Anti-reflux or colic bottles are designed to help reduce the discomfort that your baby suffers from reflux and spits up. The bottles are made by adding a vent or vents system to the traditional feeding bottles. The venting helps to eliminate air that your baby sucks in. The vent also helps reduce spit-up as they help reduce the speed at which the baby is feeding. The bottles are also equipped with a nipple that does not collapse easily and this also helps reduce the air that the baby sucks.
Finding the best bottle for reflux can be difficult due to the high number of bottles in the market promising to help make it easier when feeding your baby. It is advisable to try different bottles and settle on the one that helps to relieve your baby’s discomfort.
Best Bottles for your Baby with Reflux
If your bundle of joy is suffering from reflux, gassiness, or colic, the doctor might recommend changes bottles.
We have done the research for you so you can make the best possible choice for your little one. These are the top 5 best bottles for reflux that will help in the relief of gas, spit-up, colic and pain in the tummies of your special angel.
Nanobebe Flexy Silicone Baby Bottle – 5oz & 9oz
The flexy silicone baby bottle is one of the best bottles for reflux. The bottle features three anti-colic vents and its non-collapsible design ensures that the baby keeps a perfect latch. The features combine to ensure that the baby does not experience post-feeding discomfort. Its squeezable breast-like nipple makes it a good transitioning bottle from exclusive breastfeeding.
The flexy bottle also features a stabilized, non-tipping base that helps prevent spilling. Its volume scale on a clear view window makes it easy to prepare the correct amount of formula or milk while also tracking the amount consumed by the baby. The wide-neck design also makes it easy to pour in formula and milk, this also makes it easy to clean.
Pros
- Good for transitioning from exclusive breastfeeding
- Comes in different sizes meaning it can be used as the baby grows
- Slow-Flo Silicone nipples
Cons
- Will leak when laid on the side, making it hard to pack
Avima 9 oz Anti Colic Baby Bottles
Avima baby bottles are designed with silicone Duo-Flo nipples. The nipples have valves that adjust and flex to regulate the flow of milk to match the baby’s feeding speed. This helps the baby to feed at a comfortable pace with minimal interruptions. This reduces the amount of air that goes into the baby and therefore reducing colic, spit-up, and gas that cause the baby discomfort.
The Avima bottles are also made with a wide neck opening that makes it easier to add in the baby’s food, either breast milk or formula with ease. The nipples on the 9 oz bottles are also designed with stage 2 medium-flow nipples. The nipples are available in different flow levels meaning that the same bottle can be used as the baby grows. The nipples on the bottles are also made to be soft making it good for a baby transitioning from their mom’s breast.
Pros
- The silicone nipple is soft and squishy and closely resembles a breast
- Easy to hold
- Dishwasher safer
- Few parts therefore easy to clean
Cons
- The silicone nipple might leach at a high temperature
- The nipple will absorb odors and discolor over time
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Boon, NURSH Reusable Silicone Pouch Bottle
This bottle offers a collapsible silicone pouch that minimizes the amount of air left behind as the baby drinks. The bottle’s design means that it does not use a vent which reduces the parts and makes it easy to use and clean. The latch nipple ensures consistent feeding, which also helps reduce the amount of time it takes to feed your baby.
The bottle comes in either a small 4 oz size or the larger 8 oz size, meaning it can be used for both a newborn and an older baby. The bottle also comes with clear volume marks on the side, making it possible to measure your baby’s consumption.
Pros
- Easy latch nipple
- Different capacities
- Collapsible silicon
Cons
- Hard to collapse on lower quantities
NUK Simply Natural Baby Bottle
The NUK bottle offers a fast-flow nipple that has extra holes. The bottle is designed to encourage a natural way of feeding while reducing the air the baby sucks. The bottle is sold in a set containing extra teats and pacifiers making it a good gift item for a new parent. The nipples are also flexible and harder than other bottles, meaning the bottle is of good quality and made to last longer. The bottle comes with a leak-proofing hoof on the nipple, this helps prevent any spillage.
The extra holes in the nipples can make the bottle harder to clean. Dirt and milk can get trapped in the holes if the nipple is not cleaned thoroughly.
Pros
- Extra holes
- Fast-flow
- Good nipple design
- Good quality and long-lasting
Cons
- Hard to clean
Dr. Brown’s Original Baby Bottle
Dr. Brown’s original baby bottle features a unique and removable venting system. The system prevents formula or milk from mixing with air as the baby feeds. This cuts on the air that the baby swallows and therefore reduces their post-feeding discomfort. The bottle has a great reputation among parents as being effective for reducing discomfort in colicky and gassy babies. The bottle comes with six separate nipple stages, meaning it is usable for a long time.
There are six parts to each bottle which makes it more complicated to use than the other models. All these parts make it harder to prepare the bottle for your baby as well as clean it afterward. However, its reputation for reducing spit-up and reflux still makes it a favorite for many parents.
Pro
- Good and consistent flow from the nipple
- Well-designed venting system
- Different nipple sizes
Cons
- Will leak if overfilled
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will bottle feeding help with reflux?
A: The bottles discussed above have in many ways been designed to help reduce reflux in babies. However, breastfeeding is still considered the best way to deal with reflux. This is mainly because breast milk is easier on the baby’s stomach and therefore easier and quicker to digest than any formula.
Q: Will Bottles reduce spit up
A: Yes. Anti-colic and anti-reflux bottles are designed to reduce the amount of air that a baby takes in while sucking and this reduces both spit-up and reflux.
Q: Is a slower teat better for reflux
A: It is important to find the right teat for your baby so that they are sucking at the right speed. The wrong shape and size of the teat can make reflux much worse. Too fast and your baby will be mostly gulping in air bubbles which will result in reflux. Too slow, and they will be sucking more air than milk, which will also result in reflux. It is therefore important to choose the right bottle with a slow-flow nipple as this will help in getting the baby to suck at the right speed.
It is important to note that finding the right bottle is not the only solution to reflux. Reflux can sometimes be caused by factors other than your baby’s feeding habits. These may include food intolerance, lying flat for long, Sandifer syndrome, and being primarily on a fluid diet. It is therefore important to seek professional help from your baby’s doctor or nutritionist. This is essential as they can help make an early diagnosis for what is causing your baby’s reflux and advise on a lasting solution.
