Getting nutrients from point A to point B (that’s “B” for “Baby”) can be one of the biggest challenges of new motherhood. And, with so many technologically advanced options on the market, making the right choice in feeding gear for both you and your baby is no small task. To encourage happy shopping (and even happier feeding) we’ve milked the market to bring you our favorite bottles and breast pumps of the year—from the fresh and new to the tried and true!
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And for our Best Bottles of 2013 slideshow, CLICK HERE!
5 Phases 4 Oz. Hybrid Glass Baby Bottle: With their newly released 4 oz. size, 5 Phases combines the health and safety of glass with the durability of a plastic bottle. A plastic sleeve containing a removable glass insert helps prevent accidents by capturing the shards if shattered. Fully assembled 4 oz. bottle, $15.98; 4 oz. bottle with starter kit, $36.98; 5phases.com
Adiri NxGen Nurser: The Adiri Nurser has a special bottom vent system to help reduce colic and comes apart into three easy-to-clean pieces. Other bonuses: interchangeable nipples for different milk-flow rates and a warming disc. From $13.97, reliabrand.com
b.box essential baby bottle & dispenser: The b.box essential baby bottle & dispenser features a built-in formula dispenser to prepare at home and feed on the go. Just scoop, plunge, shake, and feed! Dual functionality is also offered as it converts to a conventional bottle. The 8 oz. essential bottle is dishwasher and sterilizer safe, includes anti-colic nipples, is BPA-free, and is available in four colors. $19.95, bboxforkids.com
Bittylab Bare Air-free Baby Bottles with Perfe-latch Nipple: Bare works like a syringe, with a sliding air-plug that moves as your baby feeds, keeping milk air-free to help reduce air ingestion. Bittylab’s Perfe-latch Nipple mimics a lactating breast by extending upon suction. $14.99, bittylab.com
Born Free Classic Bottle: Born Free’s new Classic Bottle mimics a mother’s natural milk flow and also allows babies to control the flow themselves. These innovative bottles are BPA- and BPS-free and feature ActiveFlow Venting Technology, which is clinically designed to reduce colic symptoms. 1-pack, $9.99; newbornfree.com
Chicco NaturalFit Advanced Bottles: Each bottle in this brand new feeding system is designed to “grow with baby” (from 0-6 months), as each bottle and different shaped nipple is designed for a different age range. The NaturalFit nipples are made from extra-soft silicone to feel more like a breast—the realistic shape makes the transition from breast to bottle very easy, while twin anti-colic valves prevent air indigestion. $8.99 each, chiccousa.com
Comotomo Baby Bottle: Made out of medical-grade silicone, these bottles are soft, skin-like, and even a bit squeezy to imitate the breastfeeding experience. The super-wide mound makes for easy cleaning, and the two vents minimize air intake. $13.99, comotomo.com
Dr. Brown’s Bottles in Glass, Standard, and Wide-Neck: Dr. Brown’s bottles are favored by parents because they reduce feeding problems like colic, spit-up, burping, and gas. The Patented Internal Vent System eliminates air and a vacuum effect to allow your baby to feed comfortably. It also reduces air bubble oxidation of the milk to help preserve vitamins and lipids. Glass 2-pack, $13.99; Standard and Wide-Neck, $6.99; drbrownsbaby.com
Evenflo Classic Twist + Vented Tinted Bottle: The comfort hold shape and standard silicone slow-flow nipple on this Hex-shaped bottle with “twist” makes feeding easier. The new bottle is available in 8 oz. one-packs, and 4- and 8 oz. three-packs, as well as in clear and tinted colors. 3-pack, $5.99; evenflofeeding.com
Gerber First Essentials Clearview Bottle: This BPA-free bottle helps reduce colic with a vented nipple design for less swallowed air, and comes with a leak-proof hood. Plus, the ribs and vent help prevent nipple collapse. 3-pack, $3.19; gerber.com
Kiinde Twist Starter Kit: This unique kit offers milk collection, storage, and feeding all in one! The Kiinde Twist system completely eliminates the need to transfer milk from bottles to bags and back again. This set contains Twist Pouches, Direct Pump adapters, a Keeper storage bag, Squeeze bottles, slow-flow Active Latch nipples, and nipple cleaning brushes. $39.99, kiinde.com
