While glass baby bottles may sound new to you (given plastic is the norm nowadays), they are, in fact, a classic that has long existed since our grandmother's era.
Nonetheless, glass baby bottles are making a comeback in recent years, studies have found. They are quite different from the old ones though, now with upgraded characteristics to hold their own.
Top 5 Best Glass Bottles
More and more parents are leaning towards glass bottles nowadays because these are the only ones that you can be 100% sure are free of any harmful chemicals (and that's not just BPA).
If you choose to give glass bottles a go, why not check out our glass baby bottles reviews below to find out the best glass bottles available in the market nowadays.
The Philips Avent Natural Glass Bottles are hands down the best glass baby bottles in the market.
Made of premium quality borosilicate glass (a type of BPA-free material), it has high thermal shock resistance ability so it can handle sudden changes in temperature without any tampering or damage.
This means you can heat it up directly when you take it out from the fridge without having to wait for it to thaw first. However, do note that Philips does not recommend putting it in the freezer though.
Nevertheless, because it is not plastic, you can even boil it in water to achieve the sterilizing effect without having to worry about the high temperature melting or damaging some components (thus releasing harmful chemicals) that plastic bottles may have.
Material aside, the Natural Glass Bottles are actually one of the very best bottles for reflux in the market, thanks to an advanced anti-colic system that is incorporated in its design.
This is where an innovative twin-valve, called the Unique Air Flex Vent technology, is directly integrated into the nipple to vent air away so that baby will not swallow much air while feeding.
And because it is directly integrated, it does not have any extra hard-to-clean parts. Speaking of which, the wide neck of these bottles make them super easy to reach for thorough washing to keep germs and bacteria away.
We also think that these are one of the best bottles for breastfed babies because they have wide, breast-shape and unique comfort petals that promote natural latch-on and offer flexibility without any nipple collapse.
The Philips Avent Natural Glass Bottles comes with a 1-month+ slow flow nipple to start on your newborn but you can always buy other Philips nipples to suit your baby's age as these bottles are compatible with all Philips Avent Natural nipples.
If you are still sitting on the fence and would like to try out glass bottles without having to spend too much, then the Evenflo Feeding Glass Premium Proflo Bottles are your answer.
For glass bottles, you cannot find any other cheaper than these, in fact, they are comparable to the price point of plastic bottles even!
These bottles come in pack of 6 and are available in 4 or 8 ounces, complete with nipples and lids.
With their patented Proflo Venting technology, the silicone nipples will adjust to your baby's pressure automatically to release the right amount of milk to prevent excessive gas and colic.
The micro air vents further direct air into the bottle to avoid the nipple from collapsing so that less air enters baby's stomach.
We find that the glass of this bottle is thicker and sturdier than other glass bottles so it is very durable. It has a twist design so it is easier to hold comparatively as it creates more friction.
If you are more of a clumsy person, you will appreciate the durability of these glass bottles. Even if you drop them, these have a higher chance of surviving.
Like all glass bottles, the Evenflo Feeding Glass Premium Proflo Bottles can sustain high heat but we notice that it does not do as well in terms of extreme temperature change.
This means you should not put it into the freezer, then heat it up immediately without thawing. In any case, it does well in warmers and sterilisers. At this price point, you have nothing to worry about!
If you are looking for the best glass bottles for newborns, you will delight in Lifefactory 4-ounce BPA-free Glass Baby Bottles. All components of this bottle are made in the U.S or Europe. Even the product itself is assembled in the U.S.
If you don't already know, newborns do not need a lot of milk. Yes, because they are still so young, they have not developed the ability to gulp down milk quickly.
This is why you should only use slow-flow nipples for your newborn - they ensure milk flows slowly into your baby's mouth according to their drinking pace so that they will not ingest too much air.
Given that, you do not need 8 or 9-ounce bottles. Rather, 4 or 5 ounces is just right and these ones from Lifefactory is perfect.
What's also very considerate of the brand is that it provides protective medical-grade silicone sleeve together with the bottle.
This gives the bottle a tactile, non-slip gripping surface so it is easier to hold and also makes it more durable. For others, you would have to buy them separately.
In fact, Lifefactory may be the only bottle in the market that does so, with the exception of probably this one here (which does it slightly differently with a silicone skin instead of an external sleeve).
