Best Baby Bottles For Acid Reflux (2023)

If you’re in a hurry and just want to find the best baby bottles for acid reflux, I’d recommend the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottles.

Does your baby suffer from infant reflux? If so, one of the culprits could be the bottle that you’re using to feed your child. Fortunately, manufacturers now produce bottles that help reduce the effects of acid reflux.

In this article, I am breaking down the best best baby bottles for acid reflux, and in the end, I’ll choose the winner.

Here are the bottles I will be reviewing:

• Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Bottles
• Philips Avent Anti-Colic Baby Bottles
• Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Baby Bottles
• Comotomo Baby Bottles
• NUK Baby Bottles

The Best Baby Bottles For Acid Reflux

Below, you’ll find the five best baby bottles for acid reflux. In addition to reviewing the top five, I have also pick my favorite.

Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Bottles

Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Bottles feature a unique vent system that helps remove air from milk and formula. The company says that doing so increases the likelihood that your child absorbs essential vitamins, which is top of mind for every parent.  Dr. Brown also says that this product can help reduce feeding problems, such as:

• Spit-Up 
• Gas
• Burping
• Colic

Dr. Brown offers either single bottles or packs of six.  Each bottle weighs roughly 3.7 ounces. The product is plastic, although it does not contain any phthalates. The bottles are also unique because of their narrow design and positive pressure flow system. The pressure system creates vacuum free feeding that replicates breastfeeding.

Lastly, the bottles feature silicone nipples of various sizes. The nipples allow babies to feed at their own pace. The nipples work with the Internal Vent System to control the flow of the formula. Dr. Brown recommends that babies work their way from a Level One nipple to a Y-Cut nipple as they grow. There are no steadfast rules as to when you should change the nipple.

Philips Avent Anti-Colic Baby Bottles

The Philips Avent Anti-Colic Baby Bottles are another excellent option for those infants suffering from acid reflux. Customers can purchase the bottles in three different sizes: four ounces, nine ounces, and 11 ounces. However, these bottles are a bit pricier than some of the other options on our list.

Philips makes these bottles of a BPA-free polypropylene material. The bottles feature the company’s Anti-Colic Valve System, designed explicitly to keep air out. Philips says that they integrated this design into the nipple directly, making it easier for customers to use. They also say that the system is clinically proven to keep air in the bottle and not in your child’s stomach.

The bottles feature a wide-neck design, which makes them easier to clean. There are also markings on the bottles so that parents can measure quantities easily. The bottles are available in packs of two, three, or five, with each bottle weighing roughly three ounces. 

Tommee Tippee Closer To Nature Baby Feeding Bottles

The Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Baby Feeding Bottles feature a slow flow flexible nipple that replicates breastfeeding. Not only does the nipple provide a comfortable feeding, but it also replicates the skin of a mother’s breast. The nipple shape makes it easy for children to latch on. Tommee Tippee sells the bottles in a pack of six bright colors, including:

• Orange
• Red
• Purple
• Blue
• Yellow
• Teal

Each bottle costs a few dollars, making this product one of the more affordable on our list. The bottles are free of BPA. The company also designed the bottles so that users could hold them three different ways: cradling the bottle in hand, gripping it like a wide-neck bottle, or gripping it at the base. The ability to choose makes feeding more comfortable for both parents and children.

Customers can purchase the bottles in five-ounce, nine-ounce, and 11-ounce sizes. The bottles come with markings that make it easy for parents to measure formula. The company only includes Level One nipples with these bottles. 

Comotomo Baby Bottle

Comotomo designed these baby bottles to reduce problems from nipple confusion and bottle rejection. The bottles, which are available in five ounce and eight-ounce sizes, feature one of the widest-neck designs available. The bottles come in packs of two. So, you may want to purchase more than one pack. Parents can choose bottles with either green or pink lids. The bottles are a bit on the pricier side but are quite durable, and therefore an investment worth considering.

These bottles are microwave-safe. Customers should also not have any problem using boiling water or sterilizers. That’s because the maximum temperature for the cap and outer ring is 120 degrees Celsius. Comotomo manufactured the nipple and body of the bottle with hygienic silicone. Although dishwasher-safe, customers can clean the bottle by hand easily thanks to the full mouth design.

The company also included dual anti-colic vents, ensuring that air does not make it into your child’s breast milk or formula. The nipples feature a natural shape, making it easy for children to latch on. Lastly, the bottles are soft and squeezable, providing a better grip for children.

