Whether you’re feeding your baby formula or expressed breast milk, navigating the wide variety of bottles and nipples can be challenging. Every child is different, andbottles and nipples are not one-size-fits-all. It might take some experimenting to find out what works best for you and your little one.
Whether you and your partner have trouble breastfeeding or finding the right bottle nipples, we have the answers. Explore our list of the best bottle nipples for rice cereal.
Table of Contents
The Best Bottle Nipples for Rice Cereal
| Top Products | Rating | Why We Chose This Product |
| 1. Comotomo Natural-Feel Baby Bottle | 4.6 | Best Overall |
| 2. Medela Breast Milk Bottle Nipple | 4.6 | Runner Up |
| 3. Philips Avent SCF010/47 Natural 4 Ounce Bottle | 4.8 | Best Value |
| 4. Brown’s Options Glass Baby Bottles | 4.3 | Premium Pick |
| 5. Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Fiesta Bottle | 4.6 | Budget Pick |
1. Best Overall: Comotomo Natural-Feel Baby Bottle
Transitioning from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding can be tricky withsome babies; you want to make it as smooth as possible. For many, buying some single bottles of different types is a good way to find what’s best for your baby.
The Comotomo natural-feel bottle is available in either a 5 oz. or 8 oz size with pink or green colors. It’s ideal for newborns and older babies alike. These bottles have a wide mound and naturally shaped nipple to mimic the mother’s breast.
Besides being easy for your little one to latch onto, these are made with BPA-free silicone and are dishwasher and microwave safe. The silicone gives these bottles a super soft grip that infants enjoy. The nipple is dual vented to ease discomfort and prevents burping. Lastly, these bottles feature an extra-wide base, making them easy to clean.
2. Runner Up: Medela Breast Milk Bottle Set
Pumping is a full-time job, and the last thing most parents want to do after a long day is clean bottles and pumps. If you are using aMedela pump, using the Medela bottles for feeding cuts down on cleaning time. It makes pumping directly into a bottle efficient.
These BPA-free bottles come in a 5-ounce size with a slow flow intended for newborns and an 8-ounce size with medium flow nipple for babies 4-12 months old. All you need to do is pump into the bottle and attachthe nipple. These bottles have an accurate line on them, so you will know how much you’re pumping.
These bottles don’t have a wide base, but they’re flexible, like other picks on our list. Many parents report their baby had no issue going from this bottle back to the breast.
3. Best Value: Philips Avent SCF010/47 Natural 4 Ounce Bottle
If you’re planning on giving your child more than a bottle, consider adding a set of bottles to your arsenal. The Phillips Avent Natural bottles are a great choice for parents because they are inexpensive, easy to clean. Many parents have reported no trouble transitioning between breast and bottle.
The nipple on the Philips Avent bottle is breast-shaped, helping your baby transition between skin and bottle. It is very flexible, and it imitates a real nipple. Like most bottle nipples on this list, they also feature a wide base, promoting a healthy latch and helping moms. Moreover, the anti-colic valve helps remove unwanted gas from the feeding, preventing a fussy baby.
4. Premium Pick: Brown’s Options Glass Baby Bottles
Eliminating plastic at home is a concern for many parents, so buying a glass bottle might be an option for you. This wide-neck, glass bottle gets a thumbs-up from parents and babies alike. It’s the first convertible bottle in the market. You can use it with or without the vent system, and it’s perfect for rice cereal. Dr. Brown’s bottle, available in 5 ounces and 9 ounces, features an easy ergonomic, wide-neck, easy to fill and hold design. The silicone nipple has a wider base, and the bottle grows with your child’s needs by offering numerous health benefits.
Moreover, the bottle’s internal vent system reduces air bubbles and provides a controlled flow with the silicone nipple, so babies feed at their own pace. Air enters the bottle collar and flows directly through the vent system. Lastly, the vent prevents nipple collapse and vacuum pressure.
5. Budget Pick: Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottle
If you aren’t looking to spend a fortune on baby bottles, try out this festive pack from Tommee Tippee. It adds a little color to the feeding routine. This set of six comes with BPA-bottles that are easy to clean with their wide base and mimic the mother’s breast. That means you won’t have to fret about nipple confusion. The bottles are easy to hold, so anyone feeding the baby can quickly get comfortable.
Parents love the bright colors on these bottles and feel they make cleaning a little more fun. They also appreciate the value and the easy-to-read numbers on the bottle, making night feedings a lot easier.
6. Munchkin LATCH BPA-free Bottle
If you are worried that using a bottle will throw off your child’s latch, consider trying out the Munchkin Latch BPA-free Bottle.
The nipple on this bottle stretches like a real nipple, helping your little one latch correctly. Moreover, once your baby puts pressure on the nipple, milk oozes out, mimicking the breast. When using bottles, you don’t want the milk to come out fast; otherwise, your baby will prefer the bottle for a faster feed,knownas nipple confusion.
Besides imitating the breast and keeping a good latch intact, this BPA-free bottle is good for babies with reflux or colic. You can also purchase a pumping adaptor to pump right into the bottle and save on cleaning time.
7. MAM Newborn Gift Set
If your child is suffering from reflux, you’lldo anything to help soothe them. These bottles by MAM are for babies with reflux. They feature a patented vented base that gets out air bubbles and prevents them from getting trapped in your baby’s tummy.
In one study, 80 percent of mothers reported that their little one had less colic after using this bottle. Lastly, these are made with breastfeeding moms in mind and feature a soft silicone nipple. You can easily make rice cereal and feed your baby!
