Baby Shower Glass Vase Centerpiece Ideas

The 8 Best Glass Baby Bottles of 2021, According to a Dietitian

Transition to these if you're looking to ditch plastic.

Updated on April 08, 2021

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It seems counterintuitive (and dangerous!) to give a baby something made out of glass, but more moms are opting for glass baby bottles over plastic for various reasons. One of those reasons is concerns over the controversial bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA, a known endocrine disruptor. BPA and other materials, like phthalates and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), are compounds in plastic that can leach into food and then into the body. Studies show that ingesting these chemicals may lead to several adverse health outcomes.

In 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned BPA in baby bottles, sippy cups, and formula packaging. But even with the ban, it can be hard to know if plastic bottles are truly free of all harmful chemicals. Therefore, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends using alternatives to plastic whenever possible.

Glass bottles are a great alternative because they are naturally free of chemicals. As far as being breakable, most are made from tempered or borosilicate glass, which is stronger than standard glass and can withstand high heat. Other pros of glass bottles are that they leave less residue behind, don't absorb odors or stains, are environmentally friendly, multi-purposeful, and easy to clean. The cons are they can break, they're heavier and harder for a baby to hold, and they cost more.

Glass baby bottles come in various sizes and packages, usually 4-ounce (oz) or 8-oz and a 3- or 6-pack. Four-ounce bottles are great for newborns and younger babies, and larger bottles are a good option once the baby is older. Buying in bulk is budget-friendly, especially if you are exclusively bottle-feeding. But before you buy a 3-pack, try one of a few different bottles first to see which one your baby likes best.

Here are the best glass baby bottles, whether you breastfeed or bottle-feed.

Our Top Picks

Loved for the ease it provides—it's easy to clean, easy to feed, and easy to interchange the nipple on the bottle.

The nipple is designed to mimic the breast with a scooped cavity that allows the baby's tongue and jaw to move naturally.

Its twisted design on the glass makes it easy for baby to hold so you can be hands-free when you're out and about.

Made from thermal, shock-resistant borosilicate glass, these can go from freezer to boiling water without shattering.

With an internal vent system, it's specifically designed to reduce colic, spit-up, burping, and gas.

These are clinically-tested and have a uniquely designed angled slow-flow nipple to help make it easy for baby's first latch.

With its naturally-sloped nipple, this bottle is recommended by lactation consultants for breastfed babies.

Their bottle nipples are made from 100% natural rubber instead of silicone.

Moms love the Philips Avent Natural Glass Baby Bottle because of ease—it's easy to clean, easy to feed, and easy to interchange the nipple on the bottle. The wide, silicone nipple is shaped like the breast to help promote a natural latch and make it easy for babies to latch on, especially breastfed babies who switch between bottle and breast.

The bottle's wide neck opening makes it easy to fill with formula or breastmilk and easy to clean. These bottles are dishwasher-safe and have a built-in anti-colic system so there are no extra parts to clean. The twin anti-colic valves release air back into the bottle instead of the baby's stomach to prevent gas and discomfort.

Along with the bottles, this product comes with slow-flow nipples and bottle caps. Any of the Philips AVENT Natural nipples will work with these bottles, and you can interchange any of Philips Natural bottles and nipples as your baby gets bigger. These glass bottles are BPA-free and made from borosilicate glass, a durable glass that is heat resistant. However, the bottles are a bit heavy, and they can leak if not properly assembled.

Size: 4-oz and 8-oz | Pack: 1 and 3-pack

Nuk Simply Natural Glass Bottles have many of the same features as other glass bottles, but you get more bang for your buck. The nipple is designed to mimic the breast with a scooped cavity that allows the baby's tongue and jaw to move naturally. The nipples on these bottles also have multiple holes—the 4-oz bottle has a slow-flow nipple with three holes, and the 8-oz bottle has a medium-flow nipple with six holes.

Nuk bottles work perfectly for exclusively bottle-fed babies too. They have a one-piece anti-colic system to reduce spit-up and gas. The bottles are BPA-free and are 80% glass and 20% silicone. They are odor and stain-resistant and can be washed on the top rack of the dishwasher.

Size: 4-oz and 8-oz | Pack: 3-pack

Evenflo bottles are budget-friendly but are also great for on-the-go. The taller, more slender design of both the 4-oz and 8-oz bottles makes them easy to slip into a diaper bag. Plus, the twisted design on the glass makes it easy for the baby to hold so you can be hands-free when you're out and about.

