If your baby is suffering from gas or colic it can be such a miserable, lonely experience. Watching your baby go through any sort of pain is so hard as a new mom and breaks your heart. The good news is.. with the right bottle, you may be able to drastically improve your baby’s symptoms. But how do you know which one to choose? There are so many different options out there advertising about being “anti-colic”.
As a nurse, lactation consultant, and mama myself I have experience with many bottle types and the knowledge to help you choose the right one for your family! In this post, we’ll go over the best baby bottles for gas and colic. Knowing how to choose the right one and other commonly asked questions!
What is Colic?
According to John Hopkins Medicine, colic is defined as a healthy baby that cries for long periods of time, for no obvious reasons. The time frame to be diagnosed as colic is usually greater than 3 hours a day or more than 3 days a week. There are a few suspected reasons why a baby may experience colic, with one of them being gas pains.
If you experience this with your baby, please check in with your baby’s pediatrician to make sure there are no other causes for their discomfort!
Colic usually occurs within the first 3 months of life, and THANKFULLY your baby will eventually outgrow it. OR you may be able to correct it using the proper bottle.
Since there is no known cause for colic, one of the first places you can start is with your baby’s bottle. Preventing your baby from swallowing air bubbles may help significantly.
Do Anti-Colic Bottles Work?
Bottles labeled as “anti-colic” are designed to reduce air bubbles swallowed during a feeding. The best baby bottles for gas and colic also have a slow-flow nipple, designed to help your baby take in their milk slower. Which also reduces the chances of swallowing air and creating gas bubbles.
Many parents do see a significant improvement when using anti-colic bottles in preventing excess air in their baby’s tummy.
What to Look for in a Baby Bottle for Gas and Colic
Nipple Flow Rate
Typically a slow-flow nipple is best for babies with gas problems, especially for newborns. The slower flow rate helps to slow the baby down when drinking from the bottle. Which in turn, reduces the number of air bubbles your baby will swallow.
However, some babies do prefer a faster flow rate, especially as they get bigger. If you find your baby is crying and becoming frustrated with the bottle, they may not be getting milk as quickly as they’d like. This too can cause your baby to swallow excess air and cause gas.
It can be difficult to find the right flow rate at first. Just keep testing! I recommend trying to stick to slow-flow nipples for breastfed babies (this also helps prevent nipple confusion or bottle preference).
Vent or Valve
For a bottle to be effective at preventing gas, it needs a vent or valve system. When a baby sucks from the bottle, it creates pressure inside which is what causes air bubbles to build up. The vent or valve system helps to release the pressure by letting the air bubbles escape out of the bottle.
The valves or vents may be found in the bottle nipple or as extra pieces within the bottle itself.
Nipple Design/Shape
It’s important for your baby to have a good latch on the bottle (just like a mother’s breast!). This will also prevent your baby from sucking in any excess air.
Each baby has their own preference and some like certain nipple types. If you find that your little one isn’t liking a narrow nipple like Dr. Brown’s bottles, you could try a wide neck design next, like the Comotomo baby bottle.
Bottle Design/Shape
There are many different bottles on the market of all different shapes and sizes. This may be important to consider depending upon how your baby likes to take their bottles.
Some bottles are designed better for your baby to take in a more upright position. The design has a slight tilt which helps direct air bubbles away from the nipple to prevent your baby from swallowing them.
Best Baby Bottles for Gas and Colic
All of these bottles listed are truly the best baby bottles for gas and colic. It’s hard to pick a number one “best” because each one serves its purpose of reducing gas and colic in babies. And each baby will have a different preference! Here are my top picks!
1. Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Anti-Colic Baby Bottle
Click here to buy on Amazon (narrow) | Click here to buy on Amazon (wide neck)
Dr. Brown’s anti-colic baby bottles are a very popular option for parents whose babies suffer from gas or colic. They contain an internal vent system that eliminates the vacuum effect within the bottle and prevents your baby from swallowing air bubbles. They are pediatrician recommended and highly award-winning.
