If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best baby bottles for acid reflux is then I’d recommend Dr. Brown’s Original Bottles as the best one.
Acid reflux can make mealtime a nightmare for your young child and cause you as a parent to feel powerless. Luckily, the right bottle may be able to help alleviate the discomfort caused by reflux. Today, I’m going to give you an in-depth look at the best baby bottles for acid reflux and discuss some things you need to know about this condition. Let’s dive right in.
Table of Contents
What Is Infant Reflux?
Infant reflux is when the formula or breast milk baby drinks comes back up from their stomach and into their esophagus, causing them to spit up. This condition is common in young babies and may persist until up to 18 months of age, though it usually stops at this time.
Infant reflux is typical and is primarily due to three things:
- An all-liquid diet
- Being born prematurely
- Spending too much time on their back
How to Tell if Your Infant Has Reflux
Babies who have reflux often cry during feeding because of the discomfort it causes them. But while crying or fussiness is characteristic in babies who suffer from this condition, it’s not the best indicator of this condition. There are some better ways to tell if your infant has reflux.
The most telltale sign is a lack of weight gain. A lack of weight gain in infants usually points to the baby refusing food, which they do if the reflux they experience while eating makes them uncomfortable.
Another sign is if your baby becomes fussy after eating, or if their spit up is a yellow, green, or brown color. If you suspect your baby has reflux, schedule a visit with your pediatrician. These symptoms are sometimes signs of a more severe condition.
How Do Bottles Reduce the Symptoms of Acid Reflux?
You may be wondering what an acid reflux bottle is and why changing to one can help with infant reflux. These bottles feature a special design that reduces air bubbles in the formula or breast milk, thereby minimizing the symptoms of infant reflux.
One such design is an internal vent system that stops air from combining with the formula. These bottles direct air into the bottle base, which prevents air from reaching your baby’s stomach. Another popular acid reflux bottle is one with a titled design that allows for positive airflow.
Regardless of the type of bottle, the reduced air bubbles in the formula and your baby’s stomach make their eating experience much happier.
What to Look For When Choosing an Acid Reflux Baby Bottle
The main difference between a regular bottle and an acid reflux bottle is the airflow features the latter has. As we mentioned, some bottles are angled to promote free airflow, while others have vent features. Still some others feature bottle liners that reduce air bubbles.
Whatever option you choose, it’s vital to make sure the bottle is indicated for acid reflux. You may also want to pay close attention to the number of parts the bottle has, as some acid reflux bottles have many, which makes cleaning them a bit more laborious.
Your Baby’s Health: Other Tips for Reducing Reflux
Bottles are just one of the ways you can reduce your baby’s reflux. Here are some changes you may want to implement to improve this condition:
- Burp your baby more frequently during feeding
- Feed your baby less but increase the frequency
- Add thickening agents to the formula
- Switch to a hypoallergenic formula if your baby is allergic to cow’s milk protein
Best Baby Bottles for Acid Reflux
Now let’s take a closer look at some of the best baby bottles for acid reflux. In the end, I’ll declare a winner and tell you why it topped the list.
Playtex Baby Ventaire Anti Colic
This Playtex bottle features unique vent technology that shoots air into the base of the bottle. It also has upward positioning, which is vital for babies with reflux. Playtex designed the nipple to imitate the breast, making this bottle a fantastic option for moms who are looking to transition from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding.
We like the wide neck, which makes cleaning a breeze and also makes the Ventaire an excellent travel bottle. The only real downside that we must mention is that the nipple does not limit flow. If your baby is a slow eater, this bottle might gag them, so we’d recommend something different.
Pros:
- Easy to clean
- Ergonomic design promotes upright feeding
- Includes just a few parts that make assembly simple
Cons:
- May choke babies that eat slowly
Dr. Brown’s Original Bottle
Dr. Brown’s Original Bottle is a highly popular bottle for babies that suffer from common conditions such as colic, gas, and reflux. Dr. Brown’s is a vent system that is widely regarded for its ability to reduce (or eliminate) these ailments. These dishwasher-safe bottles are made of plastic, but they don’t have any phthalates.
It comes with silicone nipples of various sizes that work in tandem with the vent system to regulate milk flow. We like how well these bottles control the milk flow, which allows babies to eat at their own pace—just as they would do when breastfeeding. For moms that are still breastfeeding, this bottle is a wonderful option.
Pros:
- Includes slow flow nipples that are perfect for slow eaters
- Everything is washable
- BPA-free
Cons:
- Some extra cleaning is required
- Bottles leak if you don’t put a circular insert in place
Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Fiesta Baby Feeding Bottles
What makes the Tommee Tippee bottle stand out is that the nipple is realistically shaped and closely mimics the feel of the breast, which helps prevent nipple confusion issues. It features an anti-colic valve that keeps the air in the bottle and not in your baby’s stomach.
Tommee Tippee is touted as being a fantastic choice for breastfed babies who tend to refuse bottles. It’s got a moderate stream nipple that emulates breastfeeding, and many parents endorse this bottle. Plus, while not the most important feature, this bottle comes in a variety of fun colors.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Comes in fun colors
- Innovative nipple design
Cons:
- Only one type of nipple comes with the bottle
- Some leakage
- This bottle has some extra parts to clean
Evenflo Proflo Vented Plus Bottle
The Evenflo Proflo Vented Plus Bottle features a vent system that removes air from milk. The nipple is designed to control flow, which allows slower eaters to eat at their own pace—though we should mention that it may be too fast for infants. And with only three pieces, it’s easy to put together and clean.
Evenflo did a fantastic job with the nipple, which is designed to mimic the breast for a natural feel as your baby feeds. It allows them to really latch on, which also helps prevent reflux. We love this option for how well it simulates breastfeeding.
Pros:
- Easy to clean and assemble
- Design allows for excellent latching
Cons:
- Flow may be too fast for some babies
Comotomo Baby Bottle
While the Comotomo Baby Bottle doesn’t feature a specific anti-reflux design, the anti-colic vents serve the same purpose: the dual vents keep air out of your baby’s food. Comotomo wanted to eliminate issues with nipple confusion and bottle rejection in their design. To that end, they created nipples that are a natural shape so that your baby will latch on easily.
This bottle comes in packs of two, and we love that it has a slow-flow design that makes it great for infants, as well as slow eaters. It’s also microwave safe.
The only downsides are that it’s somewhat pricey, and parents complain that the measurement markings could be a bit easier to see.
Pros:
- Heat resistant
- Wide mouth makes it easy to clean by hand
- Dishwasher safe
- Rounded shape is easy for your little one to grasp
Cons:
- On the pricey side
- Some of the measurement markings are difficult to see
Top Pick for Best Baby Bottle for Acid Reflux
So which of these bottles is the winner? After carefully reviewing the top options, my top pick is Dr. Brown’s Original Bottle victorious. Although all of the bottles on the list are strong in their own right, Dr. Brown’s stands slightly above the competition.
First and foremost, I take the endorsement of the parents who use this bottle seriously. It’s one of the most popular bottles out there for babies with colic, gas, and reflux, and that speaks volumes about its design. Plus, parents love how easy it is to clean and the fact that it’s BPA-free.
Secondly, flow-regulating nipples are a vital feature in baby bottles for acid reflux, and Dr. Brown’s does an excellent job at this. The nipples on these bottles simulate breastfeeding quite well, allowing even the slowest of eaters to eat at their own pace. This feature also makes Dr. Brown’s a sound choice for younger babies with reflux, who tend to be slower eaters.
This bottle goes above and beyond, and I give it our highest recommendation.