips
- Start small: It's best to begin with smaller bottles. You can always increase the amount or switch to a larger bottle as your baby's appetite grows.
- Nipple flow: The flow rate of the nipple is just as important as the bottle size and nipple shape. Tommee Tippee offers various flow rates to support smooth transitions between breast and bottle. Newborns and babies under 3 months typically need slow-flow nipples.
- Individual needs: Every baby is different. Watch your baby's feeding cues and adjust the flow rate you’re using as needed.
- Too fast: Gulping, coughing, gagging, refusing to feed, or milk dripping from the mouth.
- Too slow: Feeds taking over 20 minutes, tugging at the nipple, or falling asleep during feeding.
Having a mix of small and large bottles, and nipples with different flow rates, will help you meet your baby's changing feeding needs as they grow.