Compatible with most major breast pumps, the Lifefactory Glass Baby Bottle is completely BPA/BPS and phthalate free, with all components being dishwasher safe so it is very easy to clean and maintain.
These are perhaps more unheard of but let us assure you, Simba Ultra Light Glass Bottles are truly one of the best glass bottles in the market!
First of all, they are so light you wouldn't suspect it if we told you they are plastic bottles! This is because they are made from super light medical-grade glass which has also been proven to reduce milk stain compare to conventional glass bottles.
As such, they are the perfect bottles to bring about when you're travelling because (1) who needs those extra weight to carry? and (2) you don't need to bring brushes to scrub those milk stain off!
Like Lifefactory, Simba bottles can withstand sudden change of temperature due to its high heat resistance of up to 1112 degree Fahrenheit.
Dishwasher safe, you can also boil it in hot water or steam it in this portable steriliser in your hotel room if you are travelling.
The nipple that comes with this bottle is specially designed to reduce gas and colic. You don't want a reflux or colicky baby when you are travelling, do you?
The downside is that the glass of this bottle is on the thin side (hence it being so lightweight!) so you have to really handle it with care.
You can always buy these to protect your bottles, unfortunately, you will have to buy them separately as they don't come with it.
The Simba Ultra Light Glass Bottles are definitely one of the best glass bottles we have come across. They are the ones we would recommend getting if you plan to travel with your little one.
We love their Original Bottles for their anti-colic and gas fighting ability, naturally, Dr Brown's Option Wide Neck Glass Bottles do not disappoint!
The same innovative vent system that reduces air bubble is present in Dr Brown's glass version as well, which not only is it great to prevent colic, spit-up, burping and gas but is also important in preserving the nutrients of bottle milk.
Vitamins like C, A and E are critical for health in infancy but they, like lipids, are also fragile.
If you store them for too long in bottles, they are susceptible to nutrients loss which is why the reduction of air bubble oxidation is so important.
The lesser air there is to oxidise the milk, the longer nutrients are stored within them.
Dr Brown's Glass Bottles are also one of the best glass bottles for breastfed babies because of their nipple venting system.
Babies can control the pace of milk flow (just like breastfeeding), thanks to the vent system directing air to the back of the bottle instead of into the breast milk or formula.
If your baby is prone to gas and spit-ups, and you would like to use glass bottles over plastic ones, then Dr Brown's Option Wide Neck Glass Bottles will help because they really do work in alleviating feeding issues for babies.
Glass vs. Plastic
Although there are other materials such as silicone and stainless steel, more often than not glass and plastic bottles are the most popular options among parents.
Here is a side-by-side comparison of some of the pros and cons of both Glass and Plastic:
Header | PROS | CONS |
|---|---|---|
GLASS | 100% Chemical-free
| Fragile
|
Easier to clean
| Heavier
| |
High thermal shock resistant
| Can be hard to grip
| |
Scratch-free
| Cell | |
PLASTIC | Non-breakable
| Chemical concerns
|
Lightweight
| Prone to scratches
| |
Cheaper
| Cannot immerse in hot water
|
So, Which One is Better?
As you can see, both Glass and Plastic bottles have their own pros and cons. When it comes to choosing one, it really is a trade-off between what you want and at the end of the day, is a personal preference.
We lean towards glass bottles to be honest, mainly because of the peace of mind it brings, knowing that absolutely NO chemical is going into baby's tummy.
We also love how they can be cleaned thoroughly and be soaked in boiling hot water.
Even though they may be slightly pricier than plastic bottles, it works out long term wise because we don't need to dispose them as often (compare to scratchy plastic ones), well, that is if we are careful enough not to break them.
How to Clean Glass Baby Bottles
Just like how you will clean your plastic bottles, you do the same thing with your glass baby bottles.
Getting a brush cleaner kit is probably the first thing to do as they help to get into every nook and cranny. Otherwise, just a simple bottle brush will do the trick (this is a favourite, while this is perfect for travelling and it doesn't get any cheaper than this).
After cleaning, you should always sterilise the bottles to make sure they are 100% germ-free. This is when the perks of glass bottles become apparent - you can boil them in hot water if you do not want to spend extra money buying a bottle steriliser.
This is something plastic bottles cannot achieve (if you are boiling them, you should stop now!) because the high heat will melt them, or worse, release plastic chemicals that are harmful to your baby.
So if you're still hesitating whether or not you should have a go at glass baby bottles, we would say why not?
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