They offer bottles in their traditional narrow nipple design as well as a wide neck nipple similar to the breast if your baby prefers that kind of nipple!
Cons: There are many pieces to clean and assemble but totally worth it in my opinion!
- Clinically proven to reduce colic
- No nipple collapse or fluid build up in baby’s ears
- Internal vent system reduces air bubble oxidization of breast milk, preserving nutrients in milk
- Slow-flow nipples and extra slow-flow nipples (preemie option)
- One of the more affordable options
2. Comotomo Baby Bottle
Comotomo baby bottles are designed with breastfed babies in mind (still great for formula-fed babies as well!). The wide-neck nipple shape mimics a breastfeeding latch and prevents your baby from swallowing air. Dual anti-colic vents within the nipple prevent unwanted air intake and reduce colic. This makes the Comotomo Bottles extremely easy to clean.
Cons: Some parents complain they experienced leaks. I have never had any issues with leaks with Comotomo, so just be sure the top is screwed on properly.
- Mimics breastfeeding to reduce bottle rejection and nipple confusion issues
- Dual anti-colic vents in the nipple
- Extremely easy to clean
- Soft and squeeze – made of food-grade silicone
If you decide Comotomo might be the best fit for you and your baby, I have a really helpful post on the 10 Best Bottle Warmers that Fit Comotomo Bottles.
3. Philips Avent Anti-Colic Baby Bottle with AirFree Vent
Philips Avent Anti-Colic bottles are designed to reduce feeding issues such as gas, colic, and reflux. They include an AirFree vent within the bottle, designed to keep the nipple full of milk to avoid air ingestion. Even when holding the bottle horizontal, the nipple will only fill with milk and not air for easier upright feeding (which is great for reducing gas in babies!).
Cons: Some parents have complained about these bottles leaking.
- Anti-colic AirFree vent
- Easy to clean and assemble
- Offers different flow rates to keep up with your growing baby
- Different from the Philips Avent Natural Baby Bottle (also a great bottle!)
4. Playtex Baby Ventaire Bottle
Playtex Ventaire bottles were designed specifically to prevent colic by reducing air ingestion. They include a patented vent on the bottom of the bottle so as baby drinks, no air mixes within the milk.
It also includes an angled design to help babies who need to be fed in a semi-upright position to further reduce air ingestion and prevent gas bubbles in the baby’s tummy.
Cons: Some parents said the flow rate of these nipples is too fast for their babies, so keep an eye on that and choose a slow-flow nipple if needed.
- Patented anti-colic bottom vent
- Angled design for semi-upright feeding (also recommended by pediatricians to prevent ear infections)
- Wide shape naturalatch silicone nipple designed to feel like mother’s breast
- Only a few pieces to clean
5. Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic Baby Bottles
Tommee Tippee baby bottles are another option that are designed for breastfed babies to reduce nipple confusion. And for easy transfer from breast to bottle. However, they are great for formula-fed babies as well. They contain a unique anti-colic venting system that draws air away from the milk.
Cons: This bottle also contains many pieces with its internal venting system, but many parents claim it’s worth the extra time washing.
- Award-winning breast-like nipple for natural latch
- Unique anti-colic internal venting system
- Heat sensing technology turns the straw pink when baby’s feed is too hot
- Offers different flow rates to keep up with your growing baby
6. MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic Bottle
MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic bottles contain a vented base that releases liquid slowly and eliminates air bubbles. They are very easy to clean and great for breastfed babies due to their nipple shape.
This was one of the only bottles my bottle refusing breastfed baby would take! If you feel like you may be struggling with that as well, check out my post on the 12 Best Bottles for Breastfed Babies Who Refuse a Bottle (2022).
Cons: Make sure you check which bottles you’re purchasing, as some of them come with a medium flow nipple. Some parents said was too fast of a flow for their little ones. I’ve linked the Newborn Essentials set which contains slow-flow nipples.
