Do you have a baby who cries and fusses for no apparent reason, even if you have tried everything you can to pacify him/her but the crying still continues for hours?
Or one that passes gas and spits up milk after feeding and again, crying uncontrollably? You might very well be having a baby that suffers from gas and acid reflux or worse, colic.
There are many reasons as to why gas, reflux and colic can happen, but one very common cause often lies in - the feeding bottle. Which is why this is the very first thing parents look at before exploring other possibilities.
Top 5 Best Baby Bottles for Gas and Colic
Hands down the best bottles for gassy babies!
Dr Brown's Original Bottle is designed with a patented 2-piece internal vent system, which is the secret behind its gas and colic fighting ability.
How it works is that the vent system eliminates any negative pressure and air bubbles in the formula or milk, which in turn reduce colic, spit up, burping and gas.
As air never mixes with the milk, it eliminates the chance of any air bubbles forming. Which in turn, means no gas!
This also prevents oxidation, thereby effectively help maintain essential vitamins of your milk such as C, A and E.
What we also love about this system is that it creates positive pressure flow so that vacuum-free feeding can be achieved, and that, is similar to breastfeeding.
You see, the mother's breast is never in a vacuum state, so there is never the need for pressure to be released.
Dr Brown's bottles mimic this by having air channeled from the nipple collar through the vent system to the back of the bottle so that your baby can feed at his own pace. Milk is also able to flow freely without any nipple collapse.
Free of BPA, PVC, lead and phthalate, you can have peace of mind that baby is not exposed to any harmful chemical.
Given the many awards this bottle has under its pockets, you have nothing to worry about.
If there is one thing we have to fault this product, it is that there are more parts to wash due to the vent system.
Not a deal breaker though, given that it is dishwasher-safe and you can always sterile them afterwards. Being the solution to your gassy baby, we think this extra 'chore' is more than worth it.
If you have tried everything but still can't seem to solve your baby's colic or reflux problem, we strongly recommend you to give Dr Brown's a try. It is truly the best anti colic bottles in the market.
The Philips AVENT Anti-Colic Baby Bottles comes close in second in terms of being the best bottles for colic.
In fact, we think it is the best bottles for gassy newborns (read on to find out why).
Unlike Dr Brown's where a separate vent system is utilized, Philips AVENT integrates an anti-colic valve into its nipple (which they name as "Airflex venting system") to reduce air ingestion.
This is not just self-proclaimed - it has gone through rigorous clinical studies, proving 60% lesser of colic experience in babies who use it compared to other normal bottles.
The valve will flex when your baby feeds so that air flow is allowed into the bottle, thereby preventing vacuum from building up.
It then vents the air to the back of the bottle so that they stay away from your baby's tummy, and this, is the way the Philips AVENT reduces gas, spit up and burping.
Not only does this make it ideal for babies suffering from gas or colic, it also makes for one of the best slow flow bottles for newborns.
You see, its slow-flow nipples are made from extra soft silicone that will suit any infant older than one month.
It controls the speed of milk flow by working with your baby's natural feeding rhythm so that your baby will not drink too much (which causes indigestion), or too little (rapid sucking causes the sucking in of air) at a time.
Another thing that we love about these bottles is that they are compatible with most Philips AVENT's products. For instance, they fit perfectly into this and this.
Given how pioneering and leading the brand is in the baby product market, most family would have at least one (or two) Philips AVENT appliance in their household already.
Getting its baby bottles is therefore a no-brainer for all the convenience it will bring. Not just solely for that, but it is also one of the best bottles for colic babies in the market that you can be sure of.
It is safe to say that the Comotomo Baby Bottles are the game changer in the bottle area.
It is also perhaps, the most well-known best silicone baby bottle in the market.
First off, you will notice that it does not quite look like a baby bottle but let us assure you, this is one one of the best baby bottles for gas you can get for your little one!
There are a lot to love about the Comotomo, but the biggest feature that we cannot stop raving about has to be its nipples.
You see, it employs dual anti-colic vents which work to make sure air is circulated properly in the bottle, and this, is so effective in terms of reducing unwanted colic, gas and spit up. To put it simply, when air goes in, milk will come out.