NUK Baby Bottle

NUK’s bottles seem to be a big hit among parents, and the bottles have quickly become a best-seller. The company offers these affordable bottles in five and ten-ounce options. Additionally, the company prints fun designs on the sides of the bottle. Examples include:

• Blue Elephants
• Pink Bunnies
• Hearts
• Mickey Mouse
• Boy or Girl Penguins

These prints are stimulating and make the bottle just a little more fun.

NUK included a “Perfect Fit” nipple with these bottles. The replicas are the same shape as a mother’s nipple. The company offers these nipples in two sizes with three different flow rates, perfect for infants of all ages. The nipples feature a leak-proof sealing hood as well as the company’s Anti-Colic Air System.  The company says that 90 percent of babies accept their nipples.

The bottles are free of BPA and are safe for use in the dishwasher. They feature a wide-mouth design which could make cleaning easier. The bottles also come with measurement markings that are easily distinguishable. We found that the nipples on this bottle were the most authentic available. Medium-flow nipples come with the bottles.

Things To Consider When Searching For The Best Baby Bottles For Acid Reflux

According to the Mayo Clinic, “infant reflux occurs when food backs up from a baby’s stomach, causing the baby to spit up.” Infant reflux can occur multiple times per day during feedings, although it tends to cease once a baby is around 18 months old. Babies who suffer from the condition are typically in pain and discomfort when feeding.

Why Can Bottles Help Reduce The Symptoms Of Acid Reflux?

Three primary factors further contribute to the likelihood of acid reflux in infants:

• A baby is born prematurely 
• The baby is on their back for a majority of the time
• The baby’s diet is entirely liquid

Unfortunately, these three factors are all unavoidable. As babies grow, they will begin to crawl and spend less time on their back. Additionally, they will eventually graduate to a diet of solid foods. But in the beginning, there little you can do to prevent those things from occurring. That said, choosing a special bottle designed explicitly for acid reflux can help.

When there are too many air bubbles in your child’s milk or formula, there is an increased likelihood of acid reflux. Many standard feeding bottles don’t remove air bubbles. However, some manufacturers design baby bottles for acid reflux with unique airflow features. Pediatricians often recommend switching to a new bottle to help reduce the symptoms of infant reflux.

What To Look For In An Acid Reflux Baby Bottle

When choosing a bottle for your baby, be sure to look for features that help remove pockets of air as this an important way of reducing acid reflux. Some bottles are angled, allowing air to flow through the bottle freely. Other bottles have vent systems to encourage airflow.

Some manufacturers have started including a positive pressure flow to keep air out. The pressure is meant to simulate the act of breastfeeding.

Healthline details how swallowing excess air can trigger an acid reflux attack. The site states that one of the significant misconceptions about acid reflux is that belching can relieve the symptoms. However, this is not the case. Instead, research has shown that swallowing more air makes the stomach feel fuller, which causes the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to relax.

The LES in babies is not yet mature, which means it is weak and not fully functioning. The more air your baby swallows, the less likely the LES is to perform correctly. When the LES relaxes, the stomach contents flows back into the esophagus, causing acid reflux.

So, when choosing from the best baby bottles for acid reflux, be sure to select those that reduce air in your baby’s formula.

What Are The Warning Signs Of Infant Reflux?

If you’re concerned about your child suffering from infant reflux, there are a few tell-tale warning signs that are indicative of the condition. First and foremost, a baby who isn’t gaining weight could be suffering from acid reflux. Lack of weight gain is often synonymous with babies who refuse food, and this often occurs when babies are uncomfortable due to reflux.

Similarly, if you notice that your child is particularly moody after eating, he or she could be suffering from acid reflux. Other warning signs involve the spit up that occurs during or after the meal. If your child spits up its food forcefully, acid reflux could be the cause. The same goes for spit up that is:

• Yellow
• Green
• Bloody
• Brown and gritty, much like coffee grinds

Cook Children’s Health Care System put up an informational video explaining the differences between normal infant spit up, and acid reflux spit up.

If you notice blood in your child’s stool or that your child is struggling to breathe, you should contact a doctor immediately. While these are also warnings signs of acid reflux, they could also be signs of a more serious underlying condition.

Final Thoughts

We believe that the five best baby bottles for acid reflux listed above are all excellent options. However, we feel that the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottles are the best product available for purchase. In part, this is because the nipples are on this bottle are so authentic.

We also liked that the bottles reduced air-flow no matter how parents or children held the bottle. Some bottles don’t function well when parents hold them at a certain angle. However, Tommee Tippee designed these bottles so that parents can hold them at three different angles and still keep air out of the formula.

By the way, if you’re interested in keeping these bottles clean, here are are my reviews of the best baby bottle soaps.