Evenflo glass bottles are made from tempered glass, which is stronger than regular glass, and if it breaks, it will shatter more safely into small pieces. The tempered glass is also recyclable. Both the Evenflo bottles and nipples are free of BPA, polycarbonates, PVC, and phthalates and are made of FDA-approved food-grade material.

Proflo is Evenflo's patented venting system with micro-air vents that prevent the nipple from collapsing, which reduces the potential for colic and reflux. With just three pieces—the bottle, the nipple, and the cap ring—these bottles are easy to clean and can go in the top rack of the dishwasher. Breastfeeding moms love that you can pump directly into these bottles and report that these slow-flow nipples are some of the slowest flow around. Medium and fast-flow nipples are sold separately.

Size: 4-oz and 8-oz | Pack: 6-pack

Lifefactory bottles might be the cutest glass baby bottles around, each coming with a silicone sleeve in fun colors like mint, pink, and cantaloupe that prevent the bottles from slipping out of your hand. And here's the best part—the whole bottle, sleeve and nipple included, can be placed right in the top rack of the dishwasher for easy cleaning. You don't have to remove the sleeve before putting it in the dishwasher.

Lifefactory bottles are made from thermal, shock-resistant borosilicate glass, which means they can go from freezer to boiling water without shattering. Their 4-oz bottles are designed for babies 0 to 3 months and include a stage one, slow-flow silicone nipple. They also have 9-oz bottles for once your baby is older.

The bottles come with a flat cap so you can convert the glass bottle into a storage container for milk or food. If you breastfeed, you'll love that most pumps attach directly to Lifefactory bottles and you can freeze the milk in the bottle versus transferring it to a bag. Lifefactory bottles are BPA- and phthalate-free.

Size: 4-oz and 9-oz | Pack: 1, 2, and 4-packs

Dr. Brown's bottles are specifically designed to reduce colic, spit-up, burping, and gas with their internal vent system. The filter is an additional green insert that works to send air through the vent and away from the milk.

The vent system can be removed once your baby is older and more established at feeding. The nipple provides a consistent flow and has its own venting system, so you don't have to worry about your baby ingesting air once you remove the filter. Dr. Brown's new Wide-Neck bottle is designed with a wider breast-shaped nipple to make it easier for breastfed babies to move from breast to bottle.

These glass bottles are made from borosilicate glass, so they can be moved from heat to cold without a problem. A potential downside of these is they are harder to clean with the removable venting system, especially if you don't have a dishwasher.

Size: 4-oz. 5-oz, 8-oz, and 9-oz | Pack: 1, 2, 3, and 4-packs

Chicco NaturalFit glass baby bottles are clinically-tested and have a uniquely designed angled slow-flow nipple to help make it easy for the baby's first latch. A straight slow-flow nipple is also included in this pack, so you have options. Both nipples are soft to the touch and have a dual anti-colic valve to keep the baby from gulping down air along with formula or milk.

These bottles come with a bonus sleeve for an easy grip, and it has cutouts so you can still see the ounce and milliliter measurement lines on the side. Chicco NaturalFit glass bottles are BPA-free and easy to clean with just three pieces—the bottle, nipple, and cap ring. All NaturalFit bottles and nipples are interchangeable, making it easy to switch as the baby grows.

Size: 5-oz and 9-oz | Pack: 2-pack

Lactation consultants and pediatric feeding specialists recommend this bottle as one of the best for breastfed babies due to its naturally-sloped nipple, which helps babies get a wide latch and get the nipple deep into their mouths in the same way as breastfeeding. It has a slow-flow nipple to provide a consistent, slow flow of milk that mimics the breast. There's a one-piece built-in vent to help extra air escape, but it may not work as well as some of the bottles with internal vents or dual-valve systems.

Evenflo Feeding Balance bottles are BPA-free and thermal shock resistant. Most pumps attach directly to the bottles, and since they are glass, you can place pumped milk in the glass bottle straight into the freezer. The small, 6-oz size is perfect for breastfed babies who usually take no more than 4 to 5 ounces of milk in one feeding.

Size: 6-oz | Pack: 3-pack

Do good for your baby and the environment with HEVEA glass baby bottles. These bottles are made in Germany from the highest quality borosilicate glass, which can not only withstand extreme temperatures but is also highly hygienic and doesn't leach chemicals.