Klean Kid Kanteen Stainless Steel Baby Bottles: These toxin-free, stainless-steel bottles are designed with proper digestion and development in mind. What’s more, the wide mouth is easy to clean, and its hourglass shape is easy for small baby hands to hold. From $18.95, kleankanteen.com
Lansinoh mOmma Bottle with NaturalWave Nipple: This newly redesigned bottle is available in 5- and 8 oz. sizes. The bottle features a tall, wide-mouth design, which is compatible with both the new Lansinoh Signature Pro Double Electric Breast Pump, as well as the Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump. The bottle comes with one NaturalWave Nipple, while additional Nipples are available in slow, medium, and fast flows. Available at Babies ‘R’ Us stores; $7.99-19.99, lansinoh.com
Lifefactory Baby Bottle with Silicone Sleeve: Made of shock-resistant glass and covered in silicone sleeves, these bottles provide an excellent grip for little hands and cushion the occasional drop. The unique borosilicate glass also protects transfers from the freezer into boiling water. $14.99, lifefactory.com
MAM Anti-Colic Bottle: This bottle—which is proven to remove colic up to 80 percent—has bottom venting valves for maximum airflow without leakage and an ultra-soft silicone nipple. Great for busy moms, the self-sterilizing feature means cleaning lasts only three minutes. Plus, the bottle’s patented base and nipple designs help make switching between breastfeeding and bottle feeding easier than ever. $6.99 each; $18.99 for three; mambaby.com
Medela Calma: This bottle is a superb bottle for simulating the breastfeeding experience. With a nipple that allows milk to flow when (and only when) babies create a vacuum, they’ll be able to feed, pause, and breathe naturally, just as they intuitively do with breastfeeding. From $17.99, medela.com
Mimijumi Not So Hungry Bottle: Mimijumi’s distinctly shaped bottles feel natural for baby and are fun to look at for mom—plus, the unique design lets the baby control the flow not the bottle, so the original bottle and nipple work for up to 12 months old. Both the screw-on nipple and the bottle, which has integrated venting to prevent colic, are dishwasher-safe and BPA- and latex-free. $14.99, mimijumi.com
Mixie Baby Formula Bottle: This baby bottle is all about convenience. You can add the water to the bottle and load up the formula in a separate compartment in advance, then press a button to release the powder into the bottle when it’s time to feed. $17.99-19.99, planetkidsny.com
NUK Advanced Orthodontic Bottle: Unlike standard round nipples, the NUK Advanced Orthodontic Nipple fits a baby’s mouth just like an actual breast. The natural orthodontic shape mimics breast shape to support combining breast and bottle feeding. Plus, the bottle is BPA-free, anti-colic, easy to clean, and shatterproof. 2-pack, $12.97; nuk-usa.com
Philips Avent Natural Bottle: Philips Avent’s newest bottle has a petal design on the nipple created for a natural, similar-to-breast latch, plus a dual valve system to keep air from going into your baby’s tummy. The wide neck design is easy to hold and to clean—plus the bottle comes in a variety of sizes and colors. $8.99, philips.com
Playtex VentAire Bottle: Playtex’s VentAire bottle is uniquely designed to reduce colic, gas, and spit-up through a bottom venting system that helps reduce air ingestion. Plus, the angled design promotes upright feeding and is recommended by pediatricians to help prevent ear infections. $5.99, playtexbaby.com
Pura Kiki Insulated Bottle: Like Pura’s original Kiki bottle, the Kiki Insulated bottle—which ships early this month—is 100 percent plastic- and BPA-free and is backed by five issued patents and an additional eight pending patents. Available in 9 oz. infant and sippy versions, this insulated bottle keeps liquids cold up to eight hours, and warm up to six hours. $22.99, purastainless.com
The First Years GumDrop Wide Neck Bottles: Help keep your baby’s tummy happy with The First Years’GumDrop Wide Neck bottles, designed to help reduce colic by using GentleVent technology. The BPA-free bottle is designed for easy handling by mom or baby, and features 100 percent silicone nipples. $14.99, thefirstyears.com/gumdrop