8. Lansinoh Breastfeeding Bottle With NaturalWave Nipple
The Lansinoh bottles work in three different ways to prevent nipple confusion: they offer a soft nipple for easy latching, the natural wave-like movement encourages sucking similar to breastfeeding, and vents allow less gas to build up, enabling your little one to swallow milk easier.
Moreover, the bottle’s ergonomic design has a positive impact on your baby’s oral development. The air ventilation system also helps reduce the intake of gas and reduces colic and spit-up.
Buyer’s Guide – How to Choose the Right Baby Bottle and Nipples
Feeding your little one isn’t always easy, and you probably have a lot of questions. You need to consider several factors before choosing the right bottle. Here are some things to consider:
Bottle Materials
Many parents switch to glass bottles because of concerns about harmful chemicals found in plastic ones. Glass may seem impractical for a child— it tends to be heavy for baby hands and can break. But you can buy protective sleeves, so they are easier to grip and less likely to smash if (and when!) they drop.
However, the FDA no doesn’t allow bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles. That means plastic bottles are safer and harmful chemicals are no longer an issue. With any plastic, avoid microwaving, and discard the milk if the bottle turns cloudy.
The third option is silicone. Newer companies utilize silicon to avoid lingering fears over plastic and the impracticalities of glass. Moreover, there are stainless-steel bottles available, though these are expensive and difficult to find. While they are sturdy and durable, it isn’t easy to check how much milk is in the bottle.
Bottle Types
Angle-neck bottles
These bottles are bent at the neck so that there’s less air in the nipple. Some parents think these bottles are easier to hold as well. However, their design makes them a little harder to clean.
Disposable-liner bottles
These types of bottles come with plastic pouches that fit inside. As your baby drinks from this bottle, the plastic collapses to prevent forming air bubbles (which often turn into gas in your baby’s tummy). They are convenient and require less cleaning, but not as environment-friendly, and the liners can get quite expensive if you’re exclusively bottle-feeding.
Vented bottles
These bottles have a straw-like vent that goes across the center. The design eliminates air bubbles that cause gas. Despite a lack of evidence that these reduce colic and gas, many parents swear by them. Keep in mind that these extra parts also mean extra cleaning.
Wide-mouth bottles
These are shorter and wider than regular bottles. They use wider nipples to mimic the breast. If you are nursing and bottle-feeding simultaneously, your baby may enjoy the feel of this bottle best. Moreover, these bottles are also easier to clean.
Bottle Sizes
Bottles come in 4-ounce and 8-ounce sizes. Start small when your child is a newborn and use larger bottles once they start to drink more milk at each feeding.
Nipple Material
Most nipples are clear silicone, which is flexible and not damaged by heat when boiled or washed. However, some nipples use latex, which can cause an allergic reaction in sensitive children, so it’s best to avoid these.
Latex:
- Softer
- Can hold the odor of milk
- Tends to wear out more quickly
Silicone:
- Sturdier
- Easier to clean
- Can last up to a year
Nipple Shapes
Nipples are designed to imitate a mother’s breast and are available in a wide variety of shapes. Standard bottle nipples are long with a narrow base and are easy for the baby to use. Other nipples have a much wider base with varying lengths. Often, breastfeeding infants prefer the wider-based nipples, but you might need to experiment to learn your little one’s preference.
Nipple Flow Rates
Bottle nipples come with different opening sizes for milk to flow through. Nipples are labeled with numbers to indicate the flow rate. A “level 1” nipple is the slowest (smallest opening), and a “level 4” is the fastest (largest opening). Most newborns do well with a “level 1” nipple. But, not all babies are the same, so if your little one is frustrated with a slower feeding pace, switch to a “level 2” nipple. As your baby grows and becomes more efficient at feeding, they can graduate to the next level — typically every three months.
Here’s what you can do
Try a variety of bottles and nipples
Babies can be picky about the bottle and nipple they like, so avoid buying one type of bottle and nipple in bulk. Instead, purchase different kinds of bottles and nipples that go well together.
Test the nipple before moving on
Start with one type of nipple and allow your little one to try it a few times – don’t give up if your baby rejects it the first time. Give them enough chances to try one type of bottle and nipple before switching to new ones because constantly changing can lead to more frustration.
It might take you some experimenting before deciding which bottle or nipple works best for your baby.
Baby bottle nipple sizes
Size-one nipples feature a small hole for infants from birth to six months.
Size-two, three, and four nipples feature a larger hole and are perfect for older babies.
You can also find special nipples preemies.
The perfect bottle nipple allows a few drops of milk to drip as soon as you turn the bottle upside down. After that, the dripping should stop. If you think the milk is seeping too quickly for your baby, try a nipple with a smaller hole. If your little one is getting frustrated by sucking too hard, try a nipple with a larger hole.
Baby bottle nipple shapes
Standard nipples are dome-shaped and tall. Other nipples mimic the shape of your breast.
Orthodontic nipples are shaped to fit the inside of your little one’s mouth — wide at the tip and base, and narrower in the middle.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I clean and replace baby bottles and nipples?
Before first use, wash new bottles or nipples in hot soapy water. Wash them after every feeding, checking the bottle for wear and tear. Be sure to replace smaller nipples with bigger ones as your baby grows, and replace any plastic nipple that shows signs of wear.
Why do babies refuse their bottles?
It’s normal for breastfed babies to refuse a bottle initially. It’ll take time to transition from mother’s breast to bottle nipples.
Can I use Nanobebe bottles with formula?
Yes, it is possible to put formula inside the Nanobebe bottle and warmer.
Is Elvie better or Willow?
Willow allows freedom while pumping, and Elvie is more user friendly.