- Vented bottle base that regulates the pressure in the bottle
- Self-sterilizing design
- High nipple acceptance rate by breastfed babies
7. Nuk Simply Natural Bottles with SafeTemp
Nuk Simply Natural bottles are designed with an advanced 1-piece anti-colic air vent within the bottle nipple that helps reduce colic, gas, and spit-up. The nipple is designed with 3 holes rather than one to feel more like the mother’s breast (3 for slow flow nipple, more for higher flows).
Cons: Some moms reported the nipple would collapse when their baby drank from the bottle. Some babies have a more forceful suck so if your baby does this as well, you may want to try a different bottle on the list.
- Advanced 1-piece anti-colic air vent
- Multiple nipple holes provide a natural feed, like mother’s breast
- Features SafeTemp indicator which changes colors if baby’s milk is too hot
Tips for Reducing Colic and Gas while Bottle Feeding
Once you find the right bottle for your baby, there are other techniques you can use to help reduce gas! Here are some ways you can change up your bottle feeding technique.
- Using slow flow nipples: the slower flow rate helps your baby keep up with the amount of milk coming out and reduces the amount of extra air swallowed.
- Keep baby’s head above their belly: when feeding your baby, keep them in an upright or semi-upright position. Don’t recline them too far back or lay them flat (this also helps prevent ear infections!).
- Proper latch on the nipple: make sure your baby’s mouth is open wide and there are no tucked lips on the bottle nipple. Also, ensure the whole nipple is in your baby’s mouth and they aren’t just sucking from the tip of the nipple.
- Keep the bottle in a perpendicular position (horizontal) to the floor: this helps keep milk in the bottle nipple and prevents any air intake. Tilt the bottle every so often to allow air bubbles to escape.
- Burping frequently: some babies may need burping after every ounce or every few minutes. If your baby is trying to chug the bottle, attempt to slow them down by burping them and then resuming bottle feeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What bottles are best for colic and gas?
The best baby bottles for gas and colic are ones that contain a vent or valve system and a slow-flow nipple. And a nipple design your baby can get a good latch on! These bottles are usually labeled as “anti-colic”.
The seven listed above are my top picks for babies dealing with gas pains.
What is the best formula for colic and gas?
If your baby is taking formula and struggling with colic or severe gas pains, I highly recommend consulting your baby’s pediatrician. They know your baby’s health history and can watch your baby closely while trialing different formulas.
Can switching bottles cause gas?
If you switch bottles and notice your baby is having more gas problems, check to see if the flow rate of the nipple changed. Some parents switch from the smaller 5-ounce size bottles to 8-ounce bottles as their baby grows and needs more milk. The change in bottle size usually means a higher flow rate nipple (more milk comes out and faster).
This may cause your baby to experience more gas pains. It’s an easy fix of just switching out the nipples to your slow-flow nipples that your baby was doing well with.
Best anti-colic bottle for breastfed babies?
If you’re wanting to stick to a bottle that is designed with breastfeeding babies in mind, I love the Comotomo baby bottles, Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic bottles, and MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic bottles.
Does warming a baby’s bottle help with gas?
Yes! This is a tip recommended for formula-fed babies. Warming the water before mixing the formula in helps the solids to dissolve and doesn’t require as much shaking. Which in turn prevents gas bubbles from forming within the milk.
Another precaution you can take is after shaking the formula to mix, give it a chance to settle before giving it to your baby.
After experiencing gas problems with my first baby, I tried anything and everything to help her feel more comfortable. I know how desperate a parent can feel just trying to make their little ones feel better. I hope with this list of the best baby bottles for gas and colic, you find an option that works for you and your baby! And you see happier days!
Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions related to gas and colic. Or if you find a bottle from this list that helped your baby.
Other Posts You May Like:
- 12 Best Bottles for Breastfed Babies Who Refuse a Bottle (2022)
- How Many Baby Bottles Do I Need?: Guide for New Moms
- Complete Guide for How Often to Replace Your Breast Pump Parts
- 10 Best Natural & Safe Soaps for Baby Bottles (2022)
- The Best Proven Ways to Increase Your Breastfeeding Milk Supply
- 10 Best Bottle Warmers that Fit Comotomo Bottles