ThinkBaby All-In-One Tinker System: This comprehensive and adaptable bottles system comes with everything you need to take your feeding gear from a bottle to a sippy cup to a “thinkster” as your little one grows up to age four. The handles and different nipples and spouts can be swapped on and off as need be. Plus, the system is BPA-free and made from recycled materials. $24.99, thinkbabybottles.com
Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Feeding Bottle: With these BPA-free bottles (available in 5 and 9 oz. sizes), switching between breast and bottle feeding becomes easier than ever before. Tommee Tippee has designed an easy-latch-on nipple shape to mimic the natural flex, stretch, and movement of a mother’s breast. Together with the bottle’s super-sensitive Easi-Vent valve, this encourages your baby’s intuitive feeding action for comfortable feeding. From $8.99; tommeetippee.us
BREAST PUMPS
Ameda Purely Yours CarryAll Breast Pump: The Ameda HygieniKit Milk Collection System, included with this pump, is the world’s only breast pump kit with a proven protective barrier. Proven Airlock Protection keeps tubing dry by preventing air flow between the expressed milk and pump tubing while pumping. $179.99-199, ameda.com
EnJoye LBI Breast Pump with Deluxe Tote Set: When you don’t have access to outlets, the rechargeable internal battery in this double electric pump can run for up to four hours. Moms can even save and share hygienically with the Personal Accessory Set. $339.99, hygeiainc.com
Evenflo Advanced Double Electric Breast Pump: This pump is high-quality, yet affordable. It features a PerfectlyPure closed-system design that prevents milk backup and keeps milk as pure as nature intended, and also features AdvancedFit for perfect comfort and AdvancedControl with 32 speed and suction settings. $129.99, evenflofeeding.com
Lansinoh Signature ProDouble Electric Breast Pump: The innovative technology of this breast pump mimics baby’s natural feeding pattern and the hygienic design guarantees no milk back-up in the tubing. The pump also features adjustable suction and comfort modes and an LCD screen with a timer. $149.99, lansinoh.com
Medela Pump in Style Advanced: A daily-use pump designed for busy moms who pump multiple times a day, this gadget incorporates a two-phase technology system to ease babies through the stimulation and expression phases of breast-feeding. $299, medelabreastfeeding.com
NUK Expressive Single Electric Breast Pump: This pump is efficient and comfortable with a natural pulse rhythm that maximizes your milk flow. Additionally, this pump features adjustable suction and a universal fit shield for personal comfort and includes a 5 oz. breast milk container with silicone nipple, a collar, a cap and seal disk for storage, a container stand, voltage adapter, and extra silicone valve. $49.99, nuk-usa.com
Philips Avent Double Electric Comfort Breast Pump: This BPA-free double pump lets you express more milk in less time with a unique design that allows you to sit naturally without leaning forward. The improved massage cushion that stimulates milk flow has a soothing, velvety feel. $204.99, philips.com
Piyo Piyo Manual Breast Pump: The suction force of this (very cute) manual breast pump can be adjusted to quickly obtain milk and the angle of the breast cup is ergonomically designed to fit tightly with the breast. Plus, it’s designed to simulate natural feeding with the combination of vacuum suction to make pumping quick and smooth. $39.99, piyopiyousa.com
The First Years Memory Pump Double Breast Pump: The Memory Pump by The First Years features a digital touch screen that tracks and stores data for up to ten sessions, automatically recording the date and time, suction, and speed. The Memory Pump comes with a tote bag, a cooler bag with removable ice pack, two 4 oz. GumDrop bottles, two sizes of Flexi-fit breast shields, and a rechargeable battery pack. $179.99, thefirstyears.com
Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Double Electric Breast Pump: This pump’s massaging ripples imitate your baby’s natural feeding rhythm, while its flexible silicone cups make for a comfortable experience. The BPA-free system has five level settings. $249.99, tommeetippee.us