What's unique to HEVEA is that their bottle nipples are made from 100% natural rubber instead of silicone. The rubber is plant-based and harvested in Malaysia from the "Hevea Brasiliensis" trees. The material is free from BPA, PVC, phthalates, and plastics.

The soft rubber nipples mimic the shape of the breast and include an anti-colic valve. A medium flow nipple is included in the 2-pack, and a slow-flow nipple can be bought separately. The downside to the rubber is that you need to replace the nipple every six to eight weeks.

HEVEA glass bottles can be hand washed or put in the dishwasher. Before using them for the first time, wash and sterilize the bottles thoroughly and leave the nipples in boiling water for five minutes.

Size: 4-oz and 8-oz | Pack: 2-pack

Final Verdict

Philips Avent Natural Glass Baby Bottles (view at Amazon) are a clear winner among mamas for being easy to use and clean. Evenflo Feeding Glass Premium Proflo Vented Plus Bottles (view at Amazon) take second place for being a durable, budget-friendly option.

What to Look for in Glass Baby Bottles

Size and Shape:

Bottles usually come in a smaller size, like 4 or 6-oz or a larger 8-9-oz, so check the size before purchasing. The 4-oz bottles are great for breastfed babies, as well as younger babies. Once your baby is older, consider getting 8-ounce bottles.

Check to see if the bottles are wide or narrow at the top. Wider neck bottles will be easier to clean with a brush. Also, consider if your baby is at an age where he or she can hold the bottle. Wider and heavier bottles will be harder for babies to hold.

Type of Nipple:

Bottle nipples come in various shapes, sizes, and textures. Most nipples nowadays are shaped like the breast, but wider isn't always better for breastfed babies. Nipples range from slow-flow to medium and fast flow. Check to see which type is included with the bottle you are buying.

Slow-flow nipples are better for newborn and breastfed babies. If you are breastfeeding and giving a bottle, consider working with a lactation counselor who can help you determine what to look for in a nipple, depending on your baby's needs.

FAQs

How do you clean glass baby bottles?

Sterilize glass baby bottles before using them for the first time. After that, most can be placed in the top rack of the dishwasher or washed by hand with dish soap and hot water. Clean bottles as soon as possible after using them to prevent the formation of a crusty layer of milk, which can be hard to remove.

Even if you plan to wash in the dishwasher, it can help to use a bottle brush to scrub out the bottle first. If cleaning by hand, you may want a few different size brushes, like those made for cleaning straws, so you can thoroughly clean the nipples too. Wash with dish soap and hot water, rinse well, and place in a bottle drying rack.

How do you sterilize glass baby bottles?

Sterilize bottles and nipples before first use, but you do not need to sterilize bottles after every feed unless indicated by your pediatrician. You can sterilize glass baby bottles by putting them on a hot cycle in the dishwasher or washing them and then boiling them in a pot of boiling water for about ten minutes. You can also use an electric bottle sterilizer or a microwavable steam sterilizer bag. Dry on a bottle drying rack.

What Experts Say

"Studies show that chemicals like BPA can leach from plastic infant feeding bottles that are filled with warmed breastmilk or formula due to the high temperatures, exposing the infant to unwanted chemicals. Limiting the use of plastic infant feeding bottles by purchasing infant feeding bottles labeled as 'BPA-free' and avoiding plastics with a recycle code of 3, 6, or 7 is desirable and recommended by the AAP. Despite the ban on BPA in infant feeding bottles, the AAP continues to recommend the use of alternatives to plastic, when possible, due to concerns of other lesser talked about harmful chemicals leaching from plastic—even those that don't contain BPA." —Cindy Scott, RD, CLC

Why Trust Verywell Family

Lainey Younkin is a registered dietitian and toddler mom herself. She's done extensive research on glass baby bottles, including interviewing numerous moms, and would be comfortable recommending these to her patients or using them herself.

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Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Bisphenol A (BPA): Use in food contact application. Updated June 27, 2018.

3. Trasande L, Shaffer RM, Sathyanarayana S, COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. Food additives and child health.Pediatrics. 2018;142(2):e20181408. doi:10.1542/peds.2018-1408

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Baby Shower Glass Vase Centerpiece Ideas

Source: https://www.verywellfamily.com/best-glass-baby-bottles-4159142

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