Further, their nipples are also one of the most naturally shaped and softest so it makes for one of the best bottles for breastfed baby, helping them transition from the breast to the bottle.
Another obvious distinction of the Comotomo is definitely its material. As mentioned above, Comotomo is made from soft, skin-like silicone material (instead of plastic) so it is very durable and long-lasting, not to mention offering babies a better grip.
And the neck opening? This is perhaps the biggest opening you can find in the market. So much so that you can easily clean the inside by hand without the need of brushes.
Most importantly (and a one-up of Philips AVENT's) is that the Comotomo slow flow nipple has only one hole, which is what you should look for for your newborn.
If you are alternating between breastfeeding and bottle-feeding and are worried about the effects of gas and colic, the MAM Anti-Colic Bottles are your solution - these are the best bottles for colic and gas for breastfed babies.
You see, MAM has a unique flat-shaped nipple that best resembles the breast nipple and it is very soft. It fits perfectly in baby's mouth, giving them a breastfeeding-like experience without any confusion.
The ergonomically shaped bottle also makes it easy for both parents and babies to hold.
How MAM Anti- Colic Bottles achieve colic, gas and reflux prevention is through its patented vented base.
It regulates the pressure inside the bottle so that bubbles and foam are prevented from forming, thus ensuring none get into your baby's tummy when feeding.
You would think that a vented base as such will mean extra cleaning effort. Not with the MAM.
The thoughtful designers behind this design has made it easy with a unique self-sterilising feature that requires only water and a few minutes in the microwave to safely disinfect.
Rather, what's to be noted is that only medium-flow nipples are provided in the package. If your baby is still very small, you will have to purchase the slow-flows separately (see why here).
Nonetheless, for what it's worth, the MAM Anti-Colic Bottle is no doubt one of the best baby bottles for colic that works! With 80% of mothers reporting less colic on their babies after using the MAM bottles, you know you can't go wrong with them.
When it comes to the best value for money bottles for acid reflux in the market, the Playtex Baby Ventaire Anti Colic Baby Bottle surely takes the cake .
The first thing you will notice with these bottles is that they have angled necks.
Made in the USA, this design is meant to serve as a support for semi-upright feeding position that experts have recommended to be of immense help in terms of reducing reflux, colic, gas, burping and spit up.
It also provides a more comfortable bottle feed for babies, as well as prevent ear infection.
Unlike the bottles reviewed above, Playtex keeps air at the back of the bottle through tiny micro-channel vents at the bottom of the bottles.
This patented anti-colic bottom ensures that when baby drinks, no air gets to mix with the milk. In turn, this means air ingestion is prevented, therefore reducing gas, colic and spit-ups.
Cleaning wise, the Playtex Ventaire bottle is a dream as not only the top cap but the bottom of the bottle also open up for an easy cleanup.
If you are hunting for the best bottles to reduce gas that are also very cheap, look no further!
What You Need to Know About Colic and Reflux
While the causes for colic is yet a mystery, one of the medical reasons that explain it is "gastrointestinal problems" - for example, gastroesophageal reflux or to put it simply, excess gas.
Now, we won't go into details the medical explanation of all these, rather, and also what most of you would like to know is: what can we do to relieve or better, eliminate gas and colic in babies?
If you think about it, the solution is actually very simple. Just like adults, babies will suffer from acid reflux or excessive gas if their food consumption and digestive system is not functioning well.
In fact, they are more vulnerable than us adults in that regard because their digestive system is still very much immature. Digesting food can be a huge task for a baby's brand new gastrointestinal system!
So, we go from the very start of a baby's feeding process - the bottle. Babies may ingest more air bubbles than necessary when they feed on milk bottles that are not suitable for them, which then turns them into a gassy baby.
To prevent this, look at the bottles you are using. They should be ones that prevent gas and colic. The 5 recommendations above will be a very good starting point.
What If None of These Work
If you have tried every single bottle out there yet still see no improvement in your baby's condition, then the problem may very well lie in the formula your use.
Fret not, like bottles, there are actually special formulas formulated to tackle this tricky problem.
Head over to read what are the 5 best formula for gas and reflux - you never know, this may just be the solution that ends the endless crying once and